Phylicia Rashad (Big Mama)a native of Houston, Texas, received a B.F.A. from the College of Fine Arts at Howard University. Broadway credits include: Cymbeline at Lincoln Center, Gem Of The Ocean (Tony nomination), A Raisin In The Sun, (Tony and Drama Desk Awards) Jelly's Last Jam, Into The Woods, Dream Girls, The Wiz, and Ain't Supposed To Die A Natural Death. She has appeared Off-Broadway: at the Public Theatre in The Story, Helen, and Everybody's Ruby; at the Roundabout Theater in Blue; and in Lincoln Center's Bernarda Alba. Known to television audiences for her roles as "Clair Huxtable" (The Cosby Show) and "Ruth Lucas" (Cosby), Ms. Rashad has appeared in films for TV: A Raisin In The Sun, The Old Settler, Murder She Wrote, David's Mother, Jailbirds, False Witness, Polly, and Polly Comin' Home. Feature film credits include: Once Upon A Time When We Were Colored, The Visit and Loving Jezebel. Ms. Rashad serves as spokesperson for The PRASAD Project (an international philanthropic organization), and is a member of the Broadway Inspirational Voices.