Bill Cosby to return to NBC in new sitcom

By Ed Payne and Jane Caffrey, CNN

Updated 1312 GMT (2112 HKT) January 23, 2014

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After playing Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," Bill Cosby starred in "The Cosby Mysteries," "Cosby" and hosted "Kids Say the Darnedest Things" on top of starring in a number of films. Now, one of America's favorite TV dads and comedians is returning to TV with a new family sitcom. See what the rest of the "Cosby Show" cast has been up to:

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

'The Cosby Show': Where are they now? – After playing Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," Bill Cosby starred in "The Cosby Mysteries," "Cosby" and hosted "Kids Say the Darnedest Things" on top of starring in a number of films. Now, one of America's favorite TV dads and comedians is returning to TV with a new family sitcom. See what the rest of the "Cosby Show" cast has been up to:

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We've missed having Tempestt Bledsoe in our living rooms since she played "The Cosby Show's" Vanessa Huxtable. We had her back temporarily in 2012 with NBC's short-lived "Guys With Kids," on which the actress played a working, no-nonsense mom like her former TV mother Clair Huxtable.

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Tempestt Bledsoe – We've missed having Tempestt Bledsoe in our living rooms since she played "The Cosby Show's" Vanessa Huxtable. We had her back temporarily in 2012 with NBC's short-lived "Guys With Kids," on which the actress played a working, no-nonsense mom like her former TV mother Clair Huxtable.

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Phylicia Rashad, who played mom Clair, teamed up with her on-screen hubby again for "Cosby" and guest-starred on "Touched by an Angel" and "Everybody Hates Chris." Rashad hit the big screen in 2010's "Just Wright" and "For Colored Girls." She earned a Tony Award in 2004 for her role in "A Raisin in the Sun." She's also moved into directing for the stage, and <a href="http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2014/01/powerful_fences_opens_at_the_mccarter_theatre_in_princeton_directed_by_phylicia_rashad.html" target="_blank">led a production of "Fences" in January 2014.</a>

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Phylicia Rashad – Phylicia Rashad, who played mom Clair, teamed up with her on-screen hubby again for "Cosby" and guest-starred on "Touched by an Angel" and "Everybody Hates Chris." Rashad hit the big screen in 2010's "Just Wright" and "For Colored Girls." She earned a Tony Award in 2004 for her role in "A Raisin in the Sun." She's also moved into directing for the stage, and led a production of "Fences" in January 2014.

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When Malcolm-Jamal Warner's run as Theo Huxtable ended, the actor lent his voice to the popular educational cartoon "The Magic School Bus." He's starred in series including "Malcolm &amp; Eddie," "Jeremiah" and "Listen Up," and released two albums. In recent years, he's popped up everywhere from "The Michael J. Fox Show" to TNT's "Closer" spinoff, "Major Crimes."

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Malcolm-Jamal Warner – When Malcolm-Jamal Warner's run as Theo Huxtable ended, the actor lent his voice to the popular educational cartoon "The Magic School Bus." He's starred in series including "Malcolm & Eddie," "Jeremiah" and "Listen Up," and released two albums. In recent years, he's popped up everywhere from "The Michael J. Fox Show" to TNT's "Closer" spinoff, "Major Crimes."

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Lisa Bonet appeared in "Enemy of the State," "High Fidelity" and "Biker Boyz" after her turn as Denise Huxtable. She'll next appear in the drama "Road to Paloma" with husband Jason Momoa. Bonet and her daughter with Lenny Kravitz, Zoë, have appeared in "It's Kind of a Funny Story" and "X-Men: First Class."

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Lisa Bonet – Lisa Bonet appeared in "Enemy of the State," "High Fidelity" and "Biker Boyz" after her turn as Denise Huxtable. She'll next appear in the drama "Road to Paloma" with husband Jason Momoa. Bonet and her daughter with Lenny Kravitz, Zoë, have appeared in "It's Kind of a Funny Story" and "X-Men: First Class."

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Sabrina Le Beauf had roles in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Cosby" and the animated series "Fatherhood" after playing Sondra Huxtable on the NBC series. In 2009, she played Leila in the thriller "The Stalker Within."

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Sabrina Le Beauf – Sabrina Le Beauf had roles in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Cosby" and the animated series "Fatherhood" after playing Sondra Huxtable on the NBC series. In 2009, she played Leila in the thriller "The Stalker Within."

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In 1986, at just 6 years old, Keshia Knight Pulliam received an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress for her role as Rudy Huxtable. She appeared in 2005's "Beauty Shop" and "The Gospel," as well as 2009's "Madea Goes to Jail." She played Miranda on Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" and competed on reality shows like "Celebrity Fear Factor" and "The Mole."

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Keshia Knight Pulliam – In 1986, at just 6 years old, Keshia Knight Pulliam received an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actress for her role as Rudy Huxtable. She appeared in 2005's "Beauty Shop" and "The Gospel," as well as 2009's "Madea Goes to Jail." She played Miranda on Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" and competed on reality shows like "Celebrity Fear Factor" and "The Mole."

