“Empire” has added yet another big name for Season 3.
“The Cosby Show” star Phylicia Rashad has booked a recurring role on the Fox drama, playing Diana Dubois, a powerhouse from one of New York’s oldest and most prominent African-American families.
The character is the mother of ambitious city councilman Angelo Dubois, played by previously announced guest star Taye Diggs. She has her sights set on higher office for her only son and will stop at nothing to get him there. 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.
Rashad joins previously announced guest stars for the series’ third season, including Diggs, Sierra McClain, rapper French Montana and music mogul Birdman, who plays himself.
Mariah Carey will also make an appearance in the October 5 episode, in which she will play Kitty, a mega-superstar who comes to Empire to collaborate with Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett).
“Empire” recently came under fire when the people behind the series were hit with a class-action lawsuit by a pair of young detainees who claim that the shooting of the series kept them from receiving their education.
“Empire” returns for Season 3 on Wednesday, September 21.