Rudith Lillian "Rudy" Huxtable
is a fictional character who appears on the American sitcom ''
The Cosby Show
''The Cosby Show'' is an American television sitcom co-created by and starring Bill Cosby, which aired Thursday nights for eight seasons on NBC between September 20, 1984, until April 30, 1992. The show focuses on an upper middle-class African- ...
'' (1984–1992). Portrayed by actress
Keshia Knight Pulliam
Keshia Knight Pulliam (born April 9, 1979) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actor, and landed her breakthrough role as Rudy Huxtable, on the NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–1992), which earned her a nomination for ...
, Rudy is the youngest child of
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is an area of rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. Cliffs are common on co ...
and
Clair Huxtable
Clair Huxtable is a fictional character who appears on the American sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–1992). Portrayed by actress Phylicia Rashad, Clair, the wife of Cliff Huxtable and mother of their five children, is the matriarch of the show' ...
. First appearing alongside her family in the
pilot episode
A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie), in United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a television network or other distri ...
"
Theo's Economic Lesson", which premiered on September 20, 1984, Rudy matures from a precocious five-year-old girl into a teenager longing for independence throughout the course of the series' eight year-long run.
Created by comedian
Bill Cosby
William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and media personality. He made significant contributions to American and African-American culture, and is well known in the United States for his eccentric ...
, Rudy was originally intended to be a boy; actor
Jaleel White
Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27, 1976) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Steve Urkel on the sitcom ''Family Matters''.
The character was originally intended to be a one-time guest appearance on the show; however, he wa ...
had been considered the first choice for the role until Knight Pulliam impressed the show's producers once auditions had finally been opened to girls. Having originally been opposed to the idea of featuring young children, particularly young girls, on his show because he feared that they would prove difficult to work with, Cosby was initially hesitant to cast Knight Pulliam due to her young age at the time. However, he was ultimately impressed by both her maturity and ability to memorize lines, subsequently re-writing the character into a younger, female role but refused to change her name from the more masculine-sounding "Rudy". By the second season, Cosby began entrusting Knight Pulliam with more mature material. Rudy was inspired by Cosby's youngest daughter Evin.
Both the character and Knight Pulliam's performance immediately garnered widespread acclaim from entertainment critics. Knight Pulliam was nominated for an
Emmy Award
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
for
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986, becoming the youngest performer to be nominated for an Emmy Award; the scene in which she
lip-syncs to
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
' "
Night Time is the Right Time
"Night Time Is the Right Time" or "The Right Time" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by American musician Nappy Brown in 1957. It draws on earlier blues songs and has inspired popular versions, including those by Ray Charles, Rufus and Carla, ...
" has garnered significant attention. Her role as Rudy eventually established her as a child star. However, critics have observed that Knight Pulliam's once-reliable "cuteness" began to falter and grow less funny towards the show's latter seasons as both the actress and her character aged.
Role
Rudy (
Keshia Knight Pulliam
Keshia Knight Pulliam (born April 9, 1979) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actor, and landed her breakthrough role as Rudy Huxtable, on the NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–1992), which earned her a nomination for ...
) is introduced as the five-year-old youngest child of Cliff (
Bill Cosby
William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and media personality. He made significant contributions to American and African-American culture, and is well known in the United States for his eccentric ...
), an
obstetrician
Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...
, and
Clair Huxtable
Clair Huxtable is a fictional character who appears on the American sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–1992). Portrayed by actress Phylicia Rashad, Clair, the wife of Cliff Huxtable and mother of their five children, is the matriarch of the show' ...
(
Phylicia Rashad
Phylicia Rashad ( ) (née Ayers-Allen; born June 19, 1948) is an American actress, singer and director who is dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University. She is best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom ''The Cosby S ...
), a lawyer;
the character's full name is revealed to be "Rudith Lillian Huxtable" in the first-season episode "Theo and the Joint".
