Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad is recognized for her extensive career in American entertainment, spanning television, film, and stage. Rashad is best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom "The Cosby Show." She holds a B.F.A. in theatre from Howard University and began her professional journey with the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City. Early in her career, Rashad appeared on Broadway in productions such as "The Wiz" and "Dreamgirls."

Rashad has received two Tony Awards and nominations for six Primetime Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She became the first African American woman to win a Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in "A Raisin in the Sun." She also received a Drama Desk Award for the same role. Rashad earned her second Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Dominique Morisseau's "Skeleton Crew." Her honors include People's Choice Awards, NAACP Image Awards, the Will Award from National Shakespeare Theatre, and the Spirit of Shakespeare Award from Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Her film and television credits include "A Fall From Grace," "Creed," "Creed II," "For Colored Girls," "Soul," "Jingle Jangle," and "Black Box," as well as "This Is Us," "David Makes Man," and "Empire." Rashad has also appeared in "Creed III" and "The Beekeeper." She provided the voice for the Disney-Pixar animated film "Soul." Rashad has held recurring roles in TV series such as "The Gilded Age" and Lena Waithe's "The Chi."

As a stage director, Rashad has led productions at venues including Mark Taper Forum, McCarter, Goodman, Long Wharf, Steppenwolf, Ebony Repertory, and Signature Theatre. She made her Broadway directorial debut with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' "Purpose," which won the Tony Award for Best Play, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, and New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. Rashad is a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Rashad served as Inaugural Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and Inaugural Toni Morrison Chair at Howard University. She is an advocate for arts education and has mentored young actors through various programs and initiatives. Rashad has taught master classes at institutions including Howard University, Juilliard, and Carnegie Mellon, contributing to the development of the next generation of performing artists.