List of The Cosby Show characters
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This is a list of characters from the TV sitcom The Cosby Show.
[edit] Main characters
[edit] Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable
Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable (Bill Cosby) lives in Brooklyn Heights, New York. He was born sometime in October 1937 in Philadelphia. In his high school and college years, he was an athlete, wrestling , playing football , and running track, especially the 400-meter relay at Villanova. He is an OB/GYN, and is married to Clair Hanks-Huxtable. Together, they have five children: Sondra, Denise, Theodore, Vanessa, and Rudy. Cliff enjoys jazz music and junk food.
Heathcliff is a very competitive person, often making bets with Clair over various things, such as the date a certain jazz song was released, or having a "Smooth Contest" to see which of them looked more elegant for a night on the town, as judged by the children. He also plays a monthly game of pinochle against his father and some friends, which sometimes gets very passionate. Unfortunately, Cliff often finds himself on the losing end of most of his bets and games, as, for example, he has never beaten his father-in-law at chess.
In the pilot episode, Cosby's character's full name is Clifford, as shown on a sign on the exterior of the house. His full name was subsequently changed to Heathcliff, even though in one episode Clair called him "Heathclifford", and he is commonly called "Cliff" throughout the series.
Originally, Cliff was to be a blue-collared chauffeur, with most of the humor coming from his interactions with customers. However, the show was changed before airing to have Cliff be a doctor, and the humor to come from his interactions with his family.
The character is loosely based upon Cosby himself.
[edit] Clair Olivia Hanks-Huxtable
Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashād) is the very eloquent, elegant wife of Cliff. Clair is playful, silly, yet very assertive. She is six years younger than Cliff. While this age difference was never directly stated on any of the television episodes, her exact age can be mathematically deduced using two episodes of The Cosby Show as reference. In the third season episode "Cliff's 50th Birthday," Cliff's 50th birthday is presented. Also, a fifth season episode, "Birthday Blues," depicts Clair's 46th birthday. So during the events of "Cliff's 50th Birthday," Clair would have been 44, and she would have been born in 1943. Her character was originally supposed to be a plumber, but when the show finally aired, she became a lawyer. During the series, she becomes a partner in her law firm, and she successfully represents her daughter, Sondra, in a case over dishonest car repairs.
When it came to the Huxtable household, she was in charge, even though she let Cliff think he was in charge. She was the chief disciplinarian of the children, as shown in an episode where Vanessa and her friends sneak off to Baltimore to see a rock concert. Clair is also something of a disciplinarian to Cliff, particularly in matters of Cliff sticking to a healthful diet and rationing his junk food intake.
Clair makes several appearances on The Cosby Show spin-off A Different World, even after her daughter, Denise (Lisa Bonet), is removed from that series.
Clair is once referred to as Clair Olivia when Cliff is asking their old professor what grade she received in the class. Olivia (Raven-Symone) is later introduced as Denise's stepdaughter.
Clair Huxtable was voted as television's "Favorite TV Mom" in a poll conducted by the Opinion Research Company in 2006.
The character is loosely based upon Cosby's wife, Camille Olivia Hanks-Cosby.
[edit] Sondra Huxtable-Tibideaux
(1985-1992, recurring previously)
Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf), (born ca. 1964) the eldest daughter of Cliff and Clair, did not appear on screen until mid-way through Season 1. She did not exist in the pilot episode (Clair: "Why do we have four children?" Cliff: "Because we did not want five.") In her first appearance, she is twenty years old putting her birth year in 1964. She earned a degree from Princeton University. She married her boyfriend, Elvin Tibideaux, in Season Four, and later gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - named after Nelson and Winnie Mandela.
Sondra was created when Bill Cosby wanted the show to express the accomplishment of successfully raising a child (e.g.- a college graduate). Whitney Houston was considered for the role of Sondra Huxtable, but did not want to give up her burgeoning music career. Sabrina LeBeauf almost missed out on the role because she is only 10 years younger (b. 1958) than Phylicia Rashad (b. 1948).
