Where 'The Cosby Show' Cast Are Today
The Cosby Show was absolutely groundbreaking when it debuted in 1984. It presented an African-American family as upper-middle-class, and because of the prejudices of the time, that had never really been done on TV before. It was such an entertaining and socially important show that even Bill Cosby’s later prison time couldn’t taint its legacy. But where are its cast now?
Malcolm-Jamal Warner — Theodore Huxtable
Malcolm-Jamal Warner was cast by Cosby on the very last day of auditions. He’d had a few television appearances prior to that, but winning the role of Theo Huxtable changed his life forever.
The character of Theo was partly based on Cosby’s own son, Ennis. Ennis had dyslexia, so Theo was given the condition as well. And audiences connected with his struggles straight away.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner now
Warner was so good in the role of Theo that in 1986 he was shortlisted for an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award, the youngest person ever to be so nominated.
He’s still a very successful actor, and his recent work includes American Crime Story, Suits, The Resident, and Reed Between the Lines. He was nominated for a NAACP Image award for his role in that last one.
Raven-Symoné — Olivia Kendall
Raven-Symoné originally auditioned for a role in Cosby’s Ghost Dad. She had only been three years old at the time, so she was too young for that part, but Cosby instead cast her as Olivia in The Cosby Show.
Raven-Symoné was on the show right up until it ended in 1993, but she’s said that thanks to a dissociative disorder, she can’t actually remember a lot of what being on the show was like.
Raven-Symoné now
After The Cosby Show Raven-Symoné went on to the Disney Channel show That’s So Raven. It was a massive success, and it is currently the second-longest-running series in Disney Channel history.
She grew to adulthood in the public eye and is still very much a star now. You may have caught her in Empire, Black-ish, or the That’s So Raven revival series Raven’s Home. She’s an executive producer of that last one, too.