Sondra Huxtable

Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux is a fictional character from the 1980s television series, The Cosby Show.

Background and production
Sondra Huxtable did not appear in the pilot episode of the show. Sondra was created when Bill Cosby wanted the show to express the accomplishment of successfully raising a child (e.g. a college graduate). Sabrina LeBeauf almost missed out on the role because she is only 10 years younger (b. 1958) than Phylicia Rashad (b. 1948), who played her mother in the series. Whitney Houston was in the running to be Sondra Huxtable.

Sondra is introduced partway through Season 1 as the eldest of Cliff and Clair's five children, a sophomore studying pre-law at Princeton University. During Season 2, she meets and begins to date Elvin Tibideaux (Geoffrey Owens), a pre-med student and fellow Princeton sophomore. Elvin irritates Cliff and Clair at first, but they eventually warm up to him and give their blessing to the couple's engagement near the end of Season 3. By the start of Season 4, Sondra and Elvin are married and have completed their undergraduate studies, but shock Cliff and Clair with their plans to open a wilderness supply store rather than continue on to law and medical school. Sondra gives birth to twins in Season 5, a boy and girl that she and Elvin name Nelson and Winnie. Elvin announces that he will attend medical school while Sondra raises the babies, then trade places with her so she can attend law school.

Reception
The character had been criticized for being too light skinned and not resembling the other cast members.