Keshia Knight Pulliam
Encyclopedia
Keshia Knight Pulliam is an American actress. She is most recognized for her childhood role as Rudy Huxtable on the long-running NBC
sitcom
The Cosby Show
. Currently, she appears as reformed con artist Miranda Lucas-Payne on the TBS comedy-drama
Tyler Perry's House of Payne
.
. She is the daughter of Denise and James Pulliam, Sr., a manager. She has 3 younger brothers.
Pulliam attended Rutgers Preparatory School
in Somerset, New Jersey
. After The Cosby Show
ended her family moved to Virginia, where Pulliam attended the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia
and Foxcroft School
in Middleburg, Virginia
. She received a bachelor of arts degree in Sociology from Spelman College
in 2001. Pulliam is a member of Delta Sigma Theta
sorority, initiated through the Eta Kappa
chapter.
She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia
.
. Her character on The Cosby Show
, Rudy, was known for being the "baby" of the family. She is ranked #19 in VH1
's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars". In a 2008 interview, she revealed that when she read for the role of Rudy, when she was only 5, she kept looking away from the director (Jay Sandrich
), who finally asked her what she was looking at. She said when pointing to a monitor, "How can you make me on the TV?" Apparently, the director thought her role would be perfect for her: smart as a whip – cute as a bug, or a goldfish. Throughout the show's eight seasons, Pulliam had a wonderful on- and off-screen chemistry with Bill Cosby
, as the two shared their own friendships, when not filming. She also said of her TV father and her favorite episode of The Cosby Show, "Mr. Cosby and I, we had a competition going on to see who would do a better job at lip-syncing. That was our little inside thing. I think I did a better job." She also appeared on a 1997 episode of Cosby
, playing a different character. Today, she is still friends with Cosby.
Pulliam won a celebrity version of Fear Factor
in September 2002. She also won a celebrity version of The Weakest Link
and participated in "Celebrity Mole 2: Yucatan
". In 2004, she performed in Chingy
's music video
for "One Call Away
". In 2005, she played Darnelle in Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah.
According to an interview on Real Talk with Jeanne Roberts of St. Louis, Pulliam performed in Donald Gray's play The Man of Her Dreams in the fall of 2006. In 2008, she joined the cast of Tyler Perry's House of Payne
as Miranda, the new wife of Calvin Payne. The role earned her the 2009 and 2010 NAACP Image Award
s for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
.
In 2009, she portrayed Candy in the film Madea Goes To Jail.
In 2011, commenting on the fact that no Black actors had won Golden Globe Awards that year, she said:
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
. Currently, she appears as reformed con artist Miranda Lucas-Payne on the TBS comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Tyler Perry's House of Payne is an American comedy-drama television series created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolves around a multi-generational family living under one roof in Atlanta, Georgia led by patriarch Curtis Payne and his wife Ella...
.
Personal life
Keshia Knight Pulliam was born in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. She is the daughter of Denise and James Pulliam, Sr., a manager. She has 3 younger brothers.
Pulliam attended Rutgers Preparatory School
Rutgers Preparatory School
Rutgers Preparatory School is a private, coeducational, university preparatory day school located in Somerset, New Jersey serving students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade...
in Somerset, New Jersey
Somerset, New Jersey
Somerset is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located at the easternmost section within Franklin Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey. At the 2000 United States Census, the CDP population was 23,040...
. After The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
ended her family moved to Virginia, where Pulliam attended the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia
McLean, Virginia
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
and Foxcroft School
Foxcroft School
Foxcroft School, founded in 1914 by Ms. Charlotte Haxall Noland, is an independent boarding and day school for girls in grades 9–12, located near Middleburg, Virginia, United States....
in Middleburg, Virginia
Middleburg, Virginia
Middleburg is a town in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States with a population of approximately 976 as of July 2010.-History:The town was established in 1787 by American Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel and Virginia statesman, Levin Powell. He purchased the land for Middleburg at $2.50 per...
. She received a bachelor of arts degree in Sociology from Spelman College
Spelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
in 2001. Pulliam is a member of Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
sorority, initiated through the Eta Kappa
Spelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
chapter.
