---
name: "Phylicia Rashad"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/phylicia-rashad"
fi1m_id: "phylicia-rashad"
imdb_id: "nm0711118"
tmdb_id: 119598
wikidata_id: "Q242739"
roles: ["Actor","Director"]
born: "19 June 1948"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-07T18:51:35.078628+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Phylicia Rashad

## Identity

Phylicia Rashad

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/phylicia-rashad
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** phylicia-rashad
- **IMDb ID:** nm0711118
- **TMDB ID:** 119598
- **Wikidata ID:** Q242739
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylicia_Rashad, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q242739, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0711118/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/119598

Actor and director. Born 19 June 1948 in Houston, Texas, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director
- **Born:** 19 June 1948, Houston, Texas, USA
- **Active:** 2005–present
- **Also known as:** Phylicia Rashād, Phylicia Ayers-Allen
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 9: 8 acting, 1 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Michael B. Jordan](https://film.one/person/michael-b-jordan.md), [Tessa Thompson](https://film.one/person/tessa-thompson.md), [Ryan Coogler](https://film.one/person/ryan-coogler.md), [Sylvester Stallone](https://film.one/person/sylvester-stallone.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 74 (2), 2010s 74 (2), 2020s 73 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 71 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Action 3, Sport 3, Comedy 2, Music 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $948m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylicia_Rashad, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q242739, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0711118/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/119598

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Soul*](https://film.one/film/soul.md) (80), [*Creed III*](https://film.one/film/creed-iii.md) (72), [*Grey's Anatomy*](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md) (68)
- **Apple TV:** [*Creed*](https://film.one/film/creed.md) (85), [*Creed II*](https://film.one/film/creed-ii.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Phylicia Rashad

> Phylicia Rashād is often cast as the person a family relies on. We value the vulnerability beneath that authority: in *The Beekeeper*, a small part gives a blunt revenge thriller a reason to matter.

At her computer in *The Beekeeper* (2024), Phylicia Rashād lets embarrassment turn into fear while a reassuring voice on the telephone empties her character’s accounts. She plays Eloise Parker, a retired teacher whose wish to trust the helpful caller is horribly easy to understand. We were angry watching her realise what was happening, because her face made the fraud feel personal before the film could turn it into a reason for fighting. It is the strongest scene in David Ayer’s thriller.

Clair Huxtable in *The Cosby Show* (1984–1992) established the family authority with which she is still associated. Yet treating every subsequent maternal role as an extension of Clair is a poor way to watch her. Lena Younger in the stage production of *A Raisin in the Sun* (2004) belongs to that casting pattern, but her sustained work with August Wilson, as performer and director, suggests where to look beyond the television role. She began directing with his *Gem of the Ocean* in 2007.

The *Creed* films have used that familiarity, casting her as Mary-Anne Creed from *Creed* (2015) through *Creed III* (2023). Michael B. Jordan directs and stars in the third film, whose inventive fights are more persuasive than its hurried storytelling. It is a good boxing film, though it leaves us wishing the people outside the ring had more room. With Rashād, the danger is assuming that a recognisable family presence needs no further attention.

That is why the computer scene in *The Beekeeper* matters. Gabriel Beristain lights the call centre pink and purple, while Ben Munro’s open-plan set houses employees cheering as the money comes in. The villains are easy to dislike; Rashād has the harder task of making an unfamiliar victim matter quickly. She manages it, although the film around her is blunt and overexplains its beekeeping metaphor. Give her quiet scene the same attention as the fighting.