She is the youngest sister of
Sondra (
Sabrina Le Beuf),
Denise (
Lisa Bonet
Lilakoi Moon (born Lisa Michelle Bonet; November 16, 1967), known professionally as Lisa Bonet (), is an American actress. She is known for playing Denise Huxtable on the sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–1992), for which she earned widespread a ...
),
Theo
Theo is a given name and a hypocorism.
Greek origin
Many names beginning with the root "Theo-" derive from the Ancient Greek word ''theos'' (''θεός''), which means god, for example:
*Feminine names: Thea, Theodora, Theodosia, Theophania, ...
(
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Malcolm-Jamal Warner (born August 18, 1970) is an American actor. He rose to prominence for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show'', which earned him a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series a ...
) and
Vanessa Vanessa may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Vanessa'' (Millais painting), an 1868 painting by Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais
* ''Vanessa'', a 1933 novel by Hugh Walpole
* ''Vanessa'', a 1952 instrumental song written by Bernie ...
(
Tempestt Bledsoe
Tempestt Bledsoe (born August 1, 1973) is an American actress. She is best known for her childhood role as Vanessa Huxtable, the fourth child of Cliff and Clair Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–92). In December ...
).
In early episodes, Rudy attends an unidentified
grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented secondary school ...
and owns a teddy bear she calls "Bobo" and a pet goldfish named Lamont.
Rudy also proves to be a gifted
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
player, becoming known for her speed and endurance as a member of the Pee-Wee League football team.
Several episodes revolve around the Huxtable family entertaining Rudy and her young friends, such as sleepovers and dinners.
Her childhood best friend is Peter Chiara (
Peter Costa), a quiet and shy boy who lives in a house across the street from the Huxtables.
Rudy eventually befriends Kenny (
Deon Richmond
Deon Richmond (born April 2, 1978) is an American actor from New York City who is best known for his recurring roles as Rudy Huxtable's friend Kenny (nicknamed "Bud") on the NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' and Jordan Bennett on the ABC/The WB sit ...
), also known as "Bud",
who often expresses a romantic interest in her and sometimes competes for her affection against Rudy's other love interests; the two characters also frequently debate each other about
gender role
A gender role, also known as a sex role, is a social role encompassing a range of behaviors and attitudes that are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on that person's sex. Gender roles are usually cent ...
s.
Several Rudy-centric storylines explore the character's struggles of being the youngest member of her large family.
Over the course of the series, Rudy matures from a young child into a teenager,
to the point of which she starts dating. Cliff sometimes fears that his youngest daughter is growing up too fast, struggling with the realization that soon she will cease to be "his little girl".
Rudy's hunger for independence and maturity sometimes gets her into trouble, such as when she attends an underage club against her parents' wishes and is ultimately punished for her defiance. By the end of the series, a 13 year-old Rudy is the only Huxtable child still living in her parents' home full-time in the absence of her four older siblings, all of whom have successfully moved out having either gotten married or pursued higher education.
Development
Creation and casting
Comedian
Bill Cosby
William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and media personality. He made significant contributions to American and African-American culture, and is well known in the United States for his eccentric ...
began developing ''The Cosby Show'' partially because he was not impressed with popular
family sitcom
A family-friendly product or service is one that is considered to be suitable for all members of an average family. Family-friendly restaurants are ones that provide service to families that have young children. Frequently, family-friendly produc ...
s airing at the time, several of which he felt were too reliant on children disrespecting and disobeying their parents without suffering serious consequences.
Cosby was originally opposed to the idea of his show featuring children altogether, preferring to create and star in a series about a married,
childless couple instead.
When executive producers
Marcy Carsey
Marcy Carsey (born Marcia Lee Peterson; November 21, 1944) is an American television producer and a member of
the George Foster Peabody Awards board of jurors. She is best known for her work with fellow producer Tom Werner forming the company The ...
and
Tom Werner
Thomas Charles Werner (born April 12, 1950) is an American television producer and businessman. Through his investment in Fenway Sports Group, he is currently chairman of both Liverpool Football Club and the Boston Red Sox.
