Phylicia Rashād

Phylicia Rashad (maiden name Ayers-Allen; born June 19, 1948) is an American actress. Her three-year contract ended in May 2024, and she was most recently the dean of Howard University's College of Arts and Sciences. The artist, known for her roles on stage and screen, has been nominated for two Tony Awards, six Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

She is best known for her role as Clair Huxtable in the NBC comedy series *The Cosby Show* (1984–1992). This role earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1985 and 1986. She also portrayed Ruth Lucas in *Cosby* (1996–2000) and Brenda Glover in *Little Bill* (1999–2004). Additionally, she was nominated for an Emmy for her roles in the film *A Raisin in the Sun* (2008) and the series *This Is Us* (2019–2021). Rashad became the first Black actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress on Stage with her performance in the 2004 revival of *A Raisin in the Sun*. She won her second Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's *Skeleton Crew* (2022). Other Broadway credits include *Into the Woods* (1988), *Jelly's Last Jam* (1993), *Gem of the Ocean* (2004), and *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (2008). She appeared in various films such as *For Colored Girls* (2010), *Good Deeds* (2012), *Creed* (2015), *Creed II* (2018), *Creed III* (2023), and *The Beekeeper* (2024). She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020). In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.She is best known for her role as Clair Huxtable in the NBC comedy series *The Cosby Show* (1984–1992).

This role earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1985 and 1986. She also portrayed Ruth Lucas in *Cosby* (1996–2000) and Brenda Glover in *Little Bill* (1999–2004). Additionally, she was nominated for an Emmy for her roles in the film *A Raisin in the Sun* (2008) and the series *This Is Us* (2019–2021). Rashad became the first Black actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress on Stage with her performance in the 2004 revival of *A Raisin in the Sun*. She won her second Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's *Skeleton Crew* (2022). Other Broadway credits include *Into the Woods* (1988), *Jelly's Last Jam* (1993), *Gem of the Ocean* (2004), and *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (2008). She appeared in various films such as *For Colored Girls* (2010), *Good Deeds* (2012), *Creed* (2015), *Creed II* (2018), *Creed III* (2023), and *The Beekeeper* (2024). She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020). In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.This role earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1985 and 1986.

She also portrayed Ruth Lucas in *Cosby* (1996–2000) and Brenda Glover in *Little Bill* (1999–2004). Additionally, she was nominated for an Emmy for her roles in the film *A Raisin in the Sun* (2008) and the series *This Is Us* (2019–2021). Rashad became the first Black actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress on Stage with her performance in the 2004 revival of *A Raisin in the Sun*. She won her second Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's *Skeleton Crew* (2022). Other Broadway credits include *Into the Woods* (1988), *Jelly's Last Jam* (1993), *Gem of the Ocean* (2004), and *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (2008). She appeared in various films such as *For Colored Girls* (2010), *Good Deeds* (2012), *Creed* (2015), *Creed II* (2018), *Creed III* (2023), and *The Beekeeper* (2024). She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020). In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.She also portrayed Ruth Lucas in *Cosby* (1996–2000) and Brenda Glover in *Little Bill* (1999–2004).

Additionally, she was nominated for an Emmy for her roles in the film *A Raisin in the Sun* (2008) and the series *This Is Us* (2019–2021). Rashad became the first Black actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress on Stage with her performance in the 2004 revival of *A Raisin in the Sun*. She won her second Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's *Skeleton Crew* (2022). Other Broadway credits include *Into the Woods* (1988), *Jelly's Last Jam* (1993), *Gem of the Ocean* (2004), and *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (2008). She appeared in various films such as *For Colored Girls* (2010), *Good Deeds* (2012), *Creed* (2015), *Creed II* (2018), *Creed III* (2023), and *The Beekeeper* (2024). She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020). In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.Additionally, she was nominated for an Emmy for her roles in the film *A Raisin in the Sun* (2008) and the series *This Is Us* (2019–2021).

Rashad became the first Black actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress on Stage with her performance in the 2004 revival of *A Raisin in the Sun*. She won her second Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's *Skeleton Crew* (2022). Other Broadway credits include *Into the Woods* (1988), *Jelly's Last Jam* (1993), *Gem of the Ocean* (2004), and *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (2008). She appeared in various films such as *For Colored Girls* (2010), *Good Deeds* (2012), *Creed* (2015), *Creed II* (2018), *Creed III* (2023), and *The Beekeeper* (2024). She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020). In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.Rashad became the first Black actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress on Stage with her performance in the 2004 revival of *A Raisin in the Sun*.

She won her second Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's *Skeleton Crew* (2022). Other Broadway credits include *Into the Woods* (1988), *Jelly's Last Jam* (1993), *Gem of the Ocean* (2004), and *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (2008). She appeared in various films such as *For Colored Girls* (2010), *Good Deeds* (2012), *Creed* (2015), *Creed II* (2018), *Creed III* (2023), and *The Beekeeper* (2024). She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020). In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.She won her second Tony Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's *Skeleton Crew* (2022).

Other Broadway credits include *Into the Woods* (1988), *Jelly's Last Jam* (1993), *Gem of the Ocean* (2004), and *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (2008). She appeared in various films such as *For Colored Girls* (2010), *Good Deeds* (2012), *Creed* (2015), *Creed II* (2018), *Creed III* (2023), and *The Beekeeper* (2024). She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020). In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.Other Broadway credits include *Into the Woods* (1988), *Jelly's Last Jam* (1993), *Gem of the Ocean* (2004), and *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (2008).

She appeared in various films such as *For Colored Girls* (2010), *Good Deeds* (2012), *Creed* (2015), *Creed II* (2018), *Creed III* (2023), and *The Beekeeper* (2024). She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020). In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.She appeared in various films such as *For Colored Girls* (2010), *Good Deeds* (2012), *Creed* (2015), *Creed II* (2018), *Creed III* (2023), and *The Beekeeper* (2024).

She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020). In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.She lent her voice to the Disney-Pixar animated film *Soul* (2020).

In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.In the 21st century, she directed revivals of three August Wilson plays in large theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey, and Los Angeles.

Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.Additionally, she directed *Purpose* at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway during the 2024–2025 season.