Keshia Knight Pulliam

{{Infobox person

| name = Keshia Knight Pulliam

| image = Keshia Knight Pulliam.jpg

| caption = Knight Pulliam at the Wizard World Comic Con in 2015

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|4|9}}

| birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.

| education = Spelman College

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 1982–present

| known_for = Rudy Huxtable in The Cosby Show

| spouse = {{plainlist|

{{marriage|Ed Hartwell
|2016|2018|end=divorced}}
{{marriage|Brad James
|2021}}

}}

| children = 2

| website = {{URL|KeshiaKnightPulliam.me}}

}}

Keshia Knight Pulliam (born April 9, 1979) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress. She landed her breakthrough role as Rudy Huxtable, on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), and became the youngest person to be nominated for an Emmy Award,{{Cite web |title=The youngest Emmy nominees ever, from Millie Bobby Brown to Fred Savage and Sara Gilbert |url=https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/tv/2020/09/18/youngest-emmy-nominees-ever-millie-bobby-brown-fred-savage/3475175001/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} when she earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards. She later reprised the character on the spin-off series A Different World (1987–88). Knight Pulliam is also known for her portrayal of Miranda Lucas-Payne on the TBS comedy drama Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2007–present).

Career

Knight Pulliam made her professional debut at 9 months old, in a national print advertisement for Johnson & Johnson baby products.{{cite web |url=http://keshiaknightpulliam.me/ |title=About Keshia |publisher=Keshia Knight Pulliam (official site) |access-date=January 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508093855/http://keshiaknightpulliam.me/ |archive-date=May 8, 2016 |url-status=dead }} At age 3, she appeared on Sesame Street. In 1984, she was cast as Rudy Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The 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 an Emmy Award, receiving a nomination at age 6 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series. She continued working, appearing in television commercials and TV shows, and making her feature film debut in The Last Dragon (1985). She also appeared in the movies Polly and its sequel Polly: Comin' Home! with her Cosby Show co-star Phylicia Rashad. She is ranked at No. 27 in VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars".{{Cite web|url=https://www.vh1.com/news/lj2ryp/100-greatest-child-stars|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625191537/https://www.vh1.com/news/lj2ryp/100-greatest-child-stars|url-status=live|archive-date=June 25, 2022|title=VH1's 100 Greatest Kid Stars Of All Time|last=Vh1 2/13/2014|website=VH1 News|access-date=2020-03-07}}

Knight Pulliam won a celebrity version of Fear Factor in September 2002. She also won a celebrity version of The Weakest Link, and participated in Celebrity Mole: Yucatan. In 2004, she appeared in Chingy's music video for "One Call Away". In 2005, she played Darnelle in Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah. Knight Pulliam performed in Donald Gray's play The Man of Her Dreams in the fall of 2006 in St. Louis.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKX90GDwdFE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/NKX90GDwdFE |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Real Talk with Jeanne Roberts EP 107 Segment 1, Keshia Knight Pulliam |date=October 20, 2006 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=March 20, 2011 }}{{cbignore}} In 2008, she joined the cast of Tyler Perry's House of Payne as Miranda, the new wife of Calvin Payne. The role earned her the 2009 and 2010 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2009, she played Candace "Candy" Washington-Collins in the film Madea Goes to Jail.[http://www.kamwilliams.com/2009/03/keshia-knight-pulliam.html Keshia Knight Pulliam: The Madea Goes to Jail Interview with Kam Williams] Kam Williams.com Knight Pulliam appeared in Tank'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 won Golden 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."{{cite web|url=http://rollingout.com/insidecover/13306-the-evolution-of-keshia-knight-pulliam.html |first=A.R. |last=Shaw |title=The Evolution of Keshia Knight Pulliam |publisher=Rollingout.com |date=February 16, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221043835/http://www.rollingout.com/insidecover/13306-the-evolution-of-keshia-knight-pulliam.html |archive-date=February 21, 2011 }}

In 2013, she was a contestant on the ABC celebrity diving show Splash. She was first to be eliminated. In 2015, Knight Pulliam was a contestant on the NBC show The 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 the first season of the CBS series Celebrity Big Brother, where she was the second person evicted out of the house, on Day 13.{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/television/8099559/celebrity-big-brother-cast-pics-bios |title=Get to Know the 'Celebrity Big Brother' Cast: Mark McGrath, Omarosa & More |last=Maher |first=Natalie |date=February 13, 2018 |website=www.billboard.com |access-date=February 23, 2018}}

Personal life

Keshia Knight Pulliam was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 9, 1979, the daughter of Denise and James Knight Pulliam Sr., a manager.{{cite web |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/19/Keshia-Knight-Pulliam.html |title=Keshia Knight Pulliam Biography (1979-) |publisher=Filmreference.com |access-date=March 20, 2011 }} She has three brothers, James Knight Pulliam II, Mshon Knight Pulliam, and Juwan Pulliam.{{cite web |url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/keshia-knight-pulliam/bio/190339 |publisher=TVGuide.com |title=Keshia Knight Pulliam |access-date=January 5, 2015 }} Knight Pulliam attended Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, New Jersey.