The character is loosely based upon Cosby's eldest daughter, Erika, who was approximately the same age as Sondra.
[edit] Denise Huxtable-Kendall
(1984-1987, 1989-1991 recurring otherwise)
Denise (Lisa Bonet) is the second, free-spirited daughter of Cliff and Clair Huxtable. At the beginning of the series, she is sixteen years old, putting her year of birth in 1968. She loves fashion and music, but did not want to attend school to pursue either interest. A short stint at Hillman College leads her to Africa, where she meets and marries Navy Lt. Martin Kendall, who has a daughter, Olivia, from a previous relationship. Denise eventually decides to become a special-education teacher, but that idea does not work out as Denise eventually leaves New York again when Martin is assigned to Asia on a long-term assignment. It is revealed in the finale that she is pregnant.
During the first two seasons, Denise is portrayed as a very popular high-schooler, with many friends, who seemingly has a different boyfriend every episode. Along with her constantly fluctuating love life, were her various hairstyles and choices of clothing, which were occasionally made fun of by Cliff. But, in later seasons, she seems sort of an airhead at times, with many weird ideas that most of the family does not understand.
In Season Three, Denise leaves home to attend Hillman College, a fictional, historically African-American university, of which Cliff, Clair, and Russell Huxtable (Cliff's father) are all alumni. The Cosby Show's producers created a spin-off series, entitled A Different World, which initially dealt with the life of Denise at college. Denise was written out of the series after its inaugural season (which aired concurrently with Season 4 of The Cosby Show). She was featured regularly on The Cosby Show during Seasons 1-3 and 6-7, and on a recurring basis during Season 5.
The character is loosely based upon Cosby's daughter, Erinn, who was approximately the same age as Denise.
[edit] Theodore Aloysius "Theo" Huxtable
The only son of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, teenager Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) is athletic and obsessed with impressing girls, and obtaining a sports car or motorcycle. He is fourteen years old when the series begins, making his birth year 1970. In the pilot episode, he is lectured by his father for not applying himself at school ("I brought you in this world, and I'll take you out."). Also in the early seasons, he was somewhat of a troublemaker, as illustrated through incidents both alluded to and explicitly portrayed in the series, but his behavior had improved by the time he left high school.
A running theme of the early seasons revolved around Theo's academic struggles, especially in his sophomore-year geometry class, taught by Mrs. Westlake (Sonia Braga). As the seasons progressed, Theo gradually evolved from being an under-achiever to a successful high school -- and college -- student. (In interviews, Cosby noted a similar change in his real-life son, Ennis.) While Theo was a student at NYU, it was revealed that he suffered from dyslexia, a learning disability that he eventually overcame. By the final season, Theo was a student teacher, helping other children with dyslexia at a local education center. In the show's final episode, he graduated from NYU with an education degree.
In the pilot, and once more in Season One, he is referred to by Vanessa as "Teddy", instead of "Theo."
During his high school years, his best friend was Walter Bradley, better known as "Cockroach", who was more of a scholastic under-achiever than Theo was. The two of them would occasionally compose rap songs for various school assignments. When Theo got tickets to "Dance Mania" (a "Soul Train"-like television dance show), and only one of them was allowed into the studio, Theo let Cockroach have the spot, but didn't feel good about it when he saw Cockroach on TV, and as the center of their friends' attention the next day at school.
The character is loosely based upon Cosby's only son Ennis, who was approximately the same age as Theo (and was also dyslexic).
[edit] Vanessa Huxtable
Vanessa Huxtable (Tempestt Bledsoe) is the third daughter of Cliff and Clair. In Season One, she was eleven years old, making her birth year 1973. As Vanessa grew up, she faced typical teenage problems and heartbreaks, such as wearing make-up before her 15th birthday, in violation of her parents' rules. Unlike her older brother, she was an excellent student, and even seemed to enjoy school. She became engaged in the final season to Dabnes Brickey, the head of maintenance at her college. They maintained they were "just friends" by the end of the season.
