Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 9, 1979. She lived with her parents and two brothers. Her career actually began in New York City, not far from her childhood home, when she was just nine-months-old. The gig was a print advertisement for Johnson & Johnson baby products. After that, her career was a non-stop series of successes.
In her early years, Keshia Knight Pulliam worked in film and television, appearing on a number of commercials and TV shows. She even appeared on Sesame Street at three-years-old. When she was five, Pulliam began playing the part of Rudy Huxtable on the classic award-winning sitcom The Cosby Show. She starred alongside a great cast, which included Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and, of course, Bill Cosby.
Early Success
Keshia Knight Pulliam became the youngest person ever to be nominated for an Emmy Award; she received a nomination in 1986, at the age of six, for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series” for her role on The Cosby Show. Pulliam went on to win an NAACP Image Award, a People’s Choice Award, a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award, a Young Artist Award and a TV Land Award, all for her part on The Cosby Show.
While on the fan-favorite sitcom, Pulliam also starred in a number of popular television movies, including The Little Match Girl, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court and both Polly and its sequel. However, once The Cosby Show ran its course and concluded in 1992, Pulliam decided to focus on furthering her education. She enrolled at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, where she joined the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, with a concentration in Film, in 2001.
Teaming Up with Tyler Perry
Pulliam still enjoyed acting, and in 2007, she even joined the cast of Tyler Perry’s award-winning sitcom House of Payne. From 2009 to 2012, she won three NAACP Image Awards for her role on the show.
Keshia Knight Pulliam became a dedicated entrepreneur and political activist who still regularly advocates for under-served communities. In 2010, she started the Kamp Kizzy Foundation, a non-profit that strives to inspire, empower and develop today’s youth. The foundation provides free mentorship to children and teens between the ages of 11 and 16. The foundation, which is located in Pulliam’s current home city of Atlanta, has helped numerous children from all over the country build confidence and explore their creativity.
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Hero (Top) Feature Image: © Keshia Knight Pulliam
Additional Images (in Order) Courtesy:
Keshia Knight Pulliam / Official Website
