R
Ruth & Boaz
as Naomi
2025
P
Phylicia Rashād
Also known as Phylicia Ayers-Allen, Phylicia Rashad
Biography
Phylicia Rashad (née Ayers-Allen; born June 19, 1948) is an American actress. She was most recently dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University before her three-year contract ended in May 2024. Known for her roles on stage and screen, she has received two Tony Awards as well as nominations for six Primetime Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
She is best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992) which earned her two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nominations in 1985 and 1986. She also played Ruth Lucas on Cosby (1996–2000), and Brenda Glover in Little Bill (1999–2004). She was also Emmy-nominated for her roles in A Raisin in the Sun (2008) and This Is Us (2019–2021).
On stage, Rashad became the first Black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, for a revival of A Raisin in the Sun (2004). She won her second Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's Skeleton Crew (2022). Her 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 has 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 has directed revivals of three plays by August Wilson, in major theaters in Seattle, Princeton, New Jersey; and Los Angeles. She also directed Purpose (play) in its 2024-2025 run at the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway.
Personal details
Full filmography
2025
2023
O
Our Son
as Maya
2023
B
Being Mary Tyler Moore
as Self (voice)
2023
H
Heaven Down Here
as Nancy
2023
C
Creed III
as Mary-Anne Creed
2023
2021
t
tick, tick... BOOM!
as "Sunday" Legend #12
2021
T
Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
as Narrator (voice)
2021
C
Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist
as Self
2021
A
Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous
as Anna Campbell
2021
S
Show of Titles
as "There's No Business Like Show Business" Performer
2021
2020
S
Soul
as Libba Gardner (voice)
2020
J
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
as Grandmother Journey
2020
A
A Fall from Grace
as Sarah
2020
B
Black Box
as Lillian
2020
B
Between the World and Me
as Self
2020
C
Chadwick Boseman: A Tribute for a King
as Self - Actress
2020
2018
C
Creed II
as Mary Anne Creed
2018
C
Charlie's Place
as Narrator (voice)
2018
2017
J
JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala
as Self - Host
2017
T
Tour de Pharmacy
as Victoria Young
2017
2016
V
VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail the Queens
2016
2015
E
Emily & Tim
as Emily (Segment 5)
2015
C
Creed
as Mary Anne Creed
2015
A
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand
as Self
2015
2014
L
Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee
as Self
2014
2013
G
Gods Behaving Badly
as Demeter
2013
2012
G
Good Deeds
as Wilimena Deeds
2012
S
Steel Magnolias
as Clairee
2012
2011
C
Change of Plans
as Dorothy
2011
2010
J
Just Wright
as Ella McKnight
2010
F
For Colored Girls
as Gilda
2010
F
Frankie & Alice
as Edna
2010
2008
A
A Raisin in the Sun
as Lena Younger
2008
D
Dreams Worth While: The Journey of "A Raisin in the Sun"
as Self
2008
2003
G
God and the Inner City
as Self (voice)
2003
2002
N
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
as Self
2002
T
The Cosby Show: A Look Back
as Self / Clair Huxtable (archive footage)
2002
2001
M
Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man
as Cassandra Hawkins
2001
T
The Old Settler
as Elizabeth Barney
2001
T
The Visit
as Dr. Coles
2001
1999
F
Free of Eden
as Desiree
1999
1998
D
Dinosaur - Preshow
as Dr Helen Marsh
1998
1996
T
The Babysitter's Seduction
as Kate Jacobs
1996
O
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored
as Ma Ponk
1996
1995
T
The Possession of Michael D.
as Dr. Marion Hale (Psychiatrist)
1995
1994
D
David's Mother
as Gladys Johnson
1994
1993
H
Hallelujah
as Mayor Turner
1993
1992
B
Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio
as Self
1992
1991
J
Jailbirds
as Janice Grant
1991
1990
P
Polly: Comin' Home!
as Aunt Polly
1990
T
The Earth Day Special
as Clair Huxtable
1990
1989
P
Polly
as Aunt Polly
1989
F
False Witness
as Lynne Jacobi
1989
T
The Debbie Allen Special
as Self
1989
1988
M
Mickey's 60th Birthday
as Disneyland Cleaning Lady
1988
1987
U
Uncle Tom's Cabin
as Eliza
1987
S
Superstars and their Moms
as Self
1987
1986
N
Nell Carter... Never Too Old to Dream
1986
1981
W
We're Fighting Back
1981