Keisha Knight Pulliam — Biography
Keshia Knight Pulliam, born April 9, 1979, is an American performer. Her most prominent role, etched in the minds of many, was as Rudy Huxtable, the youngest child of Heathcliff Huxtable on the iconic NBC sitcom, The Cosby Show. Currently, audiences can see her portray Miranda Lucas Payne, a character who has turned over a new leaf after a past as a con artist, in the TBS comedy-drama Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
Pulliam hails from Newark, New Jersey, where she was born to parents Denise and James Pulliam Sr., her father working as a manager. She has a younger brother. Her early education included attendance at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, New Jersey. Following the conclusion of The Cosby Show, her family relocated to Virginia. There, Pulliam continued her studies at the Potomac School in McLean and later at Foxcroft School in Middleburg. In 2001, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in Sociology from Spelman College. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., she was initiated through the Eta Kappa chapter.
Pulliam achieved a significant milestone when she became the youngest actress ever to receive an Emmy nomination, at the tender age of six, for best supporting actress. Even before that remarkable feat, at just three years old, she made an appearance as Keshia on Sesame Street. Her character on The Cosby Show, Rudy, was affectionately known as the "baby" of the Huxtable household. Her legacy as a child star is further solidified by her ranking at #19 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars."
Demonstrating her competitive spirit, Pulliam emerged victorious in a celebrity edition of Fear Factor in September 2002. She also triumphed in a celebrity version of The Weakest Link. Seeking to broaden her professional image beyond her youthful persona, Pulliam appeared in a six-page lingerie and swimsuit spread for Black Men magazine in 2004. That same year, she was featured in Chingy's music video for the song "One Call Away." In the fall of 2006, according to an interview with Jeanne Roberts on Real Talk, Pulliam showcased her talents on stage in Donald Gray's play, The Man of Her Dreams.
In 2008, Pulliam joined the ensemble cast of Tyler Perry's House of Payne, taking on the role of Miranda, the newly married wife of Calvin Payne. This performance garnered her the 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. As of May 2026, Keshia Knight Pulliam commands a substantial following, with 2.1 million followers on Instagram.
Pulliam hails from Newark, New Jersey, where she was born to parents Denise and James Pulliam Sr., her father working as a manager. She has a younger brother. Her early education included attendance at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, New Jersey. Following the conclusion of The Cosby Show, her family relocated to Virginia. There, Pulliam continued her studies at the Potomac School in McLean and later at Foxcroft School in Middleburg. In 2001, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in Sociology from Spelman College. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., she was initiated through the Eta Kappa chapter.
Pulliam achieved a significant milestone when she became the youngest actress ever to receive an Emmy nomination, at the tender age of six, for best supporting actress. Even before that remarkable feat, at just three years old, she made an appearance as Keshia on Sesame Street. Her character on The Cosby Show, Rudy, was affectionately known as the "baby" of the Huxtable household. Her legacy as a child star is further solidified by her ranking at #19 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars."
Demonstrating her competitive spirit, Pulliam emerged victorious in a celebrity edition of Fear Factor in September 2002. She also triumphed in a celebrity version of The Weakest Link. Seeking to broaden her professional image beyond her youthful persona, Pulliam appeared in a six-page lingerie and swimsuit spread for Black Men magazine in 2004. That same year, she was featured in Chingy's music video for the song "One Call Away." In the fall of 2006, according to an interview with Jeanne Roberts on Real Talk, Pulliam showcased her talents on stage in Donald Gray's play, The Man of Her Dreams.
In 2008, Pulliam joined the ensemble cast of Tyler Perry's House of Payne, taking on the role of Miranda, the newly married wife of Calvin Payne. This performance garnered her the 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. As of May 2026, Keshia Knight Pulliam commands a substantial following, with 2.1 million followers on Instagram.
