William Lancelot Bowles III is the son of actress Phylicia Rashad and her first husband, dentist William Lancelot Bowles Jr. Born in 1973, he grew up around his mother’s theater career but did not become an actor.
William, also known as Billy, has kept most of his adult life private. He has reportedly worked in computer graphics and has a younger half-sister, actress Condola Rashad.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | William Lancelot Bowles III |
| Nickname | Billy |
| Born | 1973 |
| Age | About 53 in 2026 |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Mother | Phylicia Rashad |
| Father | William Lancelot Bowles Jr. |
| Half-sister | Condola Phylea Rashad |
| Profession | Reportedly works in computer graphics |
| Earlier reported work | Production coordinator |
| Known for | Being Phylicia Rashad’s son |
| Current location | West Coast, according to a 2020 interview |
| Relationship status | Not publicly confirmed |
| Children | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
William’s Age and Early Life
William Lancelot Bowles III was born in 1973 in the United States. His exact date and place of birth have not been publicly confirmed.
He was named after his father, William Lancelot Bowles Jr., and was called Billy as a child.
William spent part of his childhood in New York. His mother was developing her Broadway career during his early years, while his father worked as a dentist.
His Parents Divorced When He Was Young
William’s parents married in 1972 and welcomed him the following year.
Their marriage ended in divorce in 1975, when William was still a young child.
He spent much of his childhood with his mother. One report also says he moved to New York to live with his father when he was 16, although this detail is less widely documented.
Growing Up Around Theater
William Lancelot Bowles III was exposed to theater from an early age because of his mother’s work.
Phylicia sometimes took him to rehearsals for The Wiz rather than leaving him away from her work.
She later recalled that William paid close attention to her performances. By the time he was 7, he could give her notes about scenes and tell her when he thought she needed more energy.
Despite this early connection with theater, William did not follow his mother into acting.
Who Is Phylicia Rashad?
William’s mother, Phylicia Rashad, was born on June 19, 1948, in Houston, Texas.
She is an actress and stage performer best known for playing Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984 to 1992.
William Lancelot Bowles III was about 10 years old when his mother landed the role.
Phylicia’s other work includes Creed, Creed II, Just Wright, Good Deeds, A Fall from Grace, and Tick, Tick… Boom!
Her stage career includes A Raisin in the Sun. Her performance in the play made her the first Black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
Phylicia Rashad as William’s Mother
Phylicia has said that she tried to make time for her children even while maintaining a demanding acting career.
She brought William to rehearsals and made an effort to spend time with him at home.
She has also explained that she wanted her children to discover who they were for themselves rather than simply follow the paths of other family members.
That approach can be seen in William’s adult life. Unlike several members of his family, he did not pursue a public acting career.
Who Is William Lancelot Bowles Jr.?
William’s father is William Lancelot Bowles Jr.
He worked as a dentist while the family lived in New York.
There is much less public information about him than about Phylicia Rashad.
William’s Career
William has built a career outside acting.
According to information reported by PEOPLE from a 2009 New York Times conversation, he worked in computer graphics.
An older report from 2001 described him as a production coordinator living in Los Angeles.
These reports may describe different stages of his career. His exact current job in 2026 has not been publicly documented.
Where Does William Live?
In a 2020 interview with The Breakfast Club, Phylicia said her son was living on the West Coast.
An older report placed him in Los Angeles.
His current city and home have not been publicly confirmed.
His sister, Condola Rashad
William Lancelot Bowles III has a younger half-sister named Condola Phylea Rashad.
Condola was born on December 11, 1986, to Phylicia Rashad and her third husband, former NFL player and sportscaster Ahmad Rashad.
William was about 13 when Condola was born.
Unlike William, Condola followed their mother into the performing arts.
Who Is Condola Rashad?
Condola studied theater at the California Institute of the Arts, graduating in 2008.
She made her Off-Broadway debut in 2009 and later built a career on Broadway and television.
Her stage work includes Romeo and Juliet and Saint Joan. She has also appeared in the Showtime television series Billions.
Condola has received multiple Tony Award nominations for her theater work.
William’s Famous Extended Family
William Lancelot Bowles III has other well-known people on his mother’s side of the family.
His aunt is Debbie Allen, an actress, dancer, choreographer, director, and producer. Allen is known for Fame and her work on Grey’s Anatomy.
His maternal grandmother, Vivian Ayers Allen, was a poet and artist. Her work included the poem Hawk.
The performing arts became an important part of the family, but William chose a quieter professional path.
Phylicia Rashad’s Marriage to Ahmad Rashad
Phylicia married former professional football player and sportscaster Ahmad Rashad in 1985.
One report says William was about 12 when he attended the wedding and wanted to be the person who walked his mother down the aisle.
Phylicia and Ahmad later welcomed Condola in 1986.
Ahmad also had children from earlier relationships, making William part of a larger blended family.
Phylicia and Ahmad divorced in 2001.
William Keeps His Life Private
William Lancelot Bowles III has remained much more private than his mother and sister.
He rarely appears publicly with his family, and Phylicia does not regularly share photos of him on social media.
She also gives relatively few details about him in interviews.
There is no sign that William has tried to build a public profile based on his family’s fame.
Is William Lancelot Bowles III Married?
William Lancelot Bowles III relationship status has not been publicly confirmed.
There is no reliable information identifying a wife or current partner. There is also no confirmed information about a marriage or divorce.
Does William Have Children?
There are no publicly confirmed details showing that William Lancelot Bowles III has children.
His family life as an adult remains private.
William’s Education
William’s educational background has not been widely documented.
There is no reliable public information confirming which college or university he attended or what subject he studied.
Social Media
William Lancelot Bowles III does not have a widely known public social media presence.
He is also rarely featured on the social media accounts of his mother or sister.
William Lancelot Bowles III’s Net Worth
William Lancelot Bowles III personal net worth is not reliably known.
Although some websites discuss the wealth of his famous mother, those estimates should not be treated as William’s own net worth.
His exact income and financial details remain private.
Interesting Facts
- William Lancelot Bowles III was born in 1973.
- His childhood nickname was Billy.
- His exact birthday has not been publicly confirmed.
- His mother is actress Phylicia Rashad.
- His father is dentist William Lancelot Bowles Jr.
- His parents married in 1972 and divorced in 1975.
- William spent time at theater rehearsals with his mother as a child.
- Phylicia said he could give her useful performance notes by age 7.
- He did not follow his mother into acting.
- He has reportedly worked in computer graphics.
- An older report described him as a production coordinator.
- His younger half-sister is actress Condola Rashad.
- Debbie Allen is his aunt.
- Vivian Ayers Allen was his maternal grandmother.
- Phylicia said in 2020 that William lived on the West Coast.
- His current relationship status is private.
- He does not have any publicly confirmed children.
- His education and personal net worth are not reliably known.
- He maintains a private life away from the spotlight.
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