If you grew up watching The Cosby Show in the late '80s, you remember the kid. The one who always showed up at the Huxtable house, usually to give Rudy some "manly" advice that he definitely heard from his older brother. He was obsessed with being a "tough guy," but let’s be real—he was mostly just a adorable, pint-sized chauvinist in a sweater vest.
Everyone called him Bud.
But here is the thing: his name wasn't actually Bud. And the actor who played him, Deon Richmond, didn't just vanish into thin air when the show wrapped in 1992. In fact, if you’ve watched any major teen comedy or horror flick from the early 2000s, you’ve probably seen him and didn’t even realize it was the same kid who used to boss Rudy Huxtable around.
Who Was Bud, Really?
First, let's clear up the name. On the show, his character was actually named Kenny. The "Bud" thing was a running gag. Whenever Kenny came over to play with Rudy, he’d reference his older brother’s advice on how to handle women. To show he was part of the "inner circle" of manhood, he’d insist people call him Bud.
It was hilarious because he was, like, seven.
Deon Richmond landed the role in 1986. He wasn't a lead, but he became a staple of the later seasons. He appeared in about 32 episodes, and honestly, the dynamic between him and Keshia Knight Pulliam (Rudy) was one of the best parts of the show's sunset years. They had this "old married couple" energy that was way funnier than it had any right to be.
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Life After the Huxtables
A lot of child stars hit a wall when their big show ends. They either get typecast or they just decide they're done with the industry. Richmond? He stayed busy. Like, really busy.
Right after The Cosby Show ended, he jumped into another sitcom called Getting By. It didn't have the staying power of the Huxtables, but it kept him on screen. But if you’re a 90s kid, you probably remember him best from Sister, Sister.
Remember Jordan Bennett? Tamera’s boyfriend in the later seasons?
Yep, that was "Bud" all grown up. He played Jordan from 1997 to 1999. He went from being a kid with bad advice to a guy who was actually pretty charming, even if he was still a bit of a goofball. It was a smooth transition that most child actors never manage to pull off.
The 2000s: Horror, Spoofs, and "The Token Black Guy"
This is where Richmond’s career gets interesting. He didn't just stick to sitcoms. He actually carved out a pretty solid niche in Hollywood movies.
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If you like horror, you definitely saw him in Scream 3 (2000). He played Tyson Fox, the actor cast in the "movie within a movie" who eventually meets a pretty grim end. It was a big deal—Scream was one of the biggest franchises at the time.
Then came the cult classics:
- Not Another Teen Movie (2001): He played Malik, the character who literally points out that he's the "token Black guy" at the party. It was a brilliant, self-aware performance that satirized the very roles he was often offered.
- Van Wilder (2002): He starred alongside Ryan Reynolds as Mini Cochran.
- Hatchet (2006): He went back to horror for this indie slasher, which has a massive following today.
Honestly, he was everywhere for a while. He had this specific "best friend" energy that directors loved. He was funny, relatable, and had great timing.
Where is Deon Richmond in 2026?
So, what’s he up to now? At 47 years old, Deon has slowed down a bit on the acting front compared to his 2000s peak, but he hasn't retired.
He still pops up in projects—most recently in the 2022 TV movie Cloudy with a Chance of Christmas. He also made a memorable guest appearance in the series finale of Psych back in 2014, playing the new boss of Dulé Hill's character, Gus. It was a great "meta" moment for fans who grew up watching him.
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Beyond the screen, Richmond is pretty private. He’s a dad (he has twin daughters) and mostly stays out of the messy Hollywood spotlight. He’s one of the few child stars who seems to have come out the other side totally normal. No public meltdowns, no scandalous headlines—just a working actor who has been in the business since he was in a Kool & the Gang music video as a toddler.
Why "Bud" Still Matters to Fans
People still search for "Cosby show cast Bud" because Kenny represented a very specific kind of childhood nostalgia. He was the kid we all knew—the one who thought he knew everything but actually knew nothing.
The legacy of the show itself is obviously complicated now due to the headlines surrounding Bill Cosby. Many of the cast members have had to navigate that fallout. But for fans of the characters, Kenny/Bud remains a bright spot.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception? That he was "just" a child actor.
People forget he has a filmography that spans four decades. He’s worked with Spike Lee (Mo' Better Blues), Eddie Murphy (Raw), and Wes Craven. He wasn't just a sidekick; he was a legitimate character actor who understood how to play the "straight man" to bigger comedic personalities.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive back into Deon Richmond's work, here is how to do it:
- Skip the Cosby Show clips for a minute: Go watch Not Another Teen Movie. It’s his most underrated performance and shows off his ability to handle meta-humor way before it was trendy.
- Check out "Hatchet": If you’re a horror buff, this is a must-watch. It’s a throwback to 80s slashers and shows a different side of his acting.
- Follow the "Sister, Sister" reruns: His chemistry with the Mowry twins is genuinely heartwarming and shows why he was a sitcom staple for so long.
Deon Richmond might always be "Bud" to some, but his career proves he was always much more than a nickname. He navigated the transition from child star to adult actor with a level of grace that’s rare in the industry. Whether he's playing a chauvinistic kid or a self-aware teen movie trope, he’s always been one of the most reliable faces on television.