Clarice Taylor
A groundbreaking character actress who brought warmth, wit, and formidable presence to roles as matriarchs and neighbors on 1970s and '80s television.
1917–2011 (age 94)·American actress·Birthday: September 20·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Clarice Taylor built a career on the solid foundation of being utterly believable. With a face that conveyed immediate wisdom and a timing honed in the theater, she became a beloved fixture in American living rooms. Her path began in Harlem, with the American Negro Theatre, and she worked steadily on stage for decades before television fame found her. In the 1970s, she became a scene-stealing presence as the sharp-tongued Cousin Emma on 'Sanford and Son,' holding her own against Redd Foxx's irascible Fred. But it was her role as Anna Huxtable, Cliff's mother on 'The Cosby Show,' that cemented her in the cultural memory. With minimal screen time, Taylor created a portrait of dignified, loving authority, the family's quiet bedrock. Her work, often in supporting parts, was a masterclass in creating fully realized characters with economy and heart, paving the way for generations of Black actors in nuanced, non-stereotypical roles.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Clarice was born in 1917, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Clarice Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Clarice's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 80
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2011Died at 94
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Anna Huxtable, the beloved mother of Cliff Huxtable, on the landmark sitcom 'The Cosby Show' for multiple seasons.
- Played the memorable recurring character Cousin Emma on the hit comedy series 'Sanford and Son.'
- Won an Obie Award for her distinguished performance in the Off-Broadway play 'The First Breeze of Summer' in 1975.
- Appeared in the influential Black-cast film 'Five on the Black Hand Side' as Mrs. Brooks in 1973.
Did You Know?
She was a member of the American Negro Theatre in the 1940s, alongside stars like Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte.
Taylor played the Wicked Witch of the West in 'The Wiz' on Broadway in 1975.
She was a trained nurse before pursuing acting full-time.
Taylor voiced the character of Grandma Winifred in the children's animated series 'Little Bill.'
“I learned my craft in the theater, where you must be true to the character.”
