Who is Keshia Knight Pulliam?
American actress, producer and director Keshia Knight Pulliam was born in Newark, New Jersey USA, on 9 April 1979, meaning that Aries is her zodiac sign. She’s had roles in close to 40 TV series and films, but is perhaps still known best for starring as Rudy Huxtable in nearly all the 197 episodes of the romantic family comedy series “The Cosby Show”, which also starred Phylicia Rashad and Bill Cosby, and was created by Michael Leeson. It follows the lives of members of an African-American family, the series aired from 1984 through 1992, and won 56 of its 115 award nominations.
Education and early life
Keshia and her three brothers Juwan, Mshon Knight and James Knight were raised in Newark by their father James Knight Pulliam Sr., who was a manager in the entertainment industry, and mother Denise who was a housewife.
Keshia was only five when she launched her acting career by appearing in “The Cosby Show” in 1984, and the same year saw her appear in two episodes of the animated adventure comedy series “Sesame Street”. She studied at Rutgers Preparatory School, and after she was done shooting for “The Cosby Show” in 1992, she and her family moved to Virginia; Keshia studied at Potomac School prior to switching to Foxcroft School, from which she matriculated in 1997.
She continued her education at Spelman College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001.
Roles in movies
Keshia’s debut film role was playing Sophia in the 1985 action comedy “The Last Dragon”, which Michael Schultz directed, and which starred Christopher Murney, Vanity and Taimak. It follows a young man who’s searching for a martial arts master in New York City, and the film was nominated for three awards. The remainder of the ‘80s saw Keshia appear in the 1985 family drama “Back to Next Saturday”, the 1987 family drama “The Little Match Girl” and the 1989 family adventure comedy “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”.
Keshia appeared in the 1990 family comedy “The Earth Day Special” and the family musical “Polly: Comin’ Home!”, also in 1990, then had no other film roles in the ‘90s.
The year 2004 saw her play Letrice in the thriller “Motives”, directed by Craig Ross Jr, and which starred Vivica A. Fox, Shemar Moore and Golden Brooks. It follows successful businessman Emery Simms who’s cheating on his wife with free-spirited Allanah, and the film was nominated for four awards. Keshia could then have been seen appearing in the 2005 family adventure “The Gospel”, the 2008 action crime thriller “Death Toll” and the 2009 crime comedy “Madea Goes to Jail”.
She starred as Rachel Paris in the 2015 romantic comedy “Will to Love”, written and directed by Chris Stokes, and which also starred Marques Houston and Draya Michele; the film follows a man who has to find a wife if he wants to inherit his family’s multi-million dollar company.
Keshia’s three most recent film roles have been in the 2021 family drama “Redeemed”, the 2022 romantic comedy “A New Orleans Noel” and the 2023 thriller “The Hillsdale Adoption Scam”.
Roles in TV series
Keshia played Rudy Huxtable in three episodes (1988) of the comedy “A Different World”, which starred Jasmine Guy, Lisa Bonet and Kadeem Hardison, and was created by Bill Cosby. It follows the lives of several college students, the series aired from 1987 through 1993 and won 17 of its 25 award nominations. Keshia’s only other TV series role in the ‘80s was playing Polly in the 1989 episode “Polly” of the family adventure “The Magical World of Disney”.
Her only TV series role in the ‘90s was portraying Guitarist in the 1997 episode “The Return of the Charlites” of the comedy “Cosby”, which starred Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad, and was created by Dennis Klein. It follows Hilton Lucas who’s been forced to retire, while both he and his wife want him to work; the series aired from 1996 through 2000 and won 10 of its 24 award nominations.
Since 2007, Keshia’s been starring as Miranda Payne in the hit family comedy “House of Payne”, which also stars LaVan Davis and Cassi Davis, and was created by Tyler Perry. It follows several generations of a family as they’re all living under the same roof, and the series won 20 of its 37 award nominations.
Other credits
Keshia produced the 2021 family movie “Redeemed”, the documentary film “Eggs Over Easy” and the 2022 romantic comedy movie “A New Orleans Noel”; she also directed the romantic comedy film “Girlfriendship” and the episode “Cracked Nest Egg” of the series “House of Payne”, all in 2022.
She produced the 2022 documentary movie “Bill Cosby: Walking Free”.
Keshia’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “Married at First Sight”, “Tamron Hall” and “Entertainment Tonight”.
Awards and nominations
Keshia’s won eight of her 17 award nominations. Some of her wins include a 1989 Young Artist Award for Best Ensemble in a Television Comedy, a 1991 Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite TV Actress and a 2011 TV Land Impact Award, all three for her performance in “The Cosby Show”; she also won three Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2009, 2010 and 2012, all for “House of Payne”.
Keshia was also nominated for a 1986 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, for “The Cosby Show”.
Love life and marriages
There are only two men whom Keshia’s been with, that her fans know about. She met American former football linebacker Edgerton ‘Ed’ Hartwell II in 2015, and they married on 1 January 2016, but she filed for divorce on 25 July 2016, then gave birth to their daughter Ella Grace Hartwell on 23 January 2017. Keshia was given full custody over Ella when the divorce was finalized in April 2018, while Ed was ordered to pay child support of $3,000 a month.
She met American actor Brad James while they were shooting for the 2019 film “Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta”, they became engaged in December 2020 and married in September 2021; Keshia gave birth to their son in April 2023.
She’s yet to speak about other men whom she’s maybe dated, Keisha’s married to her second husband Brad James as of May 2023 and they have a son together, while she also has a daughter with her first husband Edgerton Hartwell.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Keisha was only six when she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy, making her the youngest actress to be nominated for the prestigious award.
She won the celebrity versions of the game-shows “Fear Factor” and “Weakest Link”.
VH1 once ranked her #19 on their list ‘100 Greatest Kid Stars’, while E! Television ranked her #11 on their list ’50 Cutest Child Stars: All Grown Up’.
Keisha’s an Instagram star, as over two million people are following her on the network, while she’s posted more than 1,600 pictures and videos.
She’s passionate about dancing, and took lessons for five years as a teenager.
Keisha’s a lover of animals, and she and her husband have a pet dog.
Her favorite actress is Regina King, while some of her favorite movies include “The Harder They Fall”, “Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous”, and “Boyz n the Hollywood”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Keshia’s age is 44. She has brown eyes and black hair, is 5ft (1.54m) tall and weighs around 108lbs (49kgs).
Keshia’s net worth’s been estimated at over $6 million, as of May 2023.