In the early seasons, Vanessa is usually considered to be nosy, as she usually -- sneakily -- tries to find out what goes on in the Huxtable house, especially when it involves someone (usually Theo) in trouble with their parents. But, in a later episode, the tables are turned, as Theo catches Vanessa's friends smoking cigarettes in her room, although Vanessa herself did not take part, and even tried to dissuade her friends from doing so.
She often fought with her younger sister, Rudy, over typical childish issues. At one point, their fighting caused parts of the kitchen ceiling to fall, driving Cliff to declare their rooms off limits because of "World War Five". But, on one occasion, Vanessa got into a physical tussle with Denise over a sweater that Vanessa stole from Denise's closet after Denise did not allow her to borrow it.
The character is loosely based upon Cosby's daughter, Ensa, who was approximately the same age as Vanessa.
[edit] Rudith Lillian "Rudy" Huxtable
Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam) is the youngest of the Huxtable children - only five years old at the beginning of the series, making her birth year 1979. She comes of age during the course of the show.
We get to see a number of Rudy's friends as the series progresses. Among the best known are the taciturn Peter, a rare Caucasian character, who repeatedly ran out the Huxtables' front door when frightened; and the chauvinist, blues-loving Kenny, whom she nicknames "Bud", and who always gets advice from his (unseen) older brother about basically everything.
Keshia Knight Pulliam was nominated for an Emmy for her performance in Season Two, becoming the youngest nominee ever. One of her fellow nominees that year was Phylicia Rashad. Neither won.
The Huxtable family was originally going to be two boys and two girls. The youngest child, Rudy, was initially supposed to be a boy, but the character was re-written for a girl (Keshia Knight Pulliam) when no suitable boys auditioned.
The character is loosely based upon Cosby's youngest daughter, Evin, who was approximately the same age as Rudy.
[edit] Elvin Tibideaux
(1987-1992, recurring previously)
Elvin (Geoffrey Owens) is Sondra's boyfriend, and later, husband. They met at Princeton, where they both earned degrees. The two constantly bickered during early episodes, until his interactions with the Huxtables, particularly Clair, challenged him to confront his "male-chauvinist" attitudes.
When they return from their honeymoon, they shock Cliff and Clair by announcing their intentions to forego medical school and law school, and start a wilderness supply store in Brooklyn. When his children are born, Elvin then announces that he will re-apply to medical school.
Elvin was a wrestler in high school and for one year at Princeton , and helped Theo with some strategy and moves.
[edit] Martin Kendall
(1989-1991)
Martin Kendall (Joseph C. Phillips) is a Navy man, husband of Denise Huxtable, and father of Olivia. Phillips' role as Martin Kendall came about when Denise unexpectedly married him in Africa, unbeknownest to her parents and family. Kendall also had an ex-wife, named Paula. In the finale, it is learned that he and Denise are expecting a baby together.
Joseph C. Phillips played Sondra's date in a second-season episode, before coming back as a new character, and playing the husband of Denise.
[edit] Olivia Kendall
(1989-1992)
Olivia Kendall (Raven-Symoné) is Denise Huxtable's precocious stepdaughter, who is three years old when she first appears in the series. Olivia is the only child of Martin and Paula Kendall. After a few years of marriage, her parents divorced, and her mother, Paula, gave Martin full custody because Paula thought that she was too young and immature to be a mother. Olivia was then raised by her grandparents and father.
When Olivia was almost four years old, her father, Martin married Denise Huxtable, whom he met in Africa. The new family moved in with Denise's parents, Clair and Cliff Huxtable, who are now Olivia's step-grandparents. Martin, as a Naval officer, is required to travel a lot, so for a while, Olivia was unable to spend time with him. During his absences, her stepmother, Denise, raised her. Olivia continued to live with her step-grandparents while her parents were in Singapore during the final season. She flies with Theo to Singapore in the final episode.
