The role of Sondra Huxtable on The Cosby Show saw a notable music icon considered for the part, while the actress who ultimately landed it faced a close call during the casting process.
Whitney Houston's Near Miss
The legendary singer Whitney Houston was strongly considered and was "in the running" for the role of Sondra Huxtable. At the time, Houston was an emerging superstar, and her casting would have brought a different dynamic to the eldest Huxtable child. Ultimately, the role went to another actress.
Sabrina LeBeauf's Close Call
While Whitney Houston was a contender who didn't get the part, the actress who eventually portrayed Sondra, Sabrina LeBeauf, also almost didn't secure the role. Her casting presented a unique challenge:
- Age Proximity: LeBeauf was born in 1958, making her only 10 years younger than Phylicia Rashad, who played her mother, Clair Huxtable (born in 1948). This relatively small age gap between mother and daughter in the series almost led to LeBeauf missing out on the opportunity.
Despite this concern, Sabrina LeBeauf was ultimately cast as Sondra Huxtable, the eldest and most academically inclined of the Huxtable children, known for her marriage to Elvin Tibideaux and her pursuit of a law degree.
For more information on the character of Sondra Huxtable and the show's casting, you can visit the Sondra Huxtable Wikipedia page.
