Phylicia Rashad

Phylicia Rashad was born in Houston, Texas as Phylicia Ayers-Allen on 19 June 1948. Her parents are Andrew Arthur Allen and Vivian Ayers. Father Andrew was an orthodontist who died in 1984. Talking about her mother she is an artist who was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. She also was a scholar, poet, publisher, and playwright.

Phylicia has a brother and sister named Andrew Arthur Allen and Debbie Allen respectively. Tex (Andrew) is a jazz-musician and sister Debbie is a director, actress, and choreographer. Her other brother Hugh Allen is a banker in the real estate industry in North Carolina. All of them grew up in Mexico after the family shifted there.

She completed her graduation from Howard University in magna cum laude in the year 1970 with a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts. She is the member of Alpha Kappa Alpha from her university period.

Phylicia has married three times in her life. She was first married to husband William Lancelot Bowles, Jr. in the year 1972 and have a son William Lancelot Bowles III. They got divorced in 1975. Later in 1978, she tied a knot with husband Victor Willis, however, got legally separated in 1982.

Again in 1985, she exchanged marriage vows with sportscaster and NFL wide receiver Ahmad Rashad on 14 December. She has a daughter from this marri age, Condola Phyleia Rashad, on 11 December 1989. Phylicia and Ahmad got divorced in early 2001.

Phylicia Rashad first tried her luck on stage. She played Munchkin in The Wiz for more than three years. In 1978, her album 'Josephine Superstar' was released. She also did many Broadway including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Raisin in the Sun, August: Osage County, Gem of the Ocean, Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, Into the Woods, and Jelly's Last Jam.

Phylicia also entered on the television screen as Ventita Ray in Delvecchio for the episode 'Wax Jobs'. She then became the cast of ABC soap opera 'One Life to Live' by Courtney Wright in 1983. Her role as attorney Clair Huxtable on NBC sitcom 'The Cosby Show' was also very much appreciated. Other than that she also co-hosted the NBC's Macy's Thanking Day Parade with Bert Convy and Pat Sajak.

During the time she was having a high career in theatre, she returned to the CBS' 'Cosby' which ran for four years. She also did religious performances at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and Huntington Theatre in Boston.

Phylicia was given the Best Actress Tony Award for her performance as Lena Younger in the play 'A Raisin in the Sun'. She was the first black to get any nationality award. There was again the same nomination made the following year for 'Gem of the Ocean'.

In 2004, she got the Drama Desk Award for Best Actress for 'A Raisin in the Sun'. She then entered in the directorial part along with the Seattle Repertory Theatre. They produced Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson in 2007.

In 2007 she was on 'Everybody Hates Chris and Psych. The following years did the television adaption of 'A Raisin in the Sun'. Phylicia did the movie For Colored Girls based on the play of the same title. Her next movie was Tyler Perry's 'Good Deeds' in 2014.

She produced 'Fences' at the McCarter in Princeton, NJ in the year 2014. Before that in 2008, as per wiki, giving continuity to her theater career she was seen in Pulitzer Prize winning Tennessee Williams' 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' all African –American production. It was produced Phylicia's sister Debbie Allen.

She also appeared the play 'Brick' with different other talented actors. Later in the year 2009, her role as Violet Weston on the Tracy Lett's August: Osage County became award winning. In late 2016 she directed Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

Phylicia was also seen doing the role of Shelah in Tarell Avin McCraney's Head of Passes from 17 March to 1 May 2016 at The Public Theater. She guest starred in the third season of 'Empire' on Fox as Diana. She played the role of Bishop Yvette A. Flunder in 'When We Rise'.

Phylicia Rashad has made a great fortune working in the showbiz industry. She is very famous for almost every movie and shows she has done. She has also won various awards in her lifetime.

Talking about her net worth, Phylicia Rashad has the estimated net worth of $55 million.