Cliff Huxtable
Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable is a fictional character and the protagonist of the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992. He was portrayed by actor and comedian Bill Cosby and appeared in all 201 episodes of the show.
| Heathcliff Huxtable | |
|---|---|
| The Cosby Show character | |
Bill Cosby in a public service announcement in 1990. His character Cliff Huxtable frequently wore similar jumpers to the one Cosby is wearing in this photo | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" |
| Last appearance | "And So We Commence" |
| Created by | Bill Cosby |
| Portrayed by | Bill Cosby |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Heathcliff Aloysius Huxtable |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | Dr. |
| Occupation | Physician |
| Family | Russell Huxtable (father) Anna Huxtable (mother) James Theodore Huxtable (brother; deceased) Harriet McCutcheon (paternal great-aunt) Elijah Ray Sanders Nephew |
| Spouse | Clair Huxtable |
| Children | Sondra Huxtable Denise Huxtable Theodore Huxtable Vanessa Huxtable Rudy Huxtable |
| Nationality | American |
Cliff is the Huxtable family patriarch who is very goofy and silly to most people around him, especially his family. At his core, he is a very kind and gentle man and an extremely dedicated father with a strong sense of humor. Although he and his wife fostered a tight-knit, loving family, a running gag throughout the series is his thwarted attempts to get the grown children to leave the house.
The character had a mostly positive reception from critics, and was named as the "Greatest Television Dad". Cosby's portrayal of Cliff Huxtable caused him to gain a reputation as "America's Dad". He was frequently shown wearing colourful sweaters.