Tempestt Bledsoe, recognized globally for her role as Vanessa Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," has maintained a notable presence in Hollywood while nurturing a long-term relationship with her partner, Darryl M. Bell. This article explores her journey, encompassing her career, weight loss endeavors, and personal life.
Early Career and Education
Tempestt Bledsoe began her acting career at the age of 11, securing the role of Vanessa Huxtable on "The Cosby Show." Guided by her mother, she successfully navigated the challenges often faced by child stars. Even during her time on "The Cosby Show," Bledsoe understood the importance of education. With both her parents being teachers, attending college was always a priority. After Bill Cosby found her looking through an NYU pamphlet where she planned to attend school only on Fridays so that she could shoot the show the rest of the week. Cosby then made arrangements so that Bledsoe could attend college full-time, and she eventually graduated with a degree in finances.
Maintaining a Hollywood Career
Unlike many of her peers, Bledsoe has enjoyed a consistent career in Hollywood, branching out into reality television and voice acting. After "The Cosby Show" ended in 1992, she appeared in series such as "The Practice," "The Parkers," and "Strong Medicine." She also had a short-lived talk show called "The Tempestt Bledsoe Show" from 1995 to 1996.
In 2008, Bledsoe ventured into voice acting, playing Abby in Disney Channel's animated series "The Replacements." This role led to further opportunities, including lending her voice to a character in the animated film "ParaNorman."
Weight Loss Journey on "Celebrity Fit Club"
In 2009, Bledsoe joined the cast of VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club," a reality TV show where celebrities focus on losing weight. While on the show, she worked with Dr. Ian Smith, the panel host of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. He’s taught celebrities like actress Tempest Bledsoe and rock star Gunner Nelson that the key to a healthy lifestyle is to find the right balance between diet and exercise. Bledsoe lost 19 pounds on the show, though she focused more on reducing her body fat percentage.
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Following her experience on "Celebrity Fit Club," Bledsoe adopted a vegetarian lifestyle. "For me, what works best is to try to eat healthily and not worry about the scale," she told People a few years later.
Hosting "Clean House" and "Guys with Kids"
In 2010, Bledsoe took over from Niecy Nash as the host of "Clean House," a role she enjoyed due to her self-proclaimed neat freak tendencies. She found satisfaction in helping people organize their homes.
Her career came full circle in 2012 when she was cast as Marny in NBC's sitcom "Guys with Kids," where she played a working mother of four. The show also reunited her with "Cosby Show" co-star Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played Marny's sister.
Relationship with Darryl M. Bell
Tempestt Bledsoe has been in a long-term relationship with Darryl M. Bell, whom she met on the set of "A Different World" in 1989. Although some fans often refer to Darryl M. Bell as Tempest Bledsoe's husband because of the time they have been together, the truth is the couple hasn't walked down the aisle yet. They met on the set of "A Different World" in 1989, where Bell played the role of Ron Johnson Jr., but only started dating five years later. It's been more than 20 years since then, and they're still together. Despite not being married, the couple has been together for over two decades.
Bledsoe and Bell believe humor and compatibility are the keys to their long-lasting relationship. They understand each other's careers in the entertainment industry and maintain their connection by keeping each other laughing.
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In 2009, the pair offered fans a glimpse into their private lives in 2009 when they joined FOX's reality show "Househusbands of Hollywood," a series that followed the lives of stay-at-home celebrity dads who's wives were the breadwinners. Although Bledsoe and Bell are not married and don't have kids, they joined the show because of the message it was trying to convey about stay-at-home dads and husbands. However, Bledsoe wasn't a fan of the experience.
Continued Privacy
To this day, the couple prefers to keep their private life away from the prying eyes of the media and fans, so it's rare to see them together. Bledsoe's most recent job was in Lifetime's Christmas movie "Family Reunion" in 2019.
Advice From Dr. Ian Smith
Dr. Ian Smith, who worked with Bledsoe on "Celebrity Fit Club," emphasizes the importance of balancing diet and exercise for a healthy lifestyle. He advises against overeating and skipping meals, recommending a diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables. He also stresses the necessity of exercise for overall health, suggesting a mix of activities like walking, cycling, and light weight training. He also advises that people should start off doing about 30 minutes a day for five days a week. But you should do different things: walking steps, riding a bicycle, walking around a track, small weights, like you said, small resistance to build up what’s called your lean muscle mass.
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