Phylicia Rashad has become a well-known face in Hollywood for her impressive acting career. And while her daughter has followed in her footsteps, her son, William Lancelot Bowles III, has steered clear of the limelight.
Phylicia plays Michael B Jordan's loving on-screen mother in "Creed" and "Creed II," and is just as loving towards her off-screen children, William and Condola. After graduating from college, Phylicia welcomed William during her first marriage.
Between being a mother, a wife, and an actress, Phylicia made sure she and William spent some mother/son time together, even if it was something simple as making him breakfast every day.
William Lancelot Bowles' Childhood
William was born in 1973 and was named after his father, William Sr., who was a dentist. Phylicia was 24 years old when she had William. A few years prior, she was enrolled at Howard University and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
William was still a little boy when his parents decided to part ways. He lived with his mother after their divorce, and when William was seven, three years after his parents divorced, Phylicia remarried Victor Willis on April 28, 1978. Victor did not stay in William's life for long, as he and Phylicia split in 1980. William was seven.
When William was sixteen, he moved to New York to live with his father. William was thirteen when he became an older brother after Phylicia and Ahmad welcomed their first child together, Condola Rashad. William's younger sister was born in New York City on December 11, 1986.
Despite her popularity and busy schedule as a famous actress, Phylicia said she always tried to make time for her children. She would take Condola with her on the set of "The Cosby Show," and her favorite moments with William were when she would make breakfast in the mornings for him. Phylicia said:
"You have to spend time with your children. You have to be there. I try (to) cook for him every day."
William's mother remarried for the third time to sportscaster and former professional football player Ahmad Rashad in 1985. Ahmad and Phylicia met through her on-screen husband, Bill Cosby, and O.J Simpson served as the best man.
William was 12 when he attended the wedding with his grandmother, although, according to his mother, he wanted to be the one to walk her down the aisle and give her away.
Phylicia and Ahmad Rashad with their daughter Condola Rashad at the NBC Affiliates Party on June 2, 1987, in California | Source: Getty Images
William Is a Very Private Person
Unlike his mother and sister, William did not become an actor. But a 2001 article did reveal that William became a production coordinator and resides in Los Angeles.
His family respects his choice to stay out of the spotlight, and he does not feature on their social media. Phylicia has not spoken about William publicly or in interviews over the years but is still close to her son.
William Lancelot Bowles III Has a Younger Sister
William's mother is not the only creatively gifted woman in his family. His grandmother, Vivian Ayers, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her poem "Hawk" in 1952. William's sister said:
"My grandmother is the root to this whole tree. We are all extensions of different parts of her."
His aunt, Debbie Allen, is an executive producer of "Grey's Anatomy," and plays the role of Catherine Fox in the medical series. In 2021, Phylicia took to social media to wish her baby sister a baby birthday, where Phylicia and Debbie exchanged words of love.
Boy, 7, Loses His Life While Playing Favorite Game – Broken Mom Vows to Put His Christmas Present in His CoffinMy 4-Year-Old Daughter Started Drawing Dark Pictures after Accidentally Discovering Her Dad's Secret Wiliam's younger sister had earned Tony nominations for her roles on broadway and dipped her toes into the music industry when she released an E.P.
Condola accredited her creative passion to her mother. In 2020, she celebrated Phylicia on Mother's Day. Condola wrote in an Instagram post that she had looked up to her mother her entire life.
Phylicia Rashad's life and acting career not only inspired her daughter but other actors as well. But no matter how busy she became as a famous actress, she always maintained a close bond with Condola and William.
FAQs
A: William Lancelot Bowles III comes from a family with a rich heritage in the arts and academia. His mother, Phylicia Rashad, is a renowned actress known for her role in “The Cosby Show,” while his father, William Lancelot Bowles Jr., is a respected dentist.
Did Phylicia Rashad have a son? ›
Rashad's first marriage, in 1972, was to dentist William Lancelot Bowles, Jr. They had one son, William Lancelot Bowles III, who was born the following year.