When The Cosby Show ended its run in 1992, her family moved to Virginia, where Knight Pulliam attended the Potomac School in McLean and Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia, from which she graduated in 1997.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Dev |title=Keshia Knight Pulliam |url=https://www.pointsoflight.org/awards/keshia-knight-pulliam/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Points of Light |language=en-US}} She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Spelman College in 2001. She is a member of the Eta Kappa chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

On New Year's Eve 2015, Knight Pulliam became engaged to retired National Football League player Edgerton Hartwell.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/01/01/ex-cosby-kid-keshia-knight-pulliam-engaged/78188274/ |title=Ex-'Cosby' kid Keshia Knight Pulliam is engaged |first=Maria |last=Puente |work=USA Today |date=January 1, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2018}}{{cite news |author=Lesley Messer |title=Keshia Knight Pulliam Is Engaged |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/keshia-knight-pulliam-engaged-ed-hartwell/story?id=36051113 |publisher=ABC News |date=January 1, 2016 |access-date=January 23, 2016}} They were married the next day, January 1, 2016, in Knight Pulliam's Atlanta home.{{cite news |author=Joi-Marie McKenzie |title=Keisha Knight Pulliam Reveals She Wed Ed Hartwell on New Years |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/keisha-knight-pulliam-reveals-wed-ed-hartwell-years/story?id=36453432 |publisher=ABC News |date=January 22, 2016 |access-date=January 23, 2016}} On July 25, 2016, Hartwell filed for divorce.Martin, Annie. "[http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2016/07/26/Keshia-Knight-Pulliam-headed-for-divorce-after-pregnancy-news/3061469542658/ Keshia Knight Pulliam headed for divorce after pregnancy news: The actress and Ed Hartwell married in January after four months of dating]". United Press International. July 26, 2016. On January 23, 2017, Knight Pulliam gave birth to a daughter named Ella Grace Hartwell.{{cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrityu-moms/news/keshia-knight-pulliam-gives-birth-welcomes-baby-girl-w462505/|title=Keshia Knight Pulliam Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby Girl|date=January 23, 2017|work=US Weekly|access-date=December 3, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/keshia-knight-pulliam-welcomes-daughter-ella-grace/|title=Keshia Knight Pulliam Welcomes Daughter Ella Grace|date=January 23, 2017|work=People|access-date=December 3, 2018}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsbradio.com/news/national/keshia-knight-pulliam-finalizes-divorce-with-hartwell-gets-primary-custody/vlAWOxQBIRZrFhU7MQb4eL/|title=Keshia Knight Pulliam Finalizes Divorce with Ed Hartwell, Gets Primary Custody|last=Ho|first=Rodney|work=WSB Radio|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=April 25, 2018}}

