Phylicia Rashad's Mother Reign

The Cosby Show's matriarch influence on TV Moms

Janet Hubert - As Vivian Banks, the aunt of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air's Will Smith, actress Janet Hubert brought, elegance, style and know-it-all sass to her role as mom of the Banks clan. Like Rashad before her, Hubert proved that upper middle class Black moms could have and do it all; juggle a family, successful career and enjoy a loving relationship with her professional husband. (Photo: Chris Cuffaio/NBCU Photo Bank)
Sheryl Lee Ralph - Sheryl Lee Ralph starred as Dee Mitchell on the Brandy vehicle Moesha, and proved that motherhood could take many dramedy turns. As stepmother to Moesha, viewers watched as their relationship shifted from rocky to harmonious. In the tradition of Claire Huxtable, Dee navigated and disarmed all detractors with huge amounts of class, grace and a slicing sharp wit. (Photo: UPN/Landov)
JoMarie Payton Noble - Family Matters' Harriette Winslow, portrayed by JoMarie Payton Noble, was hardworking and working class all the way. But her slick, perceptive mother's intution is what she shared most in common with Phylicia Rashad's depcition of TV motherhood. Neither Harriette's children nor next door neighbor Steve Urkel could ever get anything over on her. But, it was sure fun watching them try. (Photo: CBS/Landov)
Jackeé Harry - Phylicia Rashad's Claire Huxtable was a firm disciplinarian but extended her outreach of momhood to include being a good friend, advisor and confidant to her Cosby kids. That idea wasn't lost on comedic queen Jackée Harry, who got the opportunity to mother twins separately on Sister, Sister. As Lisa Landry, Harry proved that sometimes the best parenting for a daughter came in the form of the most reliable and helpful BFF. (Photo: John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images)Diahann Carroll and Patti LaBelle - The polar opposite moms of A Different World's supercouple Whitley and Dwayne Wayne, Marion Gilbert (Diahann Carroll) and Adele Wayne (Patti LaBelle) gave us the some of the series' funniest comedic moments. But each of them possessed little a Claire Huxatable magic. Carroll served up prim and proper, upper crust high-end TLC out of a champagne flute. While LaBelle's down home, no-nonsense and good cooking love always gave audiences a big comforting hug through the TV. (Photos from left: Harry Langdon/Getty Images, Ian Dickson/Redferns)

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Sheryl Lee Ralph - Sheryl Lee Ralph starred as Dee Mitchell on the Brandy vehicle Moesha, and proved that motherhood could take many dramedy turns. As stepmother to Moesha, viewers watched as their relationship shifted from rocky to harmonious. In the tradition of Claire Huxtable, Dee navigated and disarmed all detractors with huge amounts of class, grace and a slicing sharp wit. (Photo: UPN/Landov)

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