Phylicia Rashad
Birth Place: Houston, TX, USA
Woodie King Jr. to Be Honored With Special Tribute at The Barrymore Theatre (Feb 25, 2026)
Lillias White Will Perform Concert to Kick Off Core Theatre Group's 2026 Season (Feb 23, 2026)
Ronald Rand to Star in LET IT BE ART! South Carolina Premiere at Bluebird Theatre (Feb 16, 2026)
BIO
Phylicia Rashad made her Broadway directorial debut with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Purpose, which won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play, Drama Desk Award (Outstanding Play), and New York Drama Critics Circle Award (Best Play). Other directing credits include: Our Lady of 121st Street, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Fences, Gem of the Ocean, A Raisin in the Sun, The Roommate, and Four Little Girls. This marks her third time directing Immediate Family. Producing credits include the 2024 Tony nominated Broadway revival of Ossie Davis’s Purlie Victorious, and the PBS film The Old Settler.
Fondly remembered by television audiences for her portrayal of Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, Phylicia Rashad can be seen this season in recurring roles in hit TV series The Gilded Age and Lena Waithe’s The CHI. Film and television credits include: The Beekeeper, Jingle Jangle, Pixar’s Soul, Black Box, A Fall from Grace, Creed, Creed II, Creed III, For Colored Girls, This is Us, Diarra from Detroit, Little America, The Crossover, The Good Fight, David Makes Man, and Empire.
A Theater Hall of Fame inductee (2016) , Ms. Rashad received Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her performances as Faye in Skeleton Crew(2022) and as Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun (2004), the Lucille Lortel Award for her performance as Shelah in Tarrell Alvin McCraney’s Head of Passes (2016), and a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Ester in August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean (2005).
Rashad, who serves as co-chair of the advisory council for the African American Cultural Heritage Fund, is Dean Emerita of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. She served as Inaugural Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts and Inaugural Toni Morrison Chair at Howard University. She was also the first recipient of the Denzel Washington Scholar Chair at Fordham University. She holds Honorary Doctorates from Bennett College, Barber -Scotia College, Clark-Atlanta University, Brown University, Providence College, Tuskegee University, Carnegie-Mellon University, Fordham University, Spelman College, Morris Brown College, St. Augustine College, University of South Carolina at Columbia, and Howard University.
Most recently, she directed Immediate Family at Blumenthal Arts.
Photos
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STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Movies
[ 1995 ] Ma Ponk
[ 1999 ] Alice Melville
[ 2000 ] Dr. Coles
[ 2007 ] Historical Narration
[ 2010 ] Edna
[ 2010 ] Ella McKnight
[ 2010 ] Gilda
[ 2012 ] Wilimena
[ 2013 ] Demeter
[ 2015 ] Mary Anne Creed
[ 2018 ] Mary Anne Creed
[ 2020 ] Grandmother Journey
[ 2020 ] Libba
[ 2020 ] Lillian
[ 2020 ] Sarah
[ 2021 ] Sunday Legend #12
[ 2023 ] Mary Anne Creed
[ 2024 ] Eloise Parker
[ 2025 ] Naomi
TV Shows
Clair Huxtable
Ruth Lucas
Dr. Woods-Trap
Diana DuBois
Brenda, Brenda Glover
Winnifred Guster
Dee Dee Tubbs
Clair Huxtable
Carol Clarke
Elizabeth Jessup
Mary
[ 2023-2024 ] Georgia
Vonda
[ 2022-2025 ] Elizabeth Kirkland
[ 2018-2025 ] Renee
Awards and Nominations
Phylicia Rashad, Purpose
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
winner
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Phylicia Rashad, Head of Passes
winner
Phylicia Rashad, Head of Passes
Phylicia Rashadevery tongue confess
Phylicia Rashad, Gem of the Ocean
winner
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin In The Sun
winner
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
winner
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
Phylicia Rashad, Blue
Phylicia RashadBlues for an Alabama Sky
Videos
Video: Alvin Ailey Celebrates At Opening Night Gala Featuring Honorary Chair And Honored Guest Ciara
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-12-04 21:17:53
Video: Watch the Trailer for Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne Theater Documentary THIS PLACE MATTERS! TEN CHIMNEYS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-10-09 11:57:15
Video: Watch the Trailer for Netflix's RUTH & BOAZ Featuring Phylicia Rashad
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-08-28 15:34:23
Video: HBO Previews Season 3 Finale of THE GILDED AGE in Tense New Sneak Peek
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-08-04 15:21:53
Video: Morgan Spector Recalls Breakout Role in Broadway's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-31 11:11:30
Video: THE GILDED AGE Stars Denée Benton and Louisa Jacobson Talk Season 3, Working with Broadway Legends & More
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-21 13:12:52
Video: Audra McDonald, Denée Benton, & More Discuss Portrayal of Black Elite in THE GILDED AGE
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-17 15:20:43
Video: See Andrea Martin as Madame Dashkova in New Sneak Peek of THE GILDED AGE
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-07 16:40:07
Video: THE GILDED AGE Stars Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon Discuss Theater's Impact on the Series
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-06-17 13:56:05
Video: Kara Young Recalls Falling in Love with Performing During a Mime Class
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-06-03 15:59:50
Video: LaTanya Richardson Jackson Talks PURPOSE and Directing Husband Samuel L. Jackson in THE PIANO LESSON
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-04-08 15:27:08
Video: LaTanya Richardson Jackson Shares What She Wrote on New Sardi's Portrait
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-03-27 14:37:55
Video: Phylicia Rashad Talks Directing Broadway's PURPOSE, Praises Collaborators
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-03-12 17:11:36
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 25, 2026
The life and legacy of Woodie King Jr. (1937–2026) will be honored at a special tribute at the Shubert Organization’s Barrymore Theatre.