## On Fi1m (9)

### Performed in (8) — the average rests on these

- *The Beekeeper* (2024), Fi1m 60, as Eloise Parker — [page](https://film.one/film/the-beekeeper.md)
- *Creed III* (2023), Fi1m 72, as Mary-Anne Creed — [page](https://film.one/film/creed-iii.md)
- *tick, tick... BOOM!* (2021), Fi1m 72, as "Sunday" Legend #12 — [page](https://film.one/film/tick-tick-boom.md)
- *Little America* (2020), Fi1m 82, as Margaret Jean the Queen — [page](https://film.one/tv/little-america.md)
- *Soul* (2020), Fi1m 80, as Libba Gardner (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/soul.md)
- *Creed II* (2018), Fi1m 64, as Mary Anne Creed — [page](https://film.one/film/creed-ii.md)
- *Creed* (2015), Fi1m 85, as Mary Anne Creed — [page](https://film.one/film/creed.md)
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), Fi1m 80, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)

### Directed (1)

- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)

## Complete filmography (76)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Ruth & Boaz* (2025), as Naomi
- *Diarra from Detroit* (2024), series, as Vonda
- *The Beekeeper* (2024), as Eloise Parker — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/the-beekeeper.md)
- *Heaven Down Here* (2023), as Nancy
- *Curses!* (2023), series, as Georgia (voice)
- *Our Son* (2023), as Maya
- *Creed III* (2023), as Mary-Anne Creed — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/creed-iii.md)
- *The Gilded Age* (2022), series, as Elizabeth Kirkland
- *tick, tick... BOOM!* (2021), as "Sunday" Legend #12 — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/tick-tick-boom.md)
- *Show of Titles* (2021), as "There's No Business Like Show Business" Performer
- *Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous* (2021), as Anna Campbell
- *Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority* (2021), as Narrator (voice)
- *Soul* (2020), as Libba Gardner (voice) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/soul.md)
- *Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey* (2020), as Grandmother Journey
- *Black Box* (2020), as Lillian
- *A Fall from Grace* (2020), as Sarah
- *Little America* (2020), series, as Margaret Jean the Queen — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/little-america.md)
- *David Makes Man* (2019), series, as Dr. Woods-Trap
- *Creed II* (2018), as Mary Anne Creed — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/creed-ii.md)
- *Charlie's Place* (2018), as Narrator (voice)
- *Station 19* (2018), series, as Pilar
- *Tour de Pharmacy* (2017), as Victoria Young
- *The Good Fight* (2017), series, as Renetta Clark
- *This Is Us* (2016), series, as Carol Clarke — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-us.md)
- *Jean-Claude Van Johnson* (2016), series, as Jane
- *VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail the Queens* (2016), Actor
- *Creed* (2015), as Mary Anne Creed — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/creed.md)
- *Emily & Tim* (2015), as Emily (Segment 5)
- *Empire* (2015), series, as Diana DuBois
- *Gods Behaving Badly* (2013), as Demeter
- *Do No Harm* (2013), series, as Dr. Vanessa Young
- *Sofia the First* (2013), series, as Mountain Witch (voice)
- *Steel Magnolias* (2012), as Clairee
- *Good Deeds* (2012), as Wilimena Deeds
- *Change of Plans* (2011), as Dorothy
- *Frankie & Alice* (2010), as Edna
- *For Colored Girls* (2010), as Gilda
- *Just Wright* (2010), as Ella McKnight
- *A Raisin in the Sun* (2008), as Lena Younger
- *Psych* (2006), series, as Winnifred Guster
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), series, Actor — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Nell Timms · Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man* (2001), as Cassandra Hawkins
- *The Old Settler* (2001), as Elizabeth Barney
- *The Visit* (2001), as Dr. Coles
- *Bull* (2000), series, Actor
- *Little Bill* (1999), series, as Brenda Glover (voice)
- *Free of Eden* (1999), as Desiree
- *Dinosaur - Preshow* (1998), as Dr Helen Marsh
- *Cosby* (1996), series, as Ruth Lucas
- *Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored* (1996), as Ma Ponk
- *The Babysitter's Seduction* (1996), as Kate Jacobs
- *The Possession of Michael D.* (1995), as Dr. Marion Hale (Psychiatrist)
- *In the House* (1995), series, Actor
- *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as Lady Fulton (voice)
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Elizabeth Jessup
- *David's Mother* (1994), as Gladys Johnson
- *Hallelujah* (1993), as Mayor Turner
- *Jailbirds* (1991), as Janice Grant
- *Polly: Comin' Home!* (1990), as Aunt Polly
- *Blossom* (1990), series, Actor
- *The Earth Day Special* (1990), as Clair Huxtable
- *Polly* (1989), as Aunt Polly
- *False Witness* (1989), as Lynne Jacobi
- *Mickey's 60th Birthday* (1988), as Disneyland Cleaning Lady
- *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* (1987), series, as Jane Goodfellow (voice)
- *A Different World* (1987), series, as Clair Huxtable
- *Uncle Tom's Cabin* (1987), as Eliza
- *Nell Carter... Never Too Old to Dream* (1986), Actor
- *The Cosby Show* (1984), series, as Clair Huxtable
- *Reading Rainbow* (1983), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Mayor Turner
- *We're Fighting Back* (1981), Actor
- *The Broad Coalition* (1972), Actor
- *Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade* (1948), series, Actor
- *Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Affair*, as Judge Elaine Carter

