Keshia Knight Pulliam | |
|---|---|
 Knight Pulliam at theWizard World Comic Con in 2015 | |
| Born | (1979-04-09)April 9, 1979 (age 45) Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | Spelman College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Known for | Rudy Huxtable inThe Cosby Show |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | keshiaknightpulliam |
Keshia Knight Pulliam (born April 9, 1979)[1] is an American actress. She began her career as a child actor. She landed her breakthrough role asRudy Huxtable, on theNBCsitcomThe Cosby Show (1984–1992), and became the youngest person to be nominated for anEmmy Award,[2] when she earned a nomination forOutstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series at the38th Primetime Emmy Awards. She later reprised the character on the spin-off seriesA Different World (1987–88). Knight Pulliam is also known for her portrayal of Miranda Lucas-Payne on theTBScomedy dramaTyler Perry's House of Payne (2007–present).
Knight Pulliam made her professional debut at 9 months old, in a national print advertisement forJohnson & Johnson baby products.[3] At age 3, she was onSesame Street.[4] In 1984, she was cast asRudy Huxtable on theNBCsitcomThe Cosby Show, a role she played until the series ended in 1992. In 1986, Knight Pulliam became one of the youngest actresses to be nominated for anEmmy Award,[4] receiving a nomination at age 6 forOutstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series. She continued working, appearing in television commercials and TV shows, and making her feature film debut[4] inThe Last Dragon (1985).[3] She also appeared in the moviesPolly and its sequelPolly: Comin' Home! with herCosby Show co-starPhylicia Rashad. She is ranked at No. 27 inVH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars".[5]
Knight Pulliam won a celebrity version ofFear Factor in September 2002. She also won a celebrity version ofThe Weakest Link, and participated inCelebrity Mole: Yucatan. In 2004, she appeared inChingy'smusic video for "One Call Away". In 2005, she played Darnelle inBeauty Shop withQueen Latifah. Knight Pulliam performed in Donald Gray's playThe Man of Her Dreams in the fall of 2006 in St. Louis.[6] In 2008, she joined the cast ofTyler Perry's House of Payne as Miranda, the new wife of Calvin Payne. The role earned her the 2009 and 2010NAACP Image Awards forOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2009, she played Candace "Candy" Washington-Collins in the filmMadea Goes to Jail.[7] Knight Pulliam appeared inTank's 2010 music video for his cover of "I Can't Make You Love Me", playing his love interest.
In 2011, commenting on the fact that only white actors had wonGolden 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."[8]
In 2013, she was a contestant on theABC celebrity diving showSplash. She was first to be eliminated. In 2015, Knight Pulliam was a contestant on theNBC showThe Celebrity Apprentice Season 7 and was the first contestant eliminated after being the losing project manager for her team. In 2018, Knight Pulliam was a HouseGuest on thefirst season of theCBS seriesCelebrity Big Brother, where she was the second person evicted out of the house, on Day 13.[9]
Keshia Knight Pulliam was born inNewark, New Jersey on April 9, 1979, the daughter of Denise and James Knight Pulliam Sr., a manager.[1] She has three brothers, James Knight Pulliam II, Mshon Knight Pulliam, and Juwan Pulliam.[4] Knight Pulliam attendedRutgers Preparatory School inSomerset, New Jersey.
