Before Michelle Obama and her kitten heels strode in to the White House and before Real Thirsty Wannabes and Basketball Fiancees & Baby Mamas hit the airwaves, for girls of a certain generation, Clair Huxtable was the epitome of affluent sophistication. In sitcomland, she managed to run a household of five precocious children and one hilarious husband all while maintaining a career as a lawyer and keeping a flawless brownstone. Elegant and eloquent, Clair’s relationship with Cliff and her children helped revolutionize television each Thursday night on NBC. Whether you had a mother like her – or just wished you did – her presence on the air was affirming (which makes this recent turn of events even more unfortunate).
Texas native Phylicia Rashad, who brought the character to life, is a gifted thespian as well as the first African-American to receive a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play. And who can forget that she was married to Ahmad Rashad? Bet you didn’t know she also tripped the light fantastic as a disco singer!