Werner first became ...
convinced Cosby to develop a sitcom about a
nuclear family
A nuclear family, elementary family, cereal-packet family or conjugal family is a family group consisting of parents and their children (one or more), typically living in one home residence. It is in contrast to a single-parent family, the larger ...
,
the comedian decided his show would feature a family of children who were obviously intelligent, "but their parents were always smarter and—most importantly—in charge."
Originally written as a male character,
Rudy was initially conceived as the youngest of only four children, two girls and two boys.
Cosby originally envisioned the youngest Huxtable child as a young boy who idolizes his older brother Theo,
giving him the typically masculine name "
Rudy
Rudy or Rudi is a masculine given name, sometimes short for Rudolf, Rudolph, Rawad, Rudra, Ruairidh, or variations thereof, a nickname and a surname which may refer to:
People Given name or nickname
*Rudolf Rudy Andeweg (born 1952), Dutch poli ...
" and intending to base the character on his own sons.
![JaleelWhiteDec10](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/JaleelWhiteDec10.jpg)
When casting his television children, Cosby originally insisted that none of the candidates be younger than 10 years-old due to challenges he had experienced working alongside child actors prior. He warned the producers "We'll be shooting for the rest of our lives if we have a little kid!"
However, Carsey and Werner believed that Cosby had proven too gifted at working with children to avoid featuring them on the show altogether, and eventually convinced the comedian to audition a few six-year-old actors for the then-male role of Rudy.
After first auditioning in 1984,
actor
Jaleel White
Jaleel Ahmad White (born November 27, 1976) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Steve Urkel on the sitcom ''Family Matters''.
The character was originally intended to be a one-time guest appearance on the show; however, he wa ...
was at one point considered to be the top contender for the role,
so much so that his agent advised his family to start preparing to relocate to New York, where ''The Cosby Show'' was scheduled to begin filming;
White's family had already begun packing and researching apartments within the area.
However, the producers still wanted to audition a few more children for the role at the last minute, one of whom was four-year-old actress Keshia Knight Pulliam,
who Werner had originally discovered in a then-recent television commercial for
Del Monte canned corn.
Knight Pulliam's professional acting experience at the time had included advertising baby products for
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company i ...
and appearing in several television commercials. She had already made her television debut as a
series regular
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, i ...
on the
children's television
Children's television series (or children's television shows) are television show, television programs designed for children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run during ...
show ''
Sesame Street
''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000) a ...
'', on which she had appeared for two seasons.
Although Cosby eventually became open to the idea of young children appearing on his show, he still insisted that they not cast "little girls" because he had typically acted opposite child actresses while filming several commercials for
Jell-O
Jell-O is an American brand offering a variety of powdered gelatin dessert (fruit-flavored gels/jellies), pudding, and no-bake cream pie mixes. The original gelatin dessert (genericized as jello) is the signature of the brand. "Jell-O" is a reg ...
and feared repeating himself or appearing redundant.
Casting a boy in the role eventually proved difficult so the auditions were slowly opened up to girls,
prompting one of the casting directors to sneak Pulliam into one of the auditions without Cosby's prior knowledge.
During one of her first screen tests, director
Jay Sandrich
A jay is a member of a number of species of medium-sized, usually colorful and noisy, passerine birds in the Crow family, Corvidae. The evolutionary relationships between the jays and the magpies are rather complex. For example, the Eurasian m ...
recalled that Knight Pulliam struggled to maintain
eye contact
Eye contact occurs when two people look at each other's eyes at the same time. In humans, eye contact is a form of nonverbal communication and can have a large influence on social behavior. Coined in the early to mid-1960s, the term came from t ...
with him and appeared to be constantly distracted by one of the television monitors.
When Sandrich questioned her behavior, the actress gestured towards the screen and said "That’s me! How can you make me on the TV?"
Knight Pulliam's curiosity greatly impressed Sandrich to the point of which he immediately
short-listed
A short list or shortlist is a list of candidates for a job, prize, award, political position, etc., that has been reduced from a longer list of candidates (sometimes via intermediate lists known as "long lists"). The length of short lists varie ...
the actress, replacing White as top choice.
