Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad (born Phylicia Ayers-Allen on June 19, 1948 in Houston, Texas) is an American activist and actress.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rashad first became notable on the stage with a string of Broadway credits, including a role in the company of the Tony Award-winning musical Dreamgirls and in the film The Wiz. She credits her 1983 break on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live "to the presence of God within me."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She is most famous for her role as Clair Huxtable on the NBC television show, The Cosby Show, which she has stated is a good portrayal of an African-American family.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cosby again called on Rashad when he was creating a new sitcom, CBS's Cosby, where he was portraying Hilton Lucas. After several casting changes, he chose Rashad to play Ruth Lucas, his character's wife.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Her first marriage, in 1972, was to a dentist, William Lancelot Bowles, Jr. They had a son, Billy, who was born the following year. This marriage ended in 1975. Rashad then married Victor Willis, a member of the Village People in 1978, however this marriage was short-lived due to Willis's cocaine abuse, and they divorced in 1980.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She's married to television sportscaster Ahmad Rashad on December 14, 1985, after he proposed to her during a televised football pregame show on Thanksgiving Day 1985. Their daughter, Condola Phylea Rashad, was born on December 11, 1986 in New York City. She also has three step-children (Ahmad's children from a previous marriage): daughters Keva (born in 1970), Maiysha (born in 1974) and son Ahmad Jr. (born in 1978).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rashad's sister is actress and dancer Debbie Allen. She is a graduate of Howard University, and later taught drama there. She is a prominent member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the oldest historically Black collegiate sorority.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2004, she became the first African-American actress to win the "Best Leading Actress" Award at the Tony Awards, winning for her role in the play, A Raisin in the Sun.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

June 19: June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 195 days remaining....

1948: 1948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar)....

Houston, Texas: Houston is the largest city within the state of Texas, fourth in the United States, and the second-largest economic area of the Gulf Coast region. The city is the county seat of Harris County, the third most populous county in the country. A portion of southwest Houston extends into F...

Phylicia Rashad related Images and Photos (experimental)

UFC - Rashad Evans	"UFC Rashad Evans 11"" x 17"" Sign"	UFC Rashad Evans Cutout	UFC Rashad Evans 3' x 5' Wall Hanging
UFC Rashad Evans 17 x 40 Pennant	UFC Rashad Suga Evans Deluxe Action Figure	"UFC Rashad Evans Ultimate Collector 6"" Action Figure"	Silver Star Rashad Evans UFC 108 Walkout T-Shirt - Green
Silver Star Rashad Evans UFC 108 Walkout T-Shirt - Black	TUF 10 Team Rashad Boardshort [Gold and Black]	TUF 10 Team Rashad Football Jersey [Black and Gold]	TapouT TUF 10 Team Rashad Boardshort - Black/Gold