She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Career
Pulliam became the youngest actress ever to be nominated for an Emmy, at age six for best supporting actress. Even before that – at age 3 – she played Keshia on Sesame StreetSesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
. Her character on The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
, Rudy, was known for being the "baby" of the family. She is ranked #19 in VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars". In a 2008 interview, she revealed that when she read for the role of Rudy, when she was only 5, she kept looking away from the director (Jay Sandrich
Jay Sandrich
Jay Henry Sandrich is an American television director.He began his career as an Assistant Director on I Love Lucy. Sandrich has directed and/or produced episodes of The Bill Dana Show, Get Smart, 2/3 of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Soap, first 3 seasons of The Cosby Show, and The Odd Couple...
), who finally asked her what she was looking at. She said when pointing to a monitor, "How can you make me on the TV?" Apparently, the director thought her role would be perfect for her: smart as a whip – cute as a bug, or a goldfish. Throughout the show's eight seasons, Pulliam had a wonderful on- and off-screen chemistry with Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
, as the two shared their own friendships, when not filming. She also said of her TV father and her favorite episode of The Cosby Show, "Mr. Cosby and I, we had a competition going on to see who would do a better job at lip-syncing. That was our little inside thing. I think I did a better job." She also appeared on a 1997 episode of Cosby
Cosby
Cosby is a situation comedy television series broadcast on CBS from September 16, 1996 to April 28, 2000, loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. The program starred Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashād...
, playing a different character. Today, she is still friends with Cosby.
Pulliam won a celebrity version of Fear Factor
Fear Factor
Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
in September 2002. She also won a celebrity version of The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
and participated in "Celebrity Mole 2: Yucatan
The Mole (U.S. Season 4)
Celebrity Mole: Yucatan was the fourth overall season of the American version of The Mole and aired from January 7 to February 18, 2004. It was filmed on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, and based primarily at the Occidental Grand Flamenco Xcaret Resort...
". In 2004, she performed in Chingy
Chingy
Howard Bailey, Jr. , better known by his stage name Chingy, is an American rapper.Chingy grew up in the Walnut Park section of St. Louis and began rapping in earnest in his late teens...
's music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "One Call Away
One Call Away
"One Call Away" is the third single released from Chingy's album Jackpot and features J-Weav. The song reached number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number twenty-six on the UK Singles Chart. The music video features an appearance by actress Keshia Knight Pulliam and professional AND1...
". In 2005, she played Darnelle in Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah.
According to an interview on Real Talk with Jeanne Roberts of St. Louis, Pulliam performed in Donald Gray's play The Man of Her Dreams in the fall of 2006. In 2008, she joined the cast of Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Tyler Perry's House of Payne is an American comedy-drama television series created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolves around a multi-generational family living under one roof in Atlanta, Georgia led by patriarch Curtis Payne and his wife Ella...
as Miranda, the new wife of Calvin Payne. The role earned her the 2009 and 2010 NAACP Image Award
NAACP Image Award
An NAACP Image Award is an accolade presented by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature....
s for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:-Stats:*Most Wins**Terri J. Vaughn & Camille Winbush- 3 wins*Most Nominations**1. Sheryl Lee Ralph, Wendy Raquel Robinson- 5 nominations, 0 wins...
.
In 2009, she portrayed Candy in the film Madea Goes To Jail.
In 2011, commenting on the fact that no Black actors had won Golden Globe Awards that year, she said:
I think that there is definitely work to be done. It can always be more diverse. We live in a very multicultural and global society. More needs to be done to increase the representation of all people and really show the world for what it is. It’s not just one color.
Filmography
- Madea Goes to Jail (2009) – Candace "Candy" Washington
- Cuttin' Da Mustard (2008) – Wendy
- Death TollDeath TollDeath Toll is a 2008 action film starring DMX, Lou Diamond Phillips, Leila Arcieri and Keshia Knight Pulliam, written and produced by Daniel Garcia of the rap group Kane & Abel and directed by Phenomenon...