White recalled being present to witness Knight Pulliam's last-minute audition, which the network had previously assured him was merely "a formality";
Warner and Bledsoe were also in attendance to audition for the roles of Theo and Vanessa, respectively,
as well as NBC president
Brandon Tartikoff
Brandon Tartikoff (January 13, 1949 – August 27, 1997) was an American television executive who was the president of NBC from 1981 to 1991. He was credited with turning around NBC's low prime time reputation with such hit series as ''Hill Stre ...
and Cosby himself.
Over the course of six hours,
the producers asked each finalist to make them laugh.
When the producers hand-picked the finalists, White was one of several actors who returned home upon not being selected.
According to Sandrich, Cosby agreed with his decision regarding Knight Pulliam's casting, explaining, "once Bill saw her, there was just no way she couldn't be on the show".
Although Cosby was initially hesitant to add such a young actor to the cast, he admitted to being impressed by Knight Pulliam's intelligence and ability to follow instructions, despite her young age.
Cosby refused to change the character's name, insisting that the name "Rudy" was equally as suitable for a girl as it is for a boy.
White would eventually become best known for portraying
Urkel
Steven Quincy Urkel is a fictional character on the American ABC/CBS sitcom ''Family Matters'', portrayed by Jaleel White. Originally slated to be a one-time-only character on the show, he broke out to be its most popular character and graduall ...
on the sitcom ''
Family Matters
''Family Matters'' is an American television sitcom that debuted on ABC on September 22, 1989, and ended on May 9, 1997. However it moved to CBS, where it was shown from September 19, 1997, to July 17, 1998. A spin-off of '' Perfect Strangers ...
''.
Despite dubbing this experience his "tragic auditioning story",
he explained "I’m grateful that things worked out the way they did; I think it put a little more money in my pocket."
Portrayal
In addition to changing the character from male to female by impressing the producers, Knight Pulliam's casting as Rudy also affected Theo's role, who ultimately became the only son among four sisters,
resulting in the Huxtables mirroring Cosby's own family.
Rudy is believed to have been based on Cosby's daughter Evin.
The Huxtable household eventually grew once eldest sister Sondra was introduced in later episodes on, making Rudy the youngest of five children instead.
During the first few seasons, Knight Pulliam had to learn and memorize her lines
phonetically
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies how humans produce and perceive sounds, or in the case of sign languages, the equivalent aspects of sign. Linguists who specialize in studying the physical properties of speech are phoneticians. ...
because she had not yet learned how to read. Her parents James and Denise often helped the actress memorize her material.
Additionally, she was privately tutored on the set of ''The Cosby Show''.
Both Knight Pulliam and her character were considered to be personal favorites of Cosby.
Calling him "real funny",
Knight Pulliam particularly enjoyed when Cosby would venture away from the script in order to make his cast mates laugh.
Cosby would patiently advise Knight Pulliam on her acting and reward her with high fives when he was impressed by her performance.
On other occasions, he would playfully "steal" some of her dialogue.
Describing the young actress as "unbelievable", Cosby recalled that "People gravitated to her ... We never had a problem. Nobody ever had to come down from wherever they were observing and get the child and stop her from crying."
Knight Pulliam and Cosby's relationship extended off screen; the actress recalled that she and the comedian "had a competition going on to see who would do a better job at lip-syncing ... That was our little inside thing. I think I did a better job."
Knight Pulliam believes "There was no better foundation than to work with the talented cast with Mr. Cosby leading the way."
Marilyn Marshall of ''
Ebony
Ebony is a dense black/brown hardwood, coming from several species in the genus ''Diospyros'', which also contains the persimmons. Unlike most woods, ebony is dense enough to sink in water. It is finely textured and has a mirror finish when pol ...
