'The Cosby Show' started 30 years ago: many cast members have Atlanta ties
The seminal 1980s sitcom "The Cosby Show" debuted three decades ago this week, a groundbreaking sitcom that highlighted Bill Cosby's fatherly humor and brought an upper-middle class black family to tens of millions of weekly viewers every Thursday night. It was ranked No. 1 for five consecutive seasons and led to a popular spinoff "A Different World." Those were the days when a sitcom could draw 40 million viewers because options were far fewer than there are today. Cable was in its infancy and the broadcast networks still dominated the airwaves.
Many of "The Cosby Show" regulars have Atlanta ties of varying degrees. (Check out our photo gallery of how they look today.) Here are a few:
Keyshia Knight-Pulliam (Rudy Huxtable): Now 35, she continues to act. Her most notable post "Cosby' role was on TBS's Atlanta-based "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" as a reformed con artist. Over the years, she has also appeared on reality shows such as "The Weakest Link," "Fear Factor" and "Splash." She is currently dating V-103 afternoon host Big Tigger.
Bill Cosby (Dr. Cliff Huxtable): The legendary comic still does stand-up shows nationwide and stops regularly in Atlanta, most recently last year at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. I have had the honor to talk to him twice: before his Ferst Centre performance in 2011 and his Fox Theatre appearance in 2008. He is 77.
Raven-Symone (Olivia Kendall) - She was born in Atlanta and joined "The Cosby Show" at the tender age of three as the Huxtable's adorable little step grand daughter. She later became a Disney star in 'That's So Raven." She's now a full time student at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. She's 28. As you can see below, she has lost quite a bit of weight in recent years.
Phylicia Rashad (Clair Huxtable) - She regularly works with Atlanta director Kenny Leon. They appeared together this past summer at True Colors Theatres in the play "Same Time Next Year." She also co-starred in a Lifetime remake of "Steel Magnolias" in 2012, which was directed by Leon and shot in Atlanta. She's 66.
Malcolm Jamal-Warner (Theo Huxtable) - The actor shot two season of BET's sitcom "Reed Between the Lines" here, though the second season never aired. He has also starred in Joyce Littel's annual Poetry & Passion event a few times, including 2010. He has been a guest character in TNT's 'Major Crimes." He's 44.
Lisa Bonet (Denise Huxtable) - She is shooting "The Red Road" on Sundance here in metro Atlanta with her husband and star Jason Momoa. She's 46.
About the Author
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
