Character
Denise Huxtable Kendall is a fictional character from the American sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet. Denise also leads the first season of its sp…
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Investigate this subjectDenise Huxtable Kendall is a fictional character from the American sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet. Denise also leads the first season of its spin-off A Different World (1987).
Denise Huxtable Kendall is a fictional character from the American sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet. Denise also leads the first season of its spin-off A Different World (1987). The second-born child of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, Denise is a free spirit known for her eccentric clothing. Alternating between regular and recurring character, Denise appears on the sitcom on-and-off throughout its eight-year run, from its pilot "Theo's Economic Lesson" to the seventh-season episode "Cliff and Jake", for a total of 98 episodes, after which Bonet departed for the remainder of the series.
Created by comedian Bill Cosby, Denise was conceived as the Huxtable's eldest child until older sister Sondra was introduced in the show's second episode. Struggling academically, Denise drops out of post-secondary school shortly after enrolling at the historically black Hillman College. She briefly returns home before traveling to Africa, where she marries Lt. Martin Kendall, becoming stepmother to his daughter, Olivia. Bonet was cast as Denise because the producers found that she embodied some of the character's unique traits. Based on Cosby's daughter Erinn, the show's creator borrowed inspiration from their relationship for Denise's storylines exploring self-discovery and independence.
Bonet and Cosby experienced creative differences on the set of The Cosby Show, particularly regarding her career choices beyond the sitcom. Cosby developed A Different World amidst their dispute to provide the actress with a more mature platform. However, Bonet was fired from the spin-off when she became pregnant during its first season, and temporarily rejoined the cast of The Cosby Show. After leaving The Cosby Show for one year to give birth, Bonet returned as a series regular at the beginning of its sixth season until Cosby ultimately fired her during season seven.
Denise became The Cosby Show's breakout character, and resonated with young adult fans. Bonet's performance was critically acclaimed and earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986. Some fans criticized Bonet's controversial role in Angel Heart (1987), claiming it disrespected Denise's wholesome image. Denise did not fare as well on A Different World; critics found Bonet uninteresting and often blamed her performance for the show's unimpressive early reviews. Revered as a fashion icon, the character's eclectic style has had a profound impact on modern fashion trends, namely boho-chic; media publications frequently rank Denise among television's best-dressed characters.
The Cosby Show follows the daily goings-on of the Huxtable family, an upper-middle class African American family who reside in Brooklyn, New York. The family is run by Dr. Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby), an obstetrician, and his wife Clair (Phylicia Rashad), a lawyer. The second eldest of their five children, Denise is a younger sister of Sondra (Sabrina Lebeauf) and an elder sister to Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) and Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam). After graduating from high school, Denise leaves home to pursue post-secondary education at the fictional, historically black Hillman College, the college both her parents and grandparents had attended.
A Different World focuses on the character during her freshman and sophomore years at Hillman, revolving around her as she meets new friends and adjusts to college life. However, Denise constantly struggles with her finances and academics to the point that she ultimately drops out, becoming the first member of her family to drop out of college. After leaving Hillman, Denise returns to her childhood home in the hopes of forging her own "alternative path" towards success.
Initially interested in becoming either a fashion designer or record producer, Denise pursues several short-lived part-time jobs, from which she is either fired or quits after a brief period of time, before traveling to Africa to work as a wildlife photographer's assistant. Denise returns to the Huxtable household one year later, this time as the second wife of a divorced United States Navy officer, Lt. Martin Kendall (Joseph C. Phillips) – who she has married without her family's knowledge – and stepmother to his three-year-old daughter Olivia (Raven-Symoné). After developing an interest in teaching children with learning disabilities, Denise eventually decides to enroll at Medgar Evers College. When Martin receives a posting to a naval base in Singapore, he and Denise move there and leave Olivia in the Huxtables' care. In the series finale, Denise telephones the family from Singapore to announce that she and Martin are now expecting their first child together.
Comedian Bill Cosby became interested in developing The Cosby Show partially because he was unimpressed with popular family sitcoms airing at the time, some of which often depicted children talking back to and disrespecting their parents without suffering serious consequences. Cosby intended for The Cosby Show's children to remain intelligent while emphasizing that "their parents were always smarter and—most importantly—in charge." Denise was intended to be the eldest of the Huxtable family's four children. However, Cosby also wanted the show to feature a character who was an example of parents Cliff and Clair having already successfully raised a college-educated child, hence the writers introduced eldest sibling Sondra, a Princeton University student, in the second episode, while Denise was relegated to the role of the Huxtables' second eldest child instead. Cosby himself is the father of five children, four daughters and one son, much like his character Cliff. All five Huxtable children are based on Cosby's own; Denise in particular was based on the creator's daughter Erinn, who was approximately Denise's same age when the series began in 1984.
According to Cosby: His Life and Times author Mark Whitaker, Cosby
Source: Denise Huxtable (CC BY-SA)
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