Could you have foreseen Whitney Houston playing the role of Denise Huxtable in the hit tv show “The Cosby Show”?, well it could’ve happened.
Actor Darryl M. Bell revealed that Houston actually turned down the role as Denise Huxtable for A Different World.
While on the latest episode of Red Table Talk, he said, “Now I’m sure everyone knows there’s a Cosby, A Different World connection. And what most people don’t know is that there were two actresses who would be considered for that role of Denise.”
He continued, “When The Cosby Show was originally being cast, the role of Denise came down to Lisa Bonet and this other actress. And when they gave this other actress the contract, she said ‘Oh I can’t do this.’ And they said, ‘Why not?’ She said, ‘Because it’s a five-year contract.”
Bell added, “And they’re like, ‘Yeah, but this is Bill Cosby. You know who he is?’ She said, ‘Oh I do, I’m a big fan, but can’t do it.’ They said, ‘Well, why not?’ She said, ‘Because I’m gonna be a singer.’ They said, ‘Well, do you have a record deal?’ She said, ‘No.’ [They asked], ‘Well, why do you think you can sing?’ She said, ‘Because my mother thinks so.’”
He later revealed that it was Whitney Houston who turned down the role. Houston went on to win multiple awards including 22 American Music Awards, Six Grammys, and so much more.
On February 11, 2012, Houston passed at age 48 after accidentally drowning in a hotel bathtub.