TONY AND EMMY AWARD WINNER PHYLICIA RASHAD ("THE COSBY SHOW," "CREED," "A RAISIN IN THE SUN") TO BE FEATURED IN A RECURRING GUEST-STAR ROLE ON "EMPIRE"

SEASON THREE OF "EMPIRE" PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, @ 9/8c, on FOX!

Rashad will portray DIANA DUBOIS, a powerhouse from one of New York's oldest and most prominent African-American families. As the mother of ambitious city councilman Angelo Dubois (guest star Taye Diggs), she has her sights set on higher office for her only son, and she'll stop at nothing to groom him. Diana's interactions with Cookie, Lucious and the rest of the Lyon clan will lay bare the stark class divides that can exist, even within the black community.

About Phylicia Rashad:

A versatile performer, Phylicia Rashad became a household name with her role as "Claire Huxtable" on "The Cosby Show," a character whose appeal has earned her numerous honors and awards for over two decades. While television was a catalyst in the rise of Rashad's career, she has also been a force on the stage, appearing both on and Off-Broadway, often in projects that showcase her musical talent, such as "Jelly's Last Jam," "Into The Woods," "Dreamgirls" and "The Wiz." As a dramatic actress, Rashad has performed on Broadway in "August: Osage County," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Gem Of The Ocean" and "Cymbeline." Rashad received both the Drama Desk and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her riveting performance in the Broadway revival of "A Raisin In The Sun." In film, Rashad has appeared in "Creed," Tyler Perry's "Good Deeds" and "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf."

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