The character was named after Bill Cosby's wife, Camille Olivia Hanks-Cosby.
[edit] Pam Tucker
(1990-1992)
Pam Tucker (Erika Alexander) is Clair Huxtable's distant cousin. The daughter of a single mother, Pam comes to live with the Huxtables after her mother moved to California to take care of Pam's grandmother. Upon moving in, Pam is a high school junior -- younger than Vanessa, but older than Rudy. At first, she is not used to the Huxtables' upper-middle-class lifestyle or close-knit family relationships. Eventually, she fits in, and becomes just another one of the Huxtable clan.
Frequently, Pam is shown interacting with her best friend, Charmaine Brown (Karen Malina White), and Charmaine's boyfriend, Lance Rodman (Allen Payne).
[edit] Russell and Anna Huxtable
(recurring throughout the series)
Russell and Anna Huxtable (Earle Hyman and Clarice Taylor) are Cliff's parents. They were originally from North Carolina, before moving to Philadelphia and, later, New Jersey. Russell was a touring musician in the "Jazz Caravan", playing the trombone. Anna is presumed to have been a housewife and mother, as Russell was on the road for many months out of the year. They, as well as Cliff and Clair, and Clair's parents, attended the civil rights March on Washington in 1963.
In the second and third seasons of the series, Cliff and his family organized "entertainment" for his parents' anniversaries, in the form of lip-sync and dance routines to Ray Charles' "The Night Time (Is the Right Time)" in Season Two, and James Brown's "I've Got the Feeling" in Season Three. These are among the best-known, and most popular, episodes of the series, especially the first one.
Russell and Anna are named after Bill Cosby's brother and mother, respectively.
[edit] Recurring cast members
- Deon Richmond as Kenny (a.k.a. "Bud", long-time friend of Rudy)
- Carl Anthony Payne II as Walter Bradley (a.k.a. "Cockroach", Theo's best friend in high school)
- Adam Sandler as "Smitty" (high school friend of Theo)
- Michelle Thomas as Justine Phillips (girlfriend of Theo)
- Dondre T. Whitfield as Robert Foreman (boyfriend of Vanessa)
- Troy Winbush as Denny (college friend of Theo)
- Reno Wilson as Howard (college friend of Theo)
- Alex Ruiz as Lou Hernandez (college friend of Theo)
- Karen Malina White as Charmaine Brown (friend of Pam)
- Allen Payne as Lance Rodman (friend of Pam, boyfriend of Charmaine)
- Joe Williams as Al Hanks (Clair's father)
- Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks (Clair's mother)
- Gary LeRoi Gray as Nelson Tibideaux (son of Sondra & Elvin)
- Jessica Ann Vaughn as Winnie Tibideaux (daughter of Sondra & Elvin)
- Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara (friend of Vanessa)
- William Thomas Jr. as Dabnes Brickey (fiance of Vanessa)
- Vanessa A. Williams as Jade and Cheryl (friends of Theo)
- Wallace Shawn as Jeffrey Engels (neighbor of the Huxtables)
- Peter Costa as Peter Chiara (friend of Rudy)
- Merlin Santana as Stanley (boyfriend of Rudy)
- Mushond Lee as Arthur Bartell (a.k.a. "Slide")
- Seth Gilliam as Aaron Dexter (boyfriend of Pam)
[edit] Cast appearances on other shows
Head writer Matt Robinson was the first actor to play Gordon Robinson on Sesame Street, and Bill Cosby had appeared in another CTW production, The Electric Company. In addition, Clarice Taylor, who had a recurring role as Cliff's mother, Anna, also had a recurring role on Sesame Street, as David's grandmother.
