Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad (born Phylicia Ayers-Allen, June 19, 1948) is an American actress, singer, and stage director. She became widely known for portraying Clair Huxtable on the television sitcom *The Cosby Show* (1984–1992). Rashad has also built a major career in theater, earning the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in the Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s *A Raisin in the Sun*. Her stage work includes acting and directing across Broadway and regional productions. In 2021, she was appointed dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University.