Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad (née Ayers-Allen; born June 19, 1948) is a highly acclaimed American actress. Best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the sitcom The Cosby Show that ran from 1984 to 1992, which earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Rashad was most recently dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University. In 2004, she became the first black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, for her role in A Raisin in the Sun. Later in 2022, she received her second Tony Award for her acclaimed performance in Skeleton Crew. Her other Broadway credits include Into the Woods, Jelly's Last Jam, Gem of the Ocean, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Additionally, Rashad has appeared in films like For Colored Girls, Good Deeds, Creed, and The Beekeeper. As a voice actor, she was part of the animated children's educational television series Little Bill. In the 21st century, she progressed into directing, with resounding success in major theaters across the US.

Early life witnessed Rashad born in Houston, Texas, to Vivian Ayers, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated artist, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. The sister of Debbie Allen, an actress, Rashad studied at Howard University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Rashad's Broadway debut with Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death set her career off, with her achievements spanning across film, television, and theater. She notably lent her voice as the first narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional and was the first black actress to win the Best Actress Tony Award. Considered 'The Mother of the Black Community', Rashad's accomplishments have earned her wide recognition and several honorary degrees.