What Happened to Cliff and the Gang?
'The Cosby Show' ran for just eight seasons (1984-'92) and yet had a huge impact on TV as we know it.
It's been named one of the best sitcoms of all time, changed the way African-Americans are portrayed on television, spawned a successful spin-off ('A Different World') and helped pave the way for shows from 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' to 'Everybody Hates Chris.'
So what have Cliff, Claire and their 'Cosby' brood been up to since we last invited them into our living rooms? Who went on to more sitcom success, who won Tonys ... and which cast members found their spouses while working with the Huxtables? Read on to find out. -- By Kristina Lopez
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Alan Singer, NBCU Photo Bank
Bill Cosby
Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable
Then: Basing much of the material of the show from his 1983 stand-up special 'Bill Cosby: Himself,' Cosby made one of the most successful sitcoms of the '80s. Dr. Cliff Huxtable was an OB/GYN, a loving dad and husband and a jazz aficionado who had a comedic and sardonic spin on his kids' problems.
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Carsey-Werner / Everett Collection
Bill Cosby
Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable
Now: After the show went off the air in 1992, Cosby starred in 'The Cosby Mysteries' and tried to rekindle the on-screen magic with TV wife Phylicia Rashad in the CBS series 'Cosby,' while also taking on hosting duties for 'Kids Say the Darndest Things' and continuing as the face of Jell-O pudding pops. These days he's known for making headlines with controversial statements about the black community, including his notorious "Pound Cake" speech in 2004.
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Larry Marano, Getty Images
Phylicia Rashad
Claire Huxtable
Then: The ever wise and eloquent matriarch of the Huxtable clan, lawyer Claire wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She even kept her husband's sweet tooth in check. While Cliff thought he had final say in every matter, we all knew who wore the pants in that family.
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Carsey-Werner / Everett Collection
Phylicia Rashad
Claire Huxtable
Now: Since her 'Cosby' days, Rashad became the first black actress to nab a Leading Actress Tony award for her critically praised role in 'A Raisin in the Sun' co-starring rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs. A TV movie version of the play earned her an Emmy as well as an NAACP award. She's also had guest roles on 'Everybody Hates Chris' and 'Psych.' Recently she's become a spokesperson for Jenny Craig.
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Matt Sayles, AP
Sabrina LeBeauf
Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux
Then: The eldest daughter of the Huxtable clan didn't make her first appearance until midway through the first season. Whitney Houston was once considered for the role of the over-achieving sibling and Princeton gradate but instead decided to continue pursuing her singing career. Sabrina LeBeauf was hired to take on the role, even though she's only 10 years younger than Phylicia Rashad.
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Alan Singer, NBCU Photo Bank
Sabrina LeBeauf
Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux
Now: After a few guest appearances on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation,' 'Cosby,' and 'Fatherhood,' Lebeauf enrolled in UCLA's Professional Interior Design Program and has her own interior design business. She is currently starring in the Classical Theatre of Harlem production 'Three Sisters.' You can also check out her MySpace page.
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Joseph Marzullo, Retna
Geoffrey Owens
Elvin Tibideaux
Then: Elvin, Sondra's Princeton boyfriend and eventual husband, started with chauvinistic ideals that often caused sparks between the couple -- that is until Claire set him straight. After their honeymoon the couple briefly decided to ditch their law and med school aspirations to open a wilderness store in Brooklyn, but went back to their original plan after their twins were born.
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Alan Singer, NBCU Photo Bank
Geoffrey Owens
Elvin Tibideaux
Now: Owens had a guest spot alongside fellow 'Cosby Show' alum Raven-Symoné on her show 'That's So Raven.' He's also had minor stints on 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,' 'Medium,' 'Boston Legal' and 'Without a Trace.'
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Mitchell Haddad, CBS / Landov
Lisa Bonet
Denise Huxtable
Then: As the flighty second born child, Denise was also the cause of much trouble in the Huxtable house. She went to Hillman College -- which served as the springboard for spin-off 'A Different World.' After Bonet became pregnant with rocker Lenny Kravitz's child, her character was written off the show. Denise returned to the original series with a surprise marriage to naval officer Lt. Martin Kendal with stepdaughter Olivia in tow-- much to the dismay of Cliff and Claire. After long-standing tensions between herself and the creators, Bonet was fired from the show in 1991 because of "creative differences" and did not appear in the series finale.
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Reader Comments (47)
MICHELEHOOD1 at 8:09PM on Mar 9th 2009
Can someone please update the pic of Keshia Knight Pulliam? Thats not even her...Thats a pic of the young lady that plays Lil Kim in Notorious. They dont even look alike...
Shelley at 10:43PM on Mar 9th 2009
actually Blair Underwood wasnt denise's boyfriend, he was her friends (robin givens)bf.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H44ptXTxitc&feature=related , 6min in BLair also did an episode on Diff World.
Lt Kendall, Joeseph Phillips, Denises husband on the show was orginally on the "cliff inlove" episode where sandra and elvin break up and cliff likes the new guy who takes her out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etUBB_ylFGA&feature=related
Sexy P at 9:26PM on Mar 11th 2009
Keshia is now playing on Tyler Perry's Sitcom.
MIMI at 2:39PM on Mar 11th 2009
What happened to Peter? The little chubby boy who was Rudy's play friend and neighbor?
Tee at 2:52PM on Mar 11th 2009
sorry to bust your bubble but it is definitly Keisha (Rudy)..... It is NOT a pic of the girl in notorious.....
me at 2:52PM on Mar 11th 2009
That is her
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/still/madea_goes_to_jail05.jpg
rusmart at 2:56PM on Mar 11th 2009
Blair Underwood did play Denise Boyfriend in an episode where she wanted to sleep outside overnight for tickets to a concert
Jesse Jackson at 3:00PM on Mar 11th 2009
Now lookee hearah.... I dun like duh way dat duh little girl dun developed... she be one FINE fat tubby Oprah like body.... please git me sum o dat dere crackah monies soz I can git me duh good stuff in life! Sincerely, Jesse Jackson, duh leaduh o duh blacks
Jesse Jackson at 3:01PM on Mar 11th 2009
Now... whare am be duh whi woman? If y'all can send dem tuh mah prison, I can tell dem all bout mah searches fo duh killahs o Ron and Nichole .... dey jus gotz tuh be in hearha! Sincerely, O.J. Simpson
Jesse Jackson at 3:04PM on Mar 11th 2009
Its all the fault of the crackers... they always ruin it for us who want to stay at home and be lazy and have babies on the government. Sincerely, Bill Cosby, MD, DoD , eD, Dr. of DR, PhD, Vd and much more. P.S. Whare am be duh jello pudding?