17 Things You Never Knew About ‘The Cosby Show’

10. Theo was supposed to be taller

The casting call for Theo asked for 15-year-old that was 6’2″, but Jamal Warner landed the role at 13 and only 5’5″. His first read through at his audition he played the role very bratty which everyone loved besides Bill, who asked if he would talk to his real dad like that. He gave it another go with that in mind and landed the role.

11. Vanessa went to college because Tempestt Bledsoe did

When actress Tempestt Bledsoe wanted to go away to school they wrote it into the show that Vanessa would go to college as well. The shooting schedule was rearranged so that she could study full time and just have sporadic appearances during the seventh season.

12. The Huxtables almost had very different jobs

In the original concept for the show, Clair was going to be a union plumber and Cliff was going to be a limo driver. They also toyed with the concept of having Clair be Dominican and speak Spanish whenever she got mad. Bill’s real life wife Camille Cosby thought the show should be more reflective of their real life.