‘Cosby Show’ Star Phylicia Rashad, 78, Is Stunning With Long, Gray Curls in Rare Public Appearance
‘Cosby Show’ Star Phylicia Rashad, 78, Is Stunning With Long, Gray Curls in Rare Public Appearance
Megan JohnsonThu, October 1, 2026 at 7:20 PM UTC
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Phylicia Rashad may be an icon thanks to the ’80s and ’90s series The Cosby Show, but the TV queen is looking better than ever with gray curls in 2026.
Rashad, 78, became a household name in the role of matriarch Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984 to 1992. The beloved series, which starred Bill Cosby as her husband, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, went down in history for its hilarious comedy and groundbreaking depiction of a wealthy, upper-middle-class African American family living in New York City’s Brooklyn. More recently, she’s appeared in HBO’s The Gilded Age and Paramount+’s Diarra From Detroit. But Rashad isn’t just known for her role on the TV screen. She’s also an acclaimed theater actress and director with two Tony Awards under her belt.
Rashad made a rare appearance this week at the opening night of Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of “School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play” on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New York City. Sporting long, gray hair in stylish curls, the TV icon and theatrical star is absolutely thriving in her seventies.
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Rashad Has an Exciting New Film Project
Earlier this week, Deadline reported that Rashad just completed filming a short film, Alone, a psychological thriller that features a majority deaf cast. The project stars A Quiet Place actor Millicent Simmonds alongside Troy Kotsur and Nyle DiMarco.
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Simmonds plays Samantha, “a deaf woman living alone who receives an advanced humanoid robot designed to make her life easier. But as the machine learns her routines, emotions and past, their growing connection takes a dark and unsettling turn.”
What Does Rashad Think of the Current State of Television?
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The world of TV is light years away from what it was when Rashad was the queen of network television. But when asked by Variety in August how she feels about roles and shows that don’t accurately depict the Black experience, Rashad gave an answer that perfectly fit her trademark honesty and poise.
“And if there’s something on television that I don’t like, I simply don’t watch it,” she replied.
Related: ‘Cosby Show’ Icon Phylicia Rashad, 77, Is a Goddess With Massive Gray Bun Alongside Stunning Sister Debbie Allen, 75
This story was originally published by Parade on Oct 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