WhenThe Cosby Show ended its run in 1992, her family moved to Virginia, where Knight Pulliam attended thePotomac School inMcLean andFoxcroft School inMiddleburg, Virginia, from which she graduated in 1997.[citation needed][10] She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology fromSpelman College in 2001.[3] She is a member of the Eta Kappa chapter ofDelta Sigma Theta sorority.[3]
On New Year's Eve 2015, Knight Pulliam became engaged to retiredNational Football League playerEdgerton Hartwell.[11][12] They were married the next day, January 1, 2016, in Knight Pulliam'sAtlanta home.[13] On July 25, 2016, Hartwell filed for divorce.[14] On January 23, 2017, Knight Pulliam gave birth to a daughter named Ella Grace Hartwell.[15][16] The divorce was finalized in April 2018, with Knight Pulliam receiving primary custody of Ella while Hartwell was ordered to pay child support of about $3,000 a month.[17]
In December 2020, she became engaged to actorBrad James. The pair began dating in 2019 after they met on the set of the TV moviePride and Prejudice: Atlanta.[18] They were married in an intimate ceremony in September 2021.[19] In December 2022, it was announced the couple were expecting their first child together.[20] On April 4, 2023, they welcomed a son named Knight James.[21]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Last Dragon | Sophia/Natasha Green | |
| Back to Next Saturday | Rudy Huxtable | TV movie | |
| 1987 | The Little Match Girl | Molly | TV movie |
| 1989 | Polly | Polly | TV movie |
| A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court | Karen | TV movie | |
| 1990 | Polly: Comin' Home! | Polly | TV movie |
| 2002 | What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway | Temple | TV movie |
| 2004 | Motives | Letrice | Video |
| Christmas at Water's Edge | Leila Turner | TV movie | |
| 2005 | Beauty Shop | Darnelle | |
| The Gospel | Maya Walker | ||
| 2008 | Cuttin Da Mustard | Wendy | |
| Death Toll | Mirie | ||
| 2009 | Madea Goes to Jail | Candace Washington | |
| 2013 | The Love Letter | Parker | TV movie |
| 2015 | Will to Love | Rachel Paris | TV movie |
| 2018 | Jingle Belle | Tori | TV movie |
| 2019 | Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta | Caroline | TV movie |
| Radio Christmas | Kara Porter | TV movie | |
| 2020 | My Brother's Keeper | Tiffany | |
| Tempted By Danger | Angela Brooks | TV movie | |
| The Christmas Aunt | Rebecca | TV movie | |
| 2021 | Redeemed | Angela Sylvester | |
| 2022 | A New Orleans Noel | Grace Hill | TV movie |
| 2023 | The Hillsdale Adoption Scam | Bethany | TV movie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–88 | Sesame Street | Herself | Recurring Guest |
| 1984–92 | The Cosby Show | Rudy Huxtable | Main Cast |
| 1987–88 | A Different World | Rudy Huxtable | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 1990 | Reading Rainbow | Herself (voice) | Episode: "The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth" |
| 1993 | It's Showtime at the Apollo | Herself/Guest Host | Episode: "Episode #6.17" |
| 1997 | Cosby | Guitarist | Episode: "The Return of Charlites" |
| 2001 | The Weakest Link | Herself | Episode: "TV Child Stars Edition" |
| 2002 | Fear Factor | Herself | Episode: "Celebrity Fear Factor 3" |
| 2004 | The Mole | Herself/Contestant | Contestant:Season 4 |
| 2005 | The Greatest | Herself | Episode: "100 Greatest Kid Stars" |
| 2007–09 | Whatever Happened To? | Herself | Episode: "Little Sisters" & "Middle Sibbles" |
| 2007–12 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Miranda Lucas Payne | Main Cast |
| 2009 | Played by Fame | Herself | Episode: "Eco Friend Date" |
| 2010 | Psych | Stranjay | Episode: "The Polarizing Express" |
| 2011 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | Herself | Episode: "Keshia Knight Pulliam, Ming-Na, Chi McBride, Mia Tyler" |
| Hollywood Icons and Innovators | Herself | Episode: "Episode #1.3" | |
| 2012 | The Real Housewives of Atlanta | Herself | Episode: "All Pomp But No Circumstance" |
| Mr. Box Office | Vanessa Owens | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2013 | Splash | Herself/Contestant | Main Cast |
| Guys with Kids | Bridget | Episode: "Divorce Party" | |
| 2015 | The Apprentice | Herself/Contestant | Contestant:Season 14 |
| 2018 | Celebrity Big Brother | Herself/Contestant | Contestant:Season 1 |
| 2019 | BET Her Presents: The Waiting Room | Dr. Bennett | Episode: "The Waiting Room" |
| 2020– present | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Miranda Lucas Payne | Main Cast |
| 2021 | Down to Business | Herself | Episode: "Various Artists" |
| 2022 | Uncensored | Herself | Episode: "Keshia Knight Pulliam" |
| Married at First Sight | Herself/Host | Main Host: Season 15 |
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "One Call Away" | Chingy featuringJ-Weav |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)| International | |
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| National | |
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