Phylicia Rashad

American actress, known as cool and unflappable in comparison to her younger sister Debbie, the lively, wild child, defiant and outgoing. Both were talented from youth but did not reach their peaks on TV until after their Saturn returns.

Phylicia was nine when her parents divorced and Debbie, three; both were encouraged to perform by an ambitious mother. Encouraged to transcend any gender and racial prejudice, they lived in Mexico City for a few years where their mom wrote poetry that was later nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

After a long apprenticeship on the New York stage, elegant actress Phylicia Rashad found her longest-running role as television wife to Bill Cosby in "The Cosby Show", which aired from 20 September 1984 to 7 September 1992. A new sitcom, "Cosby," aired for four years from 16 September 1996. Rashad has married and divorced three times: 1973 to 1975, 28 April 1978 to 1980 (to a lead singer of the Village People) and from 1985 to February 2001. She and her sister remain firm friends.