Birth Place: Houston, TX, USA
Phylicia Rashad has brought laughter to millions of television viewers around the world, moved theatre-goers to tears, thrilled movie fans, offered new insights to students by teaching master classes at renowned learning institutions that include Howard University, Julliard, and Carnegie Mellon, served on boards of prestigious organizations, and broken new ground as a director. She is one of the entertainment world's most extraordinary performing artists. She became a household name when she portrayed “Claire Huxtable†on The Cosby Show, earning numerous honors and awards for over two decades. She teamed up with Bill Cosby in later years on television as “Ruth Lucas†on Cosby.
She portrayed the role of Dr. Vanessa Young in the NBC series, Do No Harm. She has also been a force on the stage, appearing both on and off-Broadway, often in projects that showcase her musical talent such as "Jelly's Last Jam, "Into The Woods, "Dreamgirls" and "The Wiz" as well as dramatic roles in August Osage County (“Violet Westonâ€), in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (“Big Mama†-- a role that she reprised on the London Stage), in August Wilson’s Gem Of The Ocean, (“Aunt Ester†--Tony Award nomination), and in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline (“Queen Britanniaâ€) at Lincoln Center.
She received both the Drama Desk and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, as “Lena Younger†in the Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun. She appeared in Tyler Perry's Good Deeds, and starred in his highly acclaimed film version of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf. She received Critics’ rave reviews for her directorial debut at the Seattle Repertory Theatre with August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, and for The Ebony Repertory Theatre’s production of A Raisin in the Sun in the spring of 2011. She recently directed August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.
She is the first recipient of the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre at Fordham University, and has received Honorary Doctorates from Spelman College, Fordham University, Carnegie Mellon University, Howard University, Providence College, Morris Brown College, Clark Atlanta University, Barber Scotia College, St. Augustine College, and Brown University. She serves on the Advisory Board of the PRASAD Project and the Board of Directors of True Colors Theatre, the Broadway Inspirational Voices, The Actors Center, the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University, and the ADEPT Center, which is steering the restoration of the historic Brainerd Institute. A native of Houston, Texas, she graduated magna cum laude from Howard University.
From: Photos: BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY Opens At Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum
From: Photos: BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY Opens At Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum
From: Photos: BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY Opens At Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum
From: Photos: BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY Opens At Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum
From: Photo Flash: Phylicia Rashad and the Cast of IMMEDIATE FAMILY Celebrate Opening Night at the Taper
From: Photo Blast From The Past: 2012 Tony Nominees - The Woman
From: Photo Flash: A RAISIN IN THE SUN Opens at CTG/Kirk Douglas Theatre
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Phylicia Rashad, Head of Passes
Phylicia Rashad, Head of Passes
Phylicia Rashadevery tongue confess
Phylicia Rashad, Gem of the Ocean
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin In The Sun
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
Phylicia Rashad, Blue
Phylicia RashadBlues for an Alabama Sky
Get a first look at Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world premiere of Purpose, an epic family drama by two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad. Check out the video!
The 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards were announced during a ceremony on Saturday, March 16th. See the full list of winners here!
Steppenwolf Theatre Company has released a trailer for their production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' PURPOSE. Watch video footage here!
Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ epic family drama Purpose has added one additional week of performances. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Check out rehearsal photos for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's world premiere of Purpose, an epic family drama by two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad, here!
Amas Musical Theatre will celebrate its 55th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit Concert on Monday, May 13, 2024 at Baruch Performing Arts Center.
The restructuring of the industry continues - in North Carolina, Raleigh has lost one of its major institutions (for the time being) as North Carolina Theater suspends their 2024 season and files for bankruptcy. The labor movement continues to notch wins in New York, as the Atlantic Theater workers have voted to join IATSE.
We’ve all heard about the shuttering of media outlets and the departure of entertainment journalists from publications still in business. In the last couple of months, I’ve been thinking a lot about how the dearth of theater coverage is changing our perception of the art form.
In honor of Black History Month, On the Verge Theatre is presenting Tied, a one-man play by Crystal Rae on-stage February 22 - 25, 2024 at Bering Church. Check out production photos here!
The Broadway premiere of The Outsiders, the new musical based on the novel by S.E. Hinton & Francis Ford Coppola’s film, begins previews tonight, Saturday, March 16. Meet the cast of The Outsiders here!
Steppenwolf Theatre Company will continue its 48th season with the world premiere of Purpose, an epic family drama by two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad. See photos of the company! Purpose will play March 14 – April 21, 2024 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater.
In honor of Black History Month, On the Verge Theatre will present Tied, a one-man play by Crystal Rae on-stage February 22 - 25, 2024. Learn more about the production here!
The 2024 George London Award winners have been announced, including soprano Katerina Burton, mezzo-sopranos Emily Treigle and Erin Wagner, tenor Samuel White, and baritones Benjamin Dickerson and Darren Drone.
The song showcases the vocal talents of both Porter and Evans, and is produced by 5x Grammy-winning musician, Robert Glasper. Written by Billy Porter, Conner Reeves (Tina Turner, Joe Cocker), and Joe Killington (Dap Kings, James Smith), the song is primed to be a LGBTQ+ wedding anthem for years to come.
Watch as Steppenwolf Artistic Director Glenn Davis talks about bringing Purpose to Steppenwolf. 'That's what Steppenwolf does best!' Davis can’t say enough about the world premiere of PURPOSE and the incredible lineup of artists assembling to create this incendiary theatrical event.
ABC Owned Television Stations presents 'Our America: In the Black', a new documentary that explores the experiences and perspectives of Black Americans in various aspects of life. Join us as we delve into the challenges, triumphs, and contributions of the Black community. Watch a video trailer now!
The New York Pops will celebrate the hits of Motown on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall joined by guest artists Bryan Terrell Clark and Valisia LeKae.
The NAACP Image Award Nominations have been announced, with The Color Purple leading with a total of 16 nominations, with nods for Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Halle Bailey, Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, and more. Check out the full list of nominations now!
Theatre Aspen is now accepting submissions through Friday, April 12 for the organization’s fifth annual one-person show festival, Solo Flights.
Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad returns to Steppenwolf to direct the world premiere of PURPOSE, a epic family drama by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. In all new video, Rashad discusses this powerful show, the exciting process and why she's glad to be back at Steppenwolf.
Phylicia Rashad has appeared on Broadway in 8 shows.
Phylicia Rashad has not appeared in the West End.
Phylicia Rashad has been nominated for several prestigious awards throughout her career, including Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for "Skeleton Crew," Distinguished Performance Awards (Drama League Awards) for "Skeleton Crew," and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for "Skeleton Crew." She has also been nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for "Skeleton Crew" and a Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for "Head of Passes." Additionally, she received nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (The Lortels) for "Head of Passes" and Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play (Helen Hayes Awards) for "Every Tongue Confess." Rashad's nominations include Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for "Gem of the Ocean," Best Leading Actress in a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for "A Raisin In The Sun," and Outstanding Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for "A Raisin in the Sun." She was also nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for her role in "A Raisin in the Sun." Rashad's nominations further include Outstanding Lead Actress (The Lortels) for "Blue" and Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Play (Helen Hayes Awards) for "Blues for an Alabama Sky."
Phylicia Rashad has won several awards for her performances in various plays. These include the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for "Skeleton Crew," the Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for "Head of Passes," the BroadwayWorld Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play for "A Raisin In The Sun," the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress - Play for "A Raisin in the Sun," and another Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for "A Raisin in the Sun."
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