'' observed that Knight Pulliam shares her character's friendliness, well-manners and
tomboy
A tomboy is a term for a girl or a young woman with masculine qualities. It can include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and actively engage in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. W ...
ish demeanor.
By the second season, Rudy's role was expanded beyond that of solely "the baby of the family",
and Cosby began giving the actress more mature material because she had "earned the reputation ... for rarely flubbing her lines."
Most of ''The Cosby Show''
's storylines tend to revolve around the three youngest children, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy.
Knight Pulliam would also do her homework either on set or in her dressing room in between tapings.
Knight Pulliam eventually matured to the point of which she outgrew the cuteness that was originally synonymous with the role, so Cosby developed a storyline that introduced
Olivia Kendall (
Raven-Symoné
Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman-Maday () (née Pearman; born December 10, 1985), also known mononymously as Raven, is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She has received several accolades, including five NAACP Image Awards, two Kids ...
), Denise's three-year-old step-daughter via her marriage to Martin Kendall.
''
The Root
"The Root" is a song by American recording artist D'Angelo. It is the eighth track on his second studio album, ''Voodoo'', which was released on January 25, 2000, by Virgin Records. "The Root" was recorded and produced by D'Angelo at New York's ...
'' contributor Erin E. Evans agreed that "With Rudy in her early teens, Olivia provided all the 'aww-ain't-she-cute' moments in the series' final seasons."''
The A. V. Club'' observed that the older Rudy got the more she adopted "the storylines previously reserved for" older sister Vanessa.
In 1986, Knight Pulliam identified ''The Cosby Show'' as her favorite television show.
However, the actress voiced that she dislikes being referred to as "Rudy" when she is not in character.
The actress fondly remembers her first seasons on the show as her "favorite time".
Knight Pulliam is particularly fond of the second season episode "Happy Anniversary",
in which the Huxtables perform
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
' "
Night Time is the Right Time
"Night Time Is the Right Time" or "The Right Time" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by American musician Nappy Brown in 1957. It draws on earlier blues songs and has inspired popular versions, including those by Ray Charles, Rufus and Carla, ...
" (1958) for Cliff's parents in honor of their wedding anniversary.
Having portrayed the character for eight years, Knight Pulliam was age 13 by the time the show concluded in 1991.
Sandrich likened watching the actress grow to "graduating from college".
Characterization
As the youngest Huxtable child, Rudy was widely known as the "baby" of the family,
a role that eventually expanded as the character grew older.
AllMovie
AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne.
History
AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...
's Nathan Southern described the character as "spunky" and "pint-sized".
The words "precocious" and "adorable" are often used to describe the character during her earliest appearances.
Amber Ferguson, writing for the ''
Erie Times-News
The ''Erie Times-News'' is a daily morning newspaper in Erie, Pennsylvania. It has a daily circulation of about 47,385 and a Sunday circulation of about 58,378.
The beginning
The newspaper was founded as the ''Erie Daily Times'' on April 12, 188 ...
,'' described Rudy as a "wide-eyed, innocent, a little sassy" character who "got the most attention from her parents".
Turner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie channel, movie-oriented pay television, pay-TV television network, network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasti ...
referred to Rudy as "outspoken" and "equal parts sugar and sass."
''Ebony'' agreed that the character is "known for her smile and sass". Rudy could be obstinate and difficult at times, such as when she refuses to learn to play the violin for her school music class because she would much rather play the
cymbal
A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs soun ...
s, which had been assigned to her friend Kim (Naoka Nakagowa). Rudy also has a tendency to act in a bossy manner towards some of her friends, particularly Peter and Kenny.
A running joke throughout the series is Rudy's decision to nickname Kenny "Bud" simply because she wants to.
''
HuffPost
''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
''
's Jennifer Armstrong believes Rudy's decision to rename Kenny reminds audiences that "She is in charge."
Knight Pulliam believes that Rudy had "mellowed out some" by the end of the series.
Rudy's
pigtail
A woman with long pigtails and braids.