[edit] Notable guest stars
- Debbie Allen as Emma ("If the Dress Fits, Wear It", Season 5)
- Tichina Arnold as Delores ("Theo's Women", Season 5)
- Angela Bassett as Mrs. Mitchell ("Mr. Quiet", Season 1), and Paula ("Bookworm", Season 4)
- Norman Beaton as Carleton ("There's Still No Joy in Mudville" Season 7)
- Senator Bill Bradley as Cliff's teammate #1 ("The Boys of Winter", Season 5)
- Sônia Braga as Anna Maria Westlake ("Mrs. Westlake" and "An Early Spring", Season 2)
- Valerie Brisco-Hooks as herself ("Off to the Races", Season 2)
- Naomi Campbell as Julia ("The Birth" and "Cyranoise de Bergington", Season 5)
- Betty Carter as Amanda Woods ("How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall", Season 5)
- Robert Culp as Scott Kelly ("Bald and Beautiful", Season 3)
- Sammy Davis, Jr. as Ray Palomino ("No Way, Baby", Season 5)
- Dave DeBusschere as Cliff's teammate #2 ("The Boys of Winter", Season 5)
- Plácido Domingo as Alberto Santiago ("Birthday Blues", Season 5)
- Teresa Edwards as Opponent #2 ("The Boys of Winter", Season 5)
- Yvonne Irvin as Clairs Sister ("Clairs Sister", Season 2)
- Al Freeman, Jr. as Ernie Scott ("Back to the Track, Jack", Season 1)
- Dizzy Gillespie as Mr. Hampton ("Play It Again Vanessa", Season 1)
- Robin Givens as Susanne ("Theo and the Older Woman", Season 2)
- Pam Grier as Samantha ("Planning Parenthood", Season 3)
- Moses Gunn as Joe Kendall ("Grampy and NuNu Visit the Huxtables", Season 6)
- Walt Hazzard as Cliff's teammate #3 ("The Boys of Winter", Season 5)
- Iman as Mrs. Montgomery ("Theo and the Joint", Season 1)
- Danny Kaye as Dr. Burns ("The Dentist", Season 2)
- Alicia Keys as Maria ("Slumber Party", Season 1)
- B.B. King as Riley Jackson ("Not Everybody Loves the Blues", Season 6)
- LaChanze as Sylvia ("The Prom", Season 4)
- Audrey Landers as Cookie Bennett ("Cliff and Jake", Season 7)
- Sheldon Leonard as Dr. Wexler ("Physician of the Year," Season 1)
- Nancy Lieberman as Opponent #1 ("The Boys of Winter", Season 5)
- Lena Horne as herself ("Cliff's Birthday", Season 1)
- Miriam Makeba as herself ("Olivia Comes Out of the Closet", Season 8)
- S. Epatha Merkerson as Book Club Member #5 ("Bookworm", Season 4)
- Rita Moreno as Mrs. Granger ("You Only Hurt the One You Love", Season 3)
- Tony Orlando as Tony Castillo ("Mr. Quiet", Season 1)
- Tito Puente as timbal player ("Play It Again, Russell", Season 2)
- Christopher Plummer as Jonathan Lawrence ("Shakespeare", Season 4)
- John Ritter as Ray Evans ("Total Control", Season 7)
- Frank Robinson as Frank Potter ("There's Still No Joy in Mudville", Season 7)
- Howard "Sandman" Sims as himself ("Mr. Sandman", Season 6)
- Special Ed as J.T. Freeze ("Warning: A Double-Lit Candle Can Cause a Meltdown", Season 8)
- Bern Nadette Stanis as Carolyn Thompson ("Adventures in Babysitting", Season 7)
- Leslie Uggams as Kris Temple ("The Return of the Clairettes", Season 7)
- Blair Underwood as Mark ("Theo and the Older Woman", Season 2)
- Mario Van Peebles as Garvin ("Clairs Sister", Season 2)
- Jim Valvano as John Velarde ("The Getaway", Season 8)
- Dick Vitale as Dan Vicente ("The Getaway", Season 8)
- Nancy Wilson as Lorraine Kendall ("Grampy and NuNu Visit the Huxtables", Season 6)
- Stevie Wonder as himself ("A Touch of Wonder", Season 2)