Does Felicia Rashad have a daughter? ›
Who was Phylicia Rashad's first husband? ›
Phylicia married her first husband, William Lancelot Bowles Jr., in 1972. The following year, the pair welcomed a baby boy, William Lancelot Bowles III. He was named after his father, but as a child he was referred to as “Billy.”
Are Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad related? ›
Debbie Allen & Phylicia Rashad - You might not know it, but choreographer Debbie Allen and actress Phylicia Rashad are indeed sisters. Born in Houston, both Allen and Rashad graduated from Howard University.
Is Phylicia Rashad hispanic or Latino? ›
Phylicia Rashad was born in Houston, Texas to African-American parents Vivian Elizabeth (Ayers), a poet and art director, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. As a child, Phylicia, her older brother Andrew (called Tex), and younger sister, dancer and actress Debbie Allen, lived in Mexico.
How many children did Phylicia Rashad and Ahmad Rashad have? ›
After saying "I do," the couple began blending their families. Along with her son, William, Ahmad had four kids of his own: Keva, Sean, Maiyisha and Ahmad Jr. On Dec. 11, 1986, almost a year after their wedding, they added a sixth child to the family when they welcomed their daughter, Condola Phylea Rashad.
What happened to Ahmad Rashad and Phylicia Rashad? ›
After marrying (1985) sports broadcaster Ahmad Rashad, she began using his surname professionally (the couple divorced in 2001). Her role as Clair—graceful but assertive, dignified but devoted—became a defining one for Rashad and earned her two Emmy Award nominations.
What nationality is Phylicia Rashad? ›
Phylicia Rashād (/fɪˈliːʃə rəˈʃɑːd/ fih-LI-shə rə-SHAHD) (née Ayers-Allen; born June 19, 1948) is an American actress, singer and theatre director.
Who is Phylicia Rashad's sister? ›
Portrayed by actress Phylicia Rashad, Clair, the wife of Cliff Huxtable and mother of their five children, is the matriarch of the show's central Huxtable family. Working as a lawyer, Clair values the importance of maintaining a successful career and strong household simultaneously.
Was Debbie Allen on The Cosby Show? ›
The Cosby Show (TV Series 1984–1992) - Debbie Allen as Emma - IMDb.
How old was Bill Cosby during The Cosby Show? ›
Why did Bill Cosby seem like an old man in the Cosby Show if he was only in his 40s? He was 47 when the show started, doesn't look noticeably older to me. Cliff was an obstetrician, so often was supposed to have been without sleep for quite a while.
How many biological kids do Debbie Allen have? ›
Allen is married to former NBA player Norm Nixon; the couple has three children: dancer Vivian Nichole Nixon (who played Kalimba in the Broadway production of Hot Feet) basketball player Norman Ellard Nixon Jr. (Wofford College & Southern University), and DeVaughn Nixon.
Who was Debbie Allen married to? ›
Debbie Allen | Happy Valentine's Day to my husband, Norm Nixon! ❤️ Love you! Instagram.
Does Debbie Allen have a daughter? ›
Debbie Allen | Today is my beautiful daughter Vivian's birthday!
Does Isaiah Rashad have a kid? ›
Personal life. Rashad has three children. Upon signing to Top Dawg Entertainment he got a tattoo to commemorate the partnership.
What does Ahmad Rashad do now? ›
Rashad, who is known for his close relationships with the likes of Jordan, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and others, has recently jumped back into the NBA television scene with the new show, NBA Rewind, available on the league's app.
Who is Condola Rashad father? ›
Rashad was born in New York on December 11, 1986, to actress Phylicia Rashad and sportscaster Ahmad Rashad, a former professional football player.
Does Ahmad Rashad have a son? ›
He has fathered a total of six children, including a son, Geoffrey Simmons, born to his high school girlfriend Melody Neal.
