Cliff is the rock on which the whole Huxtable family is built. He has a demanding job as an obstetrician, and then comes home to a very large and active household. Cliff's five children -- Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy -- often present challenges but with the support of his wife Clair, Cliff always manages to keep a smile on his face. A former college track star, Cliff is also a jazz and junk-food aficionado. He often wonders if he will ever achieve his dream of a peaceful, quiet home.