Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam says The Cosby Show should still be held in high regard.
“You can’t take away the work that we all collectively did,” Knight Pulliam, now 44, said to People. She played the youngest daughter, Rudy, on the show, and claims it was “bigger than one person.”
The Cosby Show was hailed for its uplifting portrait of a Black American family during its eight-season run and later syndication. But that image has been tarnished by the numerous sexual misconduct and assault allegations of lead actor and series father Bill Cosby in recent times.
Knight Pulliam now hosts the Married at First Sight After Party and was recently featured in the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s new public service announcement. But she hasn’t forgotten her childhood career.
“A lot of actors wait their entire lifetime for an opportunity like that,” she said. “I’m grateful I have been a part of a piece of work that has really transcended generations and that’s still teaching lessons that are relevant today.”
Knight Pulliam claims her daughter Ella Grace, 5, watches the show and learns lessons from it. “Now my daughter is able to enjoy the work that I did, and it’s funny because she looks so much like me.”
Keshia Knight Pulliam, who captured the hearts of millions as Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show, continues to defend the lasting legacy of the iconic sitcom, even as Bill Cosby’s personal controversies have cast a shadow over the show’s history. Despite the challenges the show’s reputation has faced due to Cosby’s legal issues, Knight Pulliam remains steadfast in her belief that the cultural and social significance of The Cosby Show should not be diminished by the actions of one individual.
“The Cosby Show was so much more than just one person. It was a collective effort,” Pulliam said in a candid interview with People. “We worked as a team, and the messages we portrayed—love, family, unity, and success—still resonate with audiences today.” She emphasized that the show’s portrayal of an affluent, loving Black family in a time when such images were rare on television was groundbreaking and remains a touchstone for both the entertainment industry and society as a whole.
Despite the turbulence surrounding its star, Knight Pulliam believes that the show’s message is timeless. The Cosby Show has transcended generations, continuing to inspire and entertain viewers. Pulliam, who now hosts Married at First Sight: After Party and advocates for breast cancer awareness, fondly recalls her time on the show. “I was a little girl, and I had no idea how big this was going to be. It’s a rare gift for an actor to be part of something that lives on long after it’s over. And it wasn’t just about the acting—it was about representing something positive for the Black community, especially at that time.”
The impact of The Cosby Show has been felt in ways Pulliam never could have predicted, and she is particularly touched by the fact that her own daughter, 5-year-old Ella Grace, now watches the show. “It’s surreal to see my daughter watching the show I was a part of, especially since she looks so much like me as a little girl,” Pulliam says with a smile. “She doesn’t fully understand the significance yet, but I’m so glad she’ll be able to look back on the work I did and see that it still holds value and teaches important lessons.”
For Pulliam, The Cosby Show wasn’t just a job—it was an opportunity to be part of something larger than herself, something that would continue to educate and uplift people, even years after the show went off the air. As she reflects on her career and the enduring impact of the show, Pulliam remains hopeful that the broader legacy of The Cosby Show—its celebration of Black family, its positive depiction of Black life, and its contribution to the cultural landscape—will continue to shine through, regardless of the controversies surrounding its lead actor.
“I’m proud of what we accomplished,” she says. “And I hope that the lessons we taught—the importance of family, love, respect, and responsibility—will continue to resonate for years to come.”