## Gallery

- ![Phylicia Rashad](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-ea287c2b8bfe.jpg) Phylicia Rashad — John Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Phylicia_Rashad_1998a_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Phylicia_Rashad_1998a_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![“A Fall From Grace” Cast Joins The Circle (2020)](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-1d865545d00a.jpg) “A Fall From Grace” Cast Joins The Circle (2020) — Sister Circle TV, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/A_Fall_From_Grace_cast.jpg/1280px-A_Fall_From_Grace_cast.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Debbie Allen & Phylicia Rashad at the first anniversary celebration for "Hell's Kitchen" on Broadway, April 2025](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-bb8943e2ea83.jpg) Debbie Allen & Phylicia Rashad at the first anniversary celebration for "Hell's Kitchen" on Broadway, April 2025 — PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/DebbieAllenPhyliciaRashad-byPhilipRomano.jpg/1280px-DebbieAllenPhyliciaRashad-byPhilipRomano.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Phylicia Rashad at the first anniversary celebration of "Hell's Kitchen" on Broadway, April 2025](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-fb0612882f2d.jpg) Phylicia Rashad at the first anniversary celebration of "Hell's Kitchen" on Broadway, April 2025 — Wiki-nPhoenix, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/PhyliciaRashad-byPhilipRomano.jpg/1280px-PhyliciaRashad-byPhilipRomano.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Phylicia Rashad](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-e2ec138382b4.jpg) Phylicia Rashad — Image via TMDB
- ![Phylicia Rashad](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-e108153d2b3d.jpg) Phylicia Rashad — Image via TMDB
- ![Phylicia Rashad](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-d0ddc0ebea75.jpg) Phylicia Rashad — Image via TMDB
- ![Actress Phylicia Rashad in the 2007 Red Dress Collection for en:The Heart Truth Foundation (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-c763f89f68f4.jpg) Actress Phylicia Rashad in the 2007 Red Dress Collection for en:The Heart Truth Foundation (2008) — The Heart Truth, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Phylicia_Rashad%2C_Red_Dress_Collection_2007.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Don shows actress Phylicia Rashad (of The Cosby Show, who was staying at the hotel also) our Michael Jackson photos on the beach at the Kahala Hilton hotel. NOT (1988)](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-25f26d092cb9.jpg) Don shows actress Phylicia Rashad (of The Cosby Show, who was staying at the hotel also) our Michael Jackson photos on the beach at the Kahala Hilton hotel. NOT (1988) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Phylicia_Rashad_%28261526904%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Phylicia Rashad](https://film.one/media/person/12189/gallery-03f356ce7f75.jpg) Phylicia Rashad — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 6 won, 1 nominated

- Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play 2016: Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (won)
- honorary degree from Spelman College 2011: honorary degree from Spelman College (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2005: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play 2004: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2004: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (won)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series 1997: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *Cosby*
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series 1985: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *The Cosby Show*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/phylicia-rashad