(2008) – Mirie - The Gospel (2005) – Maya Walker
- Beauty ShopBeauty ShopBeauty Shop is a 2005 American comedy film, directed by Bille Woodruff. The film is a spin-off of the Barbershop film franchise, and stars Queen Latifah as Gina, a character which was first introduced in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business...
(2005) – Darnelle - MotivesMotives (film)Motives is a 2004 thriller starring Vivica A. Fox, Shemar Moore, Golden Brooks, Sean Blakemore and Keshia Knight Pulliam. The sequel, Motives 2, was released in 2007 .-Synopsis:...
(2004) – Letrice - The Little Match GirlThe Little Match GirlThe Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's dreams and hope, and was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media including animated film, and a television musical.-Plot summary:On a cold New Year’s...
(1987) – Molly - The Last DragonThe Last DragonThe Last Dragon is a 1985 martial arts musical film produced by Rupert Hitzig for Berry Gordy and directed by Michael Schultz. The film was a critical disappointment but a financial success, The Last Dragon is now considered a cult classic. The film stars Taimak, Vanity, Julius Carry, Christopher...
(1985) – Sophie Green
Television
- The Cosby ShowThe Cosby ShowThe Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
(1984–1992) - A Different World (1987–1988)
- The Little Match GirlThe Little Match GirlThe Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's dreams and hope, and was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media including animated film, and a television musical.-Plot summary:On a cold New Year’s...
(1987) - Polly (1989)
- A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's CourtA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's CourtA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is an 1889 novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled A Yankee in King Arthur's Court...
(1989) - Polly: Comin' Home (1991)
- What About Your Friends: Weekend GetawayWhat About Your Friends: Weekend GetawayWhat About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway is a 2002 drama made for TV.- Cast :*Keshia Knight Pulliam - Temple*Angell Conwell - Alex*Monica McSwain - Breena*Kym Whitley - Ms. Wells *Riley Weston - Sydney*Edwin Morrow - Kendel...
(2002) - The MoleThe Mole (U.S. Season 4)Celebrity Mole: Yucatan was the fourth overall season of the American version of The Mole and aired from January 7 to February 18, 2004. It was filmed on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, and based primarily at the Occidental Grand Flamenco Xcaret Resort...
(U.S., Season 4) (2004) - Christmas at Water's EdgeChristmas at Water's EdgeChristmas at Water's Edge is a film about a wealthy collegian and an angel-in-training who work together to organize a holiday concert for a youth center.-External links:* Christmas at Water's Edge:...
(2004) - Tyler Perry's House of PayneTyler Perry's House of PayneTyler Perry's House of Payne is an American comedy-drama television series created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolves around a multi-generational family living under one roof in Atlanta, Georgia led by patriarch Curtis Payne and his wife Ella...
(2008–present) - Harlem HeightsHarlem Heights (TV series)Harlem Heights is a BET reality show. It documents the lives of eight trendy African-American 20-somethings as they navigate through relationships and their professional lives. The series airs Mondays only on BET. The future of the show is unknown...
(2009) - PsychPsychPsych is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks and broadcast on USA Network. It stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened observational skills" and impressive detective instincts...
(2010)
Awards and nominations
- NAACP Image Awards 2011: Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (nominated) Tyler Perry's House of PayneTyler Perry's House of PayneTyler Perry's House of Payne is an American comedy-drama television series created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolves around a multi-generational family living under one roof in Atlanta, Georgia led by patriarch Curtis Payne and his wife Ella...
- NAACP Image Awards 2010: Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (won) Tyler Perry's House of PayneTyler Perry's House of PayneTyler Perry's House of Payne is an American comedy-drama television series created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolves around a multi-generational family living under one roof in Atlanta, Georgia led by patriarch Curtis Payne and his wife Ella...
- NAACP Image Awards 2009: Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (won) Tyler Perry's House of Payne
- NAACP Image Awards 2008: Best supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (won) Tyler Perry's House of Payne
- Emmy Awards 1984: Best Supporting Young Actress in the Comedy Series (nominated) The Cosby ShowThe Cosby ShowThe Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...