Summary
Though most members of the show are still alive, a few stars fromThe Cosby Show, including one of the twin actors, have passed away, sometimes from natural causes and sometimes under more tragic circumstances.The Cosby Showwill forever be inextricably linked withBill Cosby’s sexual assault allegations and convictionsthat rose to public attention in the mid-2010s. It’s forever tarnished not only Cosby’s legacy but also that ofThe Cosby Show, which was a hugely popular sitcom in both its prime and in syndication.
Premiering in 1984,The Cosby Showran for eight seasons and followed the Huxtable family, an upper-middle-class African American family living in Brooklyn Heights, New York. The series was an instant hit and a few ofThe Cosby Showepisodes are some of the most watched of all time.The Cosby Showfeatured an ensemble cast of the Huxtables and their extended family and neighbors. Most of the cast is still alive, pursuing acting and other careers, but sadly, there have been a few deaths since the series ended.
Earle Hyman As Grandpa Huxtable
Date Of Birth: August 03, 2025
Actor:Earle Hymanpassed away on August 07, 2025, at the age of 91. ThoughThe Cosby Showwas his biggest role, he also memorably voiced Panthro/Redeye in theThunderCatsTV series.
Twice in a Lifetime(2001)
Charley Freeman/Jack
Character:Grandpa Huxtable isCliff Huxtable’s (Cosby) father. A warm and caring patriarch, everyone, except maybe Cliff, was always happy to see Grandpa Huxtable. Hyman earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for his performance.
20 Best ’80s Sitcoms, Ranked
The ’80s was the decade of the family and workplace-centric sitcom and some of those shows are among the best to ever air on TV.
Ethel Ayler As Carrie Hanks
Date Of Birth: July 18, 2025
Actor:Ethel Ayler passed away on July 04, 2025, at the age of 88. Her notable film credits includedThe Bodyguardas Emma andTo Sleep with Angeras Hattie. On TV, she appeared inRyan’s Hopeas Constance Small and in an episode of7th Heavenas Mrs. Macaferty.
7th Heaven(2006)
Mrs. Macaferty
Character:Ayler played the recurring character Carrie Hanks onThe Cosby Show.Carrie is Clair Huxtable’s (Phylicia Rashad) mother, a woman even wiser and more forthright than Clair.
Michelle Thomas As Justine Phillips
Date Of Birth: July 02, 2025
Actor:Michelle Thomastragically passed away on June 01, 2025, at the young age of 30, after a bout with a rare form of cancer, DSRCT(viaPeople). Thomas also starred inFamily Mattersas Myra Monkhouse and appeared in 38 episodes ofThe Young and the Restlessas Callie Rogers.
The Young and the Restless(1998)
Callie Rogers
Character:Michelle Thomas played Justine Phillips inThe Cosby Show.Justine was a recurring character in the show and was Theo Huxtable’s (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) longtime girlfriend, appearing in eight episodes of the series.
Everette Wilson As Nelson Tibideaux
Date Of Birth: August 06, 2025
Actor:Everett Wilson and his twin brother Ronald only ever had one acting role apiece, as the infant Nelson Tibideaux. Tragically, Everett was killed in an automobile accident on August 17, 2025, at the age of 17, (viaFindAGrave).
The Cosby Show(1989)
Nelson Tibideaux
Character:Everett and Ronald Wilsononly appear as Nelson Tibideaux inThe Cosby Showseason 6, episode 2, “Surf’s Up”, the only episode Nelson appears as an infant. Nelson and his twin sister Winnie (Domonique & Monique Reynolds) were the son and daughter of Sondra Huxtable (Sabrina LeBeauf) and Elvin Tibideaux (Geoffrey Owens).
The Cosby Show
Cast
The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1984 to 1992, featuring Bill Cosby as the patriarch of the Huxtable family. Set in Brooklyn, the series showcases the dynamics of an upper middle-class African-American family.