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Joseph C. Phillips appeared on "The District" and "General Hospital" after playing Martin, Olivia's dad and Denise's husband. Phillips, who has guest-starred on "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," most recently appeared in Chris Stokes' "Boogie Town."

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Joseph C. Phillips – Joseph C. Phillips appeared on "The District" and "General Hospital" after playing Martin, Olivia's dad and Denise's husband. Phillips, who has guest-starred on "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," most recently appeared in Chris Stokes' "Boogie Town."

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Olivia is just one of Raven-Symoné's many cheek-pinching roles. She appeared in "The Little Rascals," on "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," in two "Doctor Dolittle" films and the TV movie "Zenon" before starring in "That's So Raven." She later headlined the short-lived "State of Georgia" and played Deloris Van Cartier in "Sister Act" on Broadway.

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Raven-Symoné – Olivia is just one of Raven-Symoné's many cheek-pinching roles. She appeared in "The Little Rascals," on "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," in two "Doctor Dolittle" films and the TV movie "Zenon" before starring in "That's So Raven." She later headlined the short-lived "State of Georgia" and played Deloris Van Cartier in "Sister Act" on Broadway.

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Since playing Sondra's husband Elvin, Geoffrey Owens has guest-starred on series like "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Owens now teaches an acting class at New York City's HB Studio and recently appeared on Broadway with Orlando Bloom in a production of "Romeo and Juliet."

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Geoffrey Owens – Since playing Sondra's husband Elvin, Geoffrey Owens has guest-starred on series like "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Owens now teaches an acting class at New York City's HB Studio and recently appeared on Broadway with Orlando Bloom in a production of "Romeo and Juliet."

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Erika Alexander traded in Pam Tucker for Maxine Shaw when she started work on "Living Single" in 1993. After the show's five seasons, Alexander appeared on "Judging Amy," "Street Time" and "In Plain Sight." She most recently guest-starred on "Low Winter Sun" and "Last Man Standing."

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Erika Alexander – Erika Alexander traded in Pam Tucker for Maxine Shaw when she started work on "Living Single" in 1993. After the show's five seasons, Alexander appeared on "Judging Amy," "Street Time" and "In Plain Sight." She most recently guest-starred on "Low Winter Sun" and "Last Man Standing."

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Earle Hyman has appeared on "All My Children," "Cosby" and "Twice in a Lifetime" since playing Cliff's dad Russell on "The Cosby Show."

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Earle Hyman – Earle Hyman has appeared on "All My Children," "Cosby" and "Twice in a Lifetime" since playing Cliff's dad Russell on "The Cosby Show."

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Clarice Taylor, who played Cliff's mom Anna, appeared in "Sommersby" and "Smoke" after the series went off the air in 1992. Taylor died in 2011 at 93.

Photos: 'The Cosby Show': Where are they now?

Clarice Taylor – Clarice Taylor, who played Cliff's mom Anna, appeared in "Sommersby" and "Smoke" after the series went off the air in 1992. Taylor died in 2011 at 93.

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cosby Bill Cosby

cosby Tempestt Bledsoe

cosby Phylicia Rashad

cosby Malcolm-Jamal Warner

cosby Lisa Bonet

cosby Sabrina Le Beauf

cosby Keshia Knight Pulliam

cosby Joseph C. Phillips

cosby Raven-Symoné

cosby Geoffrey Owens

cosby Erika Alexander

cosby Earle Hyman

cosby Clarice Taylor

Story highlights

Bill Cosby starred in the ground-breaking 1980s sitcom "The Cosby Show"
He broke the color barrier with a starring role in the 1960s TV series "I Spy"
Cosby won three best actor Emmy Awards for the role
He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002

Bill Cosby is returning to NBC with a new sitcom, a network representative told CNN on Wednesday night.

The comedian will play the patriarch of a multigenerational family.

The show brings the 76-year-old comedian back to the same network where his groundbreaking 1980s sitcom "The Cosby Show" had an eight-year run.

"The Cosby Show" portrayed an upper-middle-class African-American family, and it's credited with helping revive NBC's fortunes and blazing a path for other shows featuring African-Americans.

Cosby played Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, the patriarch of that TV family. Phylicia Rashad played his wife, Clair. She would play his wife for a second time on the 1990s CBS sitcom, simply called "Cosby."

Cosby's career is in its fifth decade. He started out performing stand-up comedy in small clubs in Greenwich Village in New York. He eventually landed a pivotal co-starring role in the 1960s television series "I Spy," where he was the first-ever African-American lead in a weekly dramatic series.

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He won three best actor Emmy Awards for the role of undercover CIA Agent Alexander Scott.

Cosby received Kennedy Center Honors in 1998 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. He most recently received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which is awarded to performers who use comedy to influence American society.

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