by Stephi Wild - Feb 23, 2026
Lillias White is set to kick off Core Theatre Group's upcoming 2026 season with a special concert performance on March 16. She will be joined by Dennis Stowe. Learn more here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 16, 2026
U.S. Cultural Ambassador Ronald Rand will be bringing Harold Clurman, the 'Elder Statesman of the American Theatre' alive in the South Caroilna premiere of his solo play, Let It Be Art! at the Bluebird Theatre in Orangeburg.
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 13, 2026
Casting details have been released for the upcoming fourth season of The Gilded Age, the HBO costume drama full of Broadway and stage veterans. New additions to the cast include Tony Award winner Bonnie Milligan, Tony Award nominee Taylor Trensch, Maggie Kuntz (John Proctor Is the Villain, The Outsiders), and more.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 4, 2026
Amas Musical Theatre will celebrate its 58th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit on Monday, May 11, 2026 at “Rosetta's Place” at Penthouse 45 (432 West 45th Street - NYC).
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 3, 2026
Center Theatre Group will present CTG: The Gala, the not-for-profit's annual event which will be held at The Music Center, featuring cocktails and dinner on the Jerry Moss Plaza and a one-night-only show at the Mark Taper Forum.
by Gillian Blum - Jan 31, 2026
Producer, director, and New Federal Theatre founder Woodie King Jr. passed away at 88 on January 29 following complications from emergency heart surgery.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 26, 2026
Theatre Aspen is now accepting submissions through Friday, April 10 for the organization’s seventh annual one-person show festival, Solo Flights. Solo Flights is an annual weeklong developmental festival of one-person shows.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 8, 2026
Wendell Pierce will be honored with Shakespeare Theatre Company's Will Award at its annual Gala, All the World’s a Stage. The annual Sea Change Award will be presented to arts philanthropists Sudhakar and Alka Kesavan.
by Sidney Paterra - Dec 30, 2025
37 Broadway shows opened in 2025, and while not all of them were loved by the critics, there were plenty of standouts all year long. We're breaking down the best Broadway shows of 2025 by month, as reviewed by New York City theatre critics and rounded up right here at BroadwayWorld.
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 5, 2025
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has opened its 2025–26 season with a gala evening honoring Board Chair Daria L. Wallach and featuring appearances by Ciara and Colman Domingo. See video from inside the celebration.
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 29, 2025
From the new Jonas Brothers Christmas special to musical classics like White Christmas, take a look here to find out which holiday streaming titles will bring a Broadway fan some extra joy this year.
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 26, 2025
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater‘s 2025-26 season–which raises the curtain on AILEY's next era under the leadership of new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack, the renowned dancer and educator.
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 17, 2025
On November 16, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences celebrated the Academy’s 16th Governors Awards in Hollywood, with attendees that included Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Lopez, Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, and more. Take a look at photos here.
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 7, 2025
The Bret Adams & Paul Reisch Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2025 Idea Awards for Theatre, recognizing adventurous new voices in playwriting and musical theatre alongside the visionary playwrights who have shaped the field.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 30, 2025
The Olivier Award-winning Oedipus, an adaptation created and directed by Robert Icke, will begin performances on Broadway on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Meet the cast of Oedipus here!
by Josh Sharpe - Oct 27, 2025
With the new documentary This Place Matters! Ten Chimneys, CEO Randy Bryant aims to shed light on the rich history of Ten Chimneys and its enduring presence in the theater community.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 15, 2025
Additional casting has been announced for August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway, starring Taraji P. Henson and Cedric “The Entertainer”. Learn more here!
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 14, 2025
Multi-award-winning actor Santino Fontana, has joined the star-studded cast of TARRYTOWN THE MUSICAL, a one-night-only musical event playing at the Tarrytown Music Hall on October 30.
by Josh Sharpe - Oct 9, 2025
The official trailer has debuted for This Place Matters! Ten Chimneys, the new documentary spotlighting influential theater couple Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Check out the trailer, which features interviews with Joel Grey, Jason Alexander, Tyne Daly, Phylicia Rashad, Alfred Molina, and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Phylicia Rashad has appeared on Broadway in 8 shows.
Phylicia Rashad has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Direction of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Purpose, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Skeleton Crew, Distinguished Performance Awards (Drama League Awards) for Skeleton Crew, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Skeleton Crew, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Skeleton Crew, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Head of Passes, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (The Lortels) for Head of Passes, Outstanding Supporting Actress, Resident Play (Helen Hayes Awards) for every tongue confess, 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, Outstanding Actress - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for A Raisin in the Sun, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for A Raisin in the Sun, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for A Raisin in the Sun, 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 prestigious awards throughout her career. She received the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for Skeleton Crew. She also earned the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play from The Lortels for Head of Passes. Additionally, she won the Best Leading Actress in a Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards for A Raisin in the Sun. Rashad was honored with the Outstanding Actress - Play award from the Drama Desk Awards for A Raisin in the Sun. Furthermore, she won the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for A Raisin in the Sun.
Videos