What’s been going on with Lisa Bonet? After making quite a name for herself in the 1980s – “The Cosby Show,” “A Different World,” her nude Rolling Stone cover, and marriage to Lenny Kravitz proved Lisa both unpredictable and unique – she has remained aloof and very selective in when she works. Returning to television in 2008 with “Life on Mars” may seem unusual for those familiar with Lisa’s past, but this anti-mainstream approach to just about all aspects of life started in Lisa’s childhood.
Born in San Francisco in 1967, her father was African American and mother Jewish. She divided her time between New York and Los Angeles before her debut on “St. Elsewhere” in 1983. Within a year, Lisa joined “The Cosby Show” as the eldest daughter, Denise Huxtable – a run that lasted eight seasons on NBC. Lisa starred in the brief spin-off series “A Different World” in 1987, the same year she married Lenny Kravitz, a marriage that produced a daughter, Zoe, in 1988. The divorce was final in 1993.
It was during this time period, the early 1990s, when Lisa made significant steps in backing away from regular appearances on TV and film. She legally changed her name to Lilakoi Moon while maintaining “Lisa Bonet” as her stage name. Lisa chose few roles during this decade, with “Enemy of the State” her most notable performance in 1998. She made a memorable John Cusack ex-girlfriend in “High Fidelity” in 2000 and starred as Queenie in “Biker Boyz” in 2003. Her steady boyfriend in the 2000s has been Jason Momoa, an actor from “Baywatch.”
Iconic Character – Denise Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”
Lisa Bonet has had a nice career as she shows off her many talents and continues to look beautiful. But for many fans, her role as Denise on “The Cosby Show” will always be a favorite. We highlihgted this character in our “TV Girlfriends” feature in the “Girls Next Door” catagory. Here’s what we said about the character:
“Wow. Just…wow. When we were first introduced to Cliff and Claire Huxtable’s second daughter, Denise…well, we can’t really talk about that too much, given that she was still in her teens. We can at least observe, however, that even in those early days, it was already evident that Denise was a free spirit, someone who was a real sweetheart but was unafraid to buck the current trends in hairstyles and fashion in favor of following her own direction. Make that several directions. During the course of our time with Denise, we saw her attend Hillman College, quit Hillman College, travel to Africa, marry a divorcé with a daughter, come back to the States with her husband and new stepdaughter in tow, and, in the end, follow them onto her husband’s next assignment…in Singapore! Not that we’re not optimistic here at Bullz-Eye, but given her tendency for transition, we have to figure that she’s available again by now…and if she is, then it’s a safe bet that she’s just as beautiful as she ever was. Just don’t make any long-term plans.”
Lisa Bonet as Denise
Clips from a fan with strange music in the background.
Lisa on the Screen
She’s Denise Huxtable on both “The Cosby Show” and “A Different World,” costars with Mickey Rourke and Robert De Niro in “Angel Hearts,” is Priscilla in “Bank Robber,” Catherine Briggs in the 1994 film “Dead Connection,” and Rachel Banks in “Enemy of the State.” Lisa makes a memorable appearance as Marie De Salle in “High Fidelity,” is Queenie in “Biker Boyz,” Mae Evans in “Whitepaddy,” and Maya Daniels in “Life on Mars.”
Lisa Says
On her legacy:
“I have a desire to create more film, more beauty, more art, more love, but I don’t feel desperate. It’s not about creating or building a career.”
On her privacy:
“Let those who know know, and let me keep what little privacy I can.”
On her philosophy:
“It’s from our sufferings that we form our consciousness.”