In the context of hairstyles, the usage of the term pigtail (or twin tail or twintail) shows considerable variation. The term may refer to a single braid, but is more frequently used in the plural ("pi ...
s are considered to be her signature characteristic;
Biography.com
''Biography'' is an American documentary television series and media franchise created in the 1960s by David L. Wolper and owned by A&E Networks since 1987. Each episode depicts the life of a notable person with narration, on-camera interviews ...
's Eudie Pak described the character as a "pigtailed whippersnapper." The character also exhibits traits of being a budding young feminist, specifically in her interactions with Kenny;
Rudy and Kenny often disagree over Kenny's
sexist
Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one's sex or gender. Sexism can affect anyone, but it primarily affects women and girls.There is a clear and broad consensus among academic scholars in multiple fields that sexism refers primaril ...
,
chauvinistic
Chauvinism is the unreasonable belief in the superiority or dominance of one's own group or people, who are seen as strong and virtuous, while others are considered weak, unworthy, or inferior. It can be described as a form of extreme patriotis ...
opinions about
women's issues
Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male poi ...
,
based on misguided advice he learns from his unseen elder brother.
Reception and impact
''Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television'' author Bob McCann hailed Rudy as "the cutest, most personable kid on TV".
When the show premiered in 1984, Knight Pulliam immediately garnered rave reviews for her performance, earning praise for her acting abilities and maturity.
The actress often drew loud laughter and applause from the
studio audience
A studio audience is an audience present for the recording of all or part of a television program or radio program. The primary purpose of the studio audience is to provide applause and/or laughter to the program's soundtrack (as opposed to canned ...
.
''
HuffPost
''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' contributor Julee Wilson wrote that Knight Pulliam "stole our hearts the second she hit the screen", while calling Rudy "our pretend best friend with the best one-liners ... dance moves/karaoke skills ... and sensational style".
The ''
New York Daily News
The New York ''Daily News'', officially titled the ''Daily News'', is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, NJ. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in ta ...
'' touted Rudy "the meddling little sister everyone came to know and love". Writing for the same publication, Kirthana Ramisetti believes "The whole country was enthralled with ... lovable youngest daughter, Rudy."
Turner Classic Movies believes Knight Pulliam's smile and wit were rivaled only by Cosby, writing that "viewers instantly fell in love with the youngest member of the cast".
The website continued to commend Pulliam for "h
ldingher own against ... her more experienced cast members."
SheKnows dubbed Rudy the "cutest Huxtable". Featured in most of the show's storylines, Rudy is arguably among the more popular of the sitcom's five main children.
Rudy's popularity among younger viewers resulted in young fans nicknaming the sitcom "''The Rudy Show''" due to their fondness of her.
Younger viewers typically identified with Rudy's struggles and dilemmas pertaining to her status as the youngest sibling in her family.
''
The Daily Edge
''TheJournal.ie'' is an internet publication in Ireland. It was a mixture of original and aggregated content, before moving to entirely original content. The website was founded in early 2010.
It was edited by Jennifer O'Connell in 2010–2011, ...
'' compiled a list of "7 reasons Rudy Huxtable was the best TV kid ever", citing her attitude, sense of
empowerment
Empowerment is the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities. This enables them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority. It is the process of becoming strong ...
and talent among several factors.
In his book ''The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time'', author Martin Gitlin identified the episode "
Goodbye Mr. Fish
"Goodbye Mr. Fish" or sometimes "Good-bye Mr. Fish", "Goodbye, Mr. Fish" or just "Mr. Fish" is the second episode of the List of The Cosby Show episodes#Season 1: 1984.E2.80.931985, first season of the United States, American sitcom ''The Cosby ...
" in which the Huxtables hold a funeral for Rudy's late pet goldfish as a particularly memorable episode, praising Rudy's character development.
David Hinckley of the ''New York Daily News'' found Rudy to be "impossibly cute" during the episode. Pulliam
lip-syncing
Lip sync or lip synch (pronounced , the same as the word ''sink'', short for lip synchronization) is a technical term for matching a speaking or singing person's lip movements with sung or spoken vocals.