In December 2020, she became engaged to actor Brad James. The pair began dating in 2019 after they met on the set of the TV movie Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta.{{cite web |last1=Strohm |first1=Emily |title=The Cosby Show's Keshia Knight Pulliam Engaged to Actor Brad James |url=https://people.com/tv/the-cosby-shows-keshia-knight-pulliam-engaged-to-brad-james/ |website=People |publisher=Meredith Corporation |access-date=17 December 2020}} They were married in an intimate ceremony in September 2021.{{cite web |last1=Rice |first1=Nicholas |title=The Cosby Show's Keshia Knight Pulliam Marries 'Best Friend' Brad James: 'It Was Magical' |url=https://people.com/tv/the-cosby-shows-keshia-knight-pulliam-marries-brad-james/ |website=People.com |date=4 October 2021 |publisher=Meredith Corporation |access-date=31 December 2021}} In December 2022, it was announced the couple were expecting their first child together.{{cite web |last=Andaloro |first=Angela |title=Keshia Knight Pulliam and Husband Brad James Expecting First Baby Together — See Her Bump! |url=https://people.com/parents/keshia-knight-pulliam-husband-brad-james-expecting-first-baby-together/ |website=People.com |date=December 1, 2022 |publisher=Meredith Corporation |access-date=December 2, 2022}} On April 4, 2023, they welcomed a son named Knight James.{{cite web |last=Mannion |first=Katie |title=All About Keshia Knight Pulliam's Two Children |url=https://people.com/parents/all-about-keshia-knight-pulliam-kids/ |website=People.com |date=April 10, 2023 |publisher=Meredith Corporation |access-date=April 18, 2023}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
rowspan=2\| 1985 \| {{sortname\|The\|Last Dragon}} \| Sophia/Natasha Green \|
Back to Next Saturday \| Rudy Huxtable \| TV movie
1987 \| {{sortname\|The\|Little Match Girl\|The Little Match Girl (1987 television film)}} \| Molly \| TV movie
rowspan=2\| 1989 \| {{sortname	Polly\|Pollyanna#1989 film}} \| Polly \| TV movie
{{sortname\|A\|Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court\|nolink=1}} \| Karen \| TV movie
1990 \| Polly: Comin' Home! \| Polly \| TV movie
2002 \| What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway \| Temple \| TV movie
rowspan=2\| 2004 \| {{sortname	Motives\|dab=film}} \| Letrice \| Video
Christmas at Water's Edge \| Leila Turner \| TV movie
rowspan=2\| 2005 \| Beauty Shop \| Darnelle \|
{{sortname\|The\|Gospel\|The Gospel (film)}} \| Maya Walker \|
rowspan=2\| 2008 \| Cuttin Da Mustard \| Wendy \|
Death Toll \| Mirie \|
2009 \| Madea Goes to Jail \| Candace Washington \|
2013 \| {{sortname\|The\|Love Letter\|nolink=1}} \| Parker \| TV movie
2015 \| Will to Love \| Rachel Paris \| TV movie
2018 \| Jingle Belle \| Tori \| TV movie
rowspan=2\| 2019 \| Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta \| Caroline \| TV movie
Radio Christmas \| Kara Porter \| TV movie
rowspan=3\| 2020 \| My Brother's Keeper \| Tiffany \|
Tempted By Danger \| Angela Brooks \| TV movie
{{sortname\|The\|Christmas Aunt\|nolink=1}} \| Rebecca \| TV movie
2021 \| Redeemed \| Angela Sylvester \|
2022 \| {{sortname\|A\|New Orleans Noel\|nolink=1}} \| Grace Hill \| TV movie
2023 \| {{sortname\|The\|Hillsdale Adoption Scam\|nolink=1}} \| Bethany \| TV movie
2025 \|Wife Stalker \|Joanna \|Lifetime movie

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

rowspan=2| 1985

| {{sortname|The|Last Dragon}}

| Sophia/Natasha Green

Back to Next Saturday

| Rudy Huxtable

| TV movie

1987

| {{sortname|The|Little Match Girl|The Little Match Girl (1987 television film)}}

| Molly

| TV movie

rowspan=2| 1989

| {{sortname

Polly|Pollyanna#1989 film}}

| Polly

| TV movie

{{sortname|A|Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court|nolink=1}}

| Karen

| TV movie

1990

| Polly: Comin' Home!

| Polly

| TV movie

2002

| What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway

| Temple

| TV movie

rowspan=2| 2004

| {{sortname

Motives|dab=film}}

| Letrice

| Video

Christmas at Water's Edge

| Leila Turner

| TV movie

rowspan=2| 2005

| Beauty Shop

| Darnelle

{{sortname|The|Gospel|The Gospel (film)}}

| Maya Walker

rowspan=2| 2008

| Cuttin Da Mustard

| Wendy

Death Toll

| Mirie

2009

| Madea Goes to Jail

| Candace Washington

2013

| {{sortname|The|Love Letter|nolink=1}}

| Parker

| TV movie

2015

| Will to Love

| Rachel Paris

| TV movie

2018

| Jingle Belle

| Tori

| TV movie

rowspan=2| 2019

| Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta

| Caroline

| TV movie

Radio Christmas

| Kara Porter

| TV movie

rowspan=3| 2020

| My Brother's Keeper

| Tiffany

Tempted By Danger

| Angela Brooks

| TV movie

{{sortname|The|Christmas Aunt|nolink=1}}

| Rebecca

| TV movie

2021

| Redeemed

| Angela Sylvester

2022

| {{sortname|A|New Orleans Noel|nolink=1}}

| Grace Hill

| TV movie

2023

| {{sortname|The|Hillsdale Adoption Scam|nolink=1}}

| Bethany

| TV movie

2025

|Wife Stalker

|Joanna

|Lifetime movie

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
1983–88 \| Sesame Street \| Herself \| Recurring Guest
1984–92 \| {{sortname\|The\|Cosby Show}} \| Rudy Huxtable \| Main Cast
1987–88 \| {{sortname\|A\|Different World}} \| Rudy Huxtable \| Recurring Cast: Season 1
1990 \| Reading Rainbow \| Herself (voice) \| Episode: "The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth"
1993 \| {{sortname\|It's\|Showtime at the Apollo}} \| Herself/Guest Host \| Episode: "Episode #6.17"
1997 \| {{sortname\|Cosby	dab=TV series}} \| Guitarist \| Episode: "The Return of Charlites"
2001 \| {{sortname\|The\|Weakest Link}} \| Herself \| Episode: "TV Child Stars Edition"
2002 \| Fear Factor \| Herself \| Episode: "Celebrity Fear Factor 3"
2004 \| {{sortname\|The Mole	dab=American TV series}} \| Herself/Contestant \| Contestant: Season 4
2005 \| {{sortname\|The Greatest	dab=TV series}} \| 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"
rowspan=2\| 2011 \| Celebrity Ghost Stories \| Herself \| Episode: "Keshia Knight Pulliam, Ming-Na, Chi McBride, Mia Tyler"
Hollywood Icons and Innovators \| Herself \| Episode: "Episode #1.3"
rowspan=2\| 2012 \| {{sortname\|The\|Real Housewives of Atlanta}} \| Herself \| Episode: "All Pomp But No Circumstance"
Mr. Box Office \| Vanessa Owens \| Episode: "Pilot"
rowspan=2\| 2013 \| {{sortname\|Splash	dab=American TV series}} \| Herself/Contestant \| Main Cast
Guys with Kids \| Bridget \| Episode: "Divorce Party"
2015 \| The Apprentice \| Herself/Contestant \| Contestant: Season 14
2018 \| {{sortname\|Celebrity Big Brother	dab=American TV series}} \| 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"
rowspan=2\| 2022 \| Uncensored \| Herself \| Episode: "Keshia Knight Pulliam"
{{sortname\|Married at First Sight	dab=American TV series}} \| Herself/Host \| Main Host: Season 15

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1983–88

| Sesame Street

| Herself

| Recurring Guest

1984–92

| {{sortname|The|Cosby Show}}

| Rudy Huxtable

| Main Cast

1987–88

| {{sortname|A|Different World}}

| Rudy Huxtable

| Recurring Cast: Season 1

1990

| Reading Rainbow

| Herself (voice)

| Episode: "The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth"

1993

| {{sortname|It's|Showtime at the Apollo}}

| Herself/Guest Host

| Episode: "Episode #6.17"

1997

| {{sortname|Cosby

dab=TV series}}

| Guitarist

| Episode: "The Return of Charlites"

2001

| {{sortname|The|Weakest Link}}

| Herself

| Episode: "TV Child Stars Edition"

2002

| Fear Factor

| Herself

| Episode: "Celebrity Fear Factor 3"

2004

| {{sortname|The Mole

dab=American TV series}}

| Herself/Contestant

| Contestant: Season 4

2005

| {{sortname|The Greatest

dab=TV series}}

| 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"

rowspan=2| 2011

| Celebrity Ghost Stories

| Herself

| Episode: "Keshia Knight Pulliam, Ming-Na, Chi McBride, Mia Tyler"

Hollywood Icons and Innovators

| Herself

| Episode: "Episode #1.3"

rowspan=2| 2012

| {{sortname|The|Real Housewives of Atlanta}}

| Herself

| Episode: "All Pomp But No Circumstance"

Mr. Box Office

| Vanessa Owens

| Episode: "Pilot"

rowspan=2| 2013

| {{sortname|Splash

dab=American TV series}}

| Herself/Contestant

| Main Cast

Guys with Kids

| Bridget

| Episode: "Divorce Party"

2015

| The Apprentice

| Herself/Contestant

| Contestant: Season 14

2018

| {{sortname|Celebrity Big Brother

dab=American TV series}}

| 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"

rowspan=2| 2022

| Uncensored

| Herself

| Episode: "Keshia Knight Pulliam"

{{sortname|Married at First Sight

dab=American TV series}}

| Herself/Host

| Main Host: Season 15

=Music videos=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Artist
2004 \| "One Call Away" \| Chingy featuring J-Weav

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Artist

2004

| "One Call Away"

| Chingy featuring J-Weav

Awards and nominations

1986: Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Comedy Series (nominated) The Cosby Show
2009: NAACP Image Awards Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (won) Tyler Perry's House of Payne
2010: NAACP Image Awards Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (won) Tyler Perry's House of Payne
2011: NAACP Image Awards Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (nominated) Tyler Perry's House of Payne
2012: NAACP Image Awards Best Supporting Actress in the Comedy Series (won) Tyler Perry's House of Payne