Audio for lip syncing is generated th ...
to a portion of musician
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...
' "
Night Time is the Right Time
"Night Time Is the Right Time" or "The Right Time" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by American musician Nappy Brown in 1957. It draws on earlier blues songs and has inspired popular versions, including those by Ray Charles, Rufus and Carla, ...
" is regarded as one of her most memorable contributions to the series,
as well as one of the sitcom's best scenes.
Vulture.com's Adam K. Raymond wrote that "Rudy absolutely steals the show with her screams of 'baybay!'".
CNN
CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by ...
's Lisa Respers France agreed that Pulliam "stole our hearts ", a sentiment echoed by Smokey Fontaine of
News One (Pakistani TV channel)
''News One'' is a Pakistani Urdu-language TV channel, based in Karachi. It launched on 27 November 2007 and is owned by Air Waves Media (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of the Interflow Group which also owns TV One, Waseb TV, Sonic TV and FM91. The c ...
. ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' journalist
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris (born 1975) is an American film critic and podcast host. He is currently critic-at-large for ''The New York Times'', as well as co-host, with Jenna Wortham, of the ''New York Times'' podcast '' Still Processing.'' Previously, Mor ...
observed that audiences mostly remember Rudy for mimicking back up singer
Margie Hendrix
Marjorie "Margie" Hendrix (sometimes Hendricks) (March 13, 1935 – July 14, 1973) was an American rhythm and blues singer and founding member of the Raelettes, who were the backing singers for Ray Charles, the father of her child, Charles Wa ...
.
Morris elaborated, "All the comedy comes from the incongruity of a snaggletoothed kindergartner mimicking, with all her might, a grown woman’s yearning. She didn’t fill Hendrix’s shoes ... but her trying to suffices as a definition of joy."
Morris concluded that the scene established Rudy as the sitcom's "
secret ingredient
A secret ingredient is a component of a product that is closely guarded from public disclosure for competitive advantage. Sometimes the ingredient makes a noticeable difference in the way a product performs, looks or tastes; other times it is u ...
",
while Joshua Alston of ''
The A. V. Club'' declared that the episode "made a star out of Keshia Knight Pulliam". In 2006,
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
's Todd Gilchrist wrote that Rudy's lip syncing remains "the funniest thing on TV". Calling her a character who "offered more wisdom in her youth than any us ever realized",
VH1 dubbed Rudy "the ultimate feminist icon", with contributor Elizabeth Black writing, "she knew what she was talking about when it came to life and love, and we could all take a lesson from her these days."
Black joked that the female cast of ''
Love & Hip Hop
''Love & Hip Hop'' is a media franchise that consists of several reality television series broadcast on VH1. The shows document the personal and professional lives of several hip hop and R&B musicians, performers, managers, and record produc ...
'' should find Rudy's advice particularly beneficial.
Not all opinions towards the character have been positive, however; Southern observed that Rudy's cuteness gradually waned "as the program wore on and the actress herself aged", believing that her aging inspired the producers to recruit actress Raven-Symoné.
Believing that introducing Raven-Symoné's Olivia as the sitcom's "New Kid" served as an improvement over Rudy, Jonah Krakow of
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
wrote "Sorry Rudy, once you hit puberty,
the darndest things you said weren't as funny."
In an article recognizing "22 characters who stop good TV shows in their tracks", ''The A. V. Club'' ranked Rudy third, writing that although "some of the show’s funniest
arly
The Arly () is a 32.1 km long river in the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, France. It is a tributary of the Isère, which it joins at Albertville.
Towns crossed by the river
* Megève
* Praz-sur-Arly
* Flumet
* Saint-Nicolas-la-Cha ...
episodes" revolve around Cliff entertaining Rudy, the character eventually "became less natural and more steely as she aged into the storylines previously reserved for shrill pre-teen Vanessa."
Agreeing that the character's "cutesy" storylines were then bestowed upon Olivia, the website dismissed Rudy as "an embittered afterthought be-souring any episode in which she appeared."
However, the author acknowledged that Knight Pulliam remained "a charming, unforced child actress".
Despite remembering Rudy as "Probably my favorite character when I watched this show at age eight", ''
The Atlantic
''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher. It features articles in the fields of politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science.
It was founded in 1857 in Boston, ...
''
's Joe Reid reminisced that Rudy "can't seem to get past what a waste of a character she became after season four or so."
However, Kevin O'Keefe, writing for the same publication, defended the character, highlighting her "pretty-worthwhile story about feeling replaced as the baby of the family by Olivia".
In 1986, Knight Pulliam was nominated for a
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
for
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series,
becoming the youngest actor to receive a nomination in the history of the awards ceremony, at the age of six.
Although Cosby was somewhat disappointed that not all of his co-stars received Emmy Award recognition that year, he was overjoyed by Knight Pulliam's accomplishment.
Ramisetti believes Knight Pulliam was nominated "simply for being adorable".
The actress then won a
People's Choice Award
The People's Choice Awards is an American awards show, recognizing people in entertainment, voted online by the general public and fans. The show has been held annually since 1975, with the winners originally determined using Gallup Polls until ...
for Favorite Young TV Performer in 1988, followed by a
Kids' Choice Award
The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (also known as the KCAs or Kids' Choice) is an annual American children's awards ceremony show that is produced by Nickelodeon. Usually held on a Saturday night in late March or early April, the show honors ...
in 1991.
Knight Pulliam's other accolades include several
NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Similar to ...
.
Rudy ultimately became Pulliam's breakout role,
establishing her as a popular
child star.
Meanwhile, Knight Pulliam established herself as one of the show's most popular cast members. The actress ultimately became so popular that she was prohibited from riding the school bus to school despite her parents' efforts to provide her with a typical childhood, despite her fame.
In his biography of the actress, Nathan Southern of AllMovie wrote that the role "rocketed
ulliaminto the national spotlight -- and won the hearts of many a devoted '80s television viewer".
Knight Pulliam's success as Rudy exposed her to several other acting opportunities throughout the 1980s and 1980s.
According to
Donald Bogle
Donald Bogle is an American film historian and author of six books concerning black history in film and on television. He is an instructor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and at the University of Pennsylvania.
Early years
Bogle g ...
, author of ''Primetime Blues: African Americans on Network Television'', Knight Pulliam eventually became "the only Black child star of the late 1980s who appeared in movies clearly developed around her." After ''The Cosby Show'', Knight Pulliam would go on to guest star as a guitarist in a 1997 episode of Cosby's self-titled follow-up sitcom ''
Cosby'' in which both Cosby and Rashad star,
reuniting her with her television parents.
Over two decades after ''The Cosby Show'' ended, Rudy remains the role for which Pulliam is best-known. Knight Pullman admitted that she has sometimes struggled to separate herself from Rudy when pursuing more mature acting roles, explaining, "people are used to seeing me as a little girl, as Rudy from ''The Cosby Show'' at 10 years old. I have to let
udiencesknow that now I'm a woman".
However, Knight Pulliam has been commended for "avoid
ngthe traps of drugs and crime that had befallen so many other child stars during her career",
including Cosby himself who attributes her successful transition from child to adult actress to her strong upbringing, explaining, "you will normally find that the child will behave according to the rules of the family ... It was a pleasure working with her because of the mother and father."
Knight Pulliam's visit to
Spelman College
Spelman College is a private, historically black, women's liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman re ...
at nine-years-old, where an episode of ''The Cosby Show'' was filmed, inspired the actress to attend the school after the sitcom concluded, from where she ultimately earned a
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
in sociology.
In 2014,
VH1 ranked Pulliam 27th on their list of "100 Greatest Kid Stars Of All Time".
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Huxtable, Rudy
Television characters introduced in 1984
American female characters in television
The Cosby Show characters
Child characters in television
Fictional African-American people
Fictional characters from New York City