William Lancelot Bowles III is the son of actress Phylicia Rashad and dentist William Lancelot Bowles Jr. He was born in 1973 and grew up largely away from the public eye. Unlike his mother and younger half-sister Condola Rashad, William did not become a public actor. A 2001 report identified him as a production coordinator.
William Lancelot Bowles III’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | William Lancelot Bowles III |
| Nickname | Billy Bowles, reportedly |
| Birth year | 1973 |
| Age | About 52 or 53 in 2026 |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Mother | Phylicia Rashad |
| Father | William Lancelot Bowles Jr. |
| Half-sister | Condola Rashad |
| Grandmother | Vivian Ayers Allen |
| Aunt | Debbie Allen |
| Profession | Reportedly production coordinator |
| Known for | Being Phylicia Rashad’s son |
| Relationship status | Not publicly known |
| Children | None publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
William Lancelot Bowles III’s Age and Early Life
William Lancelot Bowles III was born in 1973 in the United States.
His exact month and day of birth have not been publicly confirmed. Because of that, he is about 52 or 53 years old in 2026, depending on his birthday.
He was named after his father, William Lancelot Bowles Jr.
William spent much of his childhood with his mother after his parents separated.
His Father, William Lancelot Bowles Jr.
William’s father is William Lancelot Bowles Jr.
He reportedly worked as a dentist.
There is little reliable public information about his career, education, or later life.
William III later moved to New York to live with his father when he was around 16 years old.
His Mother, Phylicia Rashad
William’s mother is Phylicia Rashad, an American actress, singer, director, and producer.
She was born Phylicia Ayers Allen on June 19, 1948, in Houston, Texas.
She studied at Howard University and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Phylicia became widely known for playing Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992.
She also appeared in films such as Just Wright, Good Deeds, A Fall from Grace, Tick, Tick… Boom!, and the Creed film series.
Phylicia Rashad’s Tony Award

Phylicia made history on Broadway.
She became the first Black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
She received the award for her performance as Lena Younger in the 2004 revival of A Raisin in the Sun.
His Parents’ Marriage and Divorce
Phylicia Rashad and William Lancelot Bowles Jr. reportedly married in 1972.
William was born the following year.
One source says the couple separated in 1975.
After the divorce, William lived mainly with his mother during his younger years.
His Childhood With Phylicia Rashad
Phylicia has spoken about making time for William Lancelot Bowles III despite her acting career.
One of the personal details she shared was that she tried to cook breakfast for him every day.
She said it was important for parents to spend time with their children and be present in their lives.
William’s childhood was therefore connected to both his mother’s growing acting career and a relatively private family life.
His Mother’s Second Marriage
Phylicia later married Victor Willis in 1978.
The supplied sources disagree about when that marriage ended. One says 1980, while another says 1982.
Because the timeline is inconsistent, only the 1978 marriage year can be stated with more confidence from the available material.
His Mother’s Marriage to Ahmad Rashad
Phylicia married former NFL player and sportscaster Ahmad Rashad in 1985.
The couple reportedly met through Bill Cosby.
O.J. Simpson was reported to have served as best man at their wedding.
William Lancelot Bowles III attended the wedding with his grandmother.
One account says William wanted to walk his mother down the aisle and give her away.
Phylicia and Ahmad later divorced in 2001.
William’s Half-Sister, Condola Rashad
William has one maternal half-sister, Condola Rashad.
Condola was born on December 11, 1986, in New York City.
Her parents are Phylicia Rashad and Ahmad Rashad.
William was around 13 years old when Condola was born.
Condola Rashad’s Career
Condola followed her mother into acting.
She became known for her work on Broadway and television.
She has received several Tony Award nominations for her stage performances.
One source also says she entered the music industry and released an EP.
William Moved to New York
According to one report, William Lancelot Bowles III moved to New York to live with his father when he was around 16 years old.
That would place the move around 1989 if the reported 1973 birth year is correct.
There is little public information about his life during this period.
William Lancelot Bowles III’s Career
William Lancelot Bowles III did not follow his mother and sister into a public acting career.
A 2001 report identified him as a production coordinator.
This suggests he worked behind the scenes in the entertainment or production industry.
However, no specific television show, movie, studio, or production company has been publicly connected to his work.
His current profession in 2026 is not known.
His Reported Life in Los Angeles
The same 2001 report said William was living in Los Angeles, California.
This is historical information and should not be treated as his current residence.
There is no reliable public information confirming where he lives today.
William Keeps His Life Private
William Lancelot Bowles III has stayed almost entirely away from Hollywood publicity.
He does not regularly appear at red carpet events or in interviews.
His mother and sister also rarely share details about him publicly.
His private lifestyle is one of the main reasons there is limited information about his career, relationships, and current activities.
His Grandmother, Vivian Ayers Allen
William’s maternal grandmother was Vivian Ayers Allen.
She was a poet and an important creative figure in the family.
One source says she was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1952 for her poem Hawk.
Condola Rashad has described Vivian as the root of the family’s creative background.
His Aunt, Debbie Allen
William’s aunt is Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad’s younger sister.
Debbie is an actress, dancer, choreographer, director, and producer.
She is well known for her work in television and theater.
She has also worked as an executive producer on Grey’s Anatomy and plays Dr. Catherine Fox on the series.
William’s Education
There is no reliable public information about William’s education.
No high school, college, university, or degree has been confirmed.
His mother’s education at Howard University should not be confused with his own.
Is William Lancelot Bowles III Married?
William’s current relationship status is not publicly known.
There is no reliable information confirming a wife, partner, marriage, or divorce.
Does William Lancelot Bowles III Have Children?
No children belonging to William Lancelot Bowles III have been publicly confirmed in the available information.
Because he keeps his personal life private, it is possible that family details have simply not been made public.
Social Media
No verified Instagram, Facebook, X, or other major social media account belonging to William has been identified.
He also does not regularly appear on the public social media pages of his mother or sister.
Public Appearances
William Lancelot Bowles III has made very few documented public appearances.
One known family event was his attendance at his mother’s 1985 wedding to Ahmad Rashad.
Beyond that, he has largely stayed out of entertainment-industry events.
William Lancelot Bowles III’s Net Worth
William’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
There are no public financial records showing his income or wealth.
Online estimates connected to his mother or father should not be used to calculate his own net worth.
Facts About William Lancelot Bowles III
- He was born in 1973 in the United States.
- His exact birthday is not publicly known.
- His mother is actress Phylicia Rashad.
- His father is dentist William Lancelot Bowles Jr.
- He was named after his father.
- His parents married in 1972.
- They separated when he was still young.
- William mainly lived with his mother after the divorce.
- Phylicia has spoken about cooking breakfast for him during his childhood.
- He reportedly moved to New York to live with his father at around age 16.
- His half-sister is actress Condola Rashad.
- His grandmother was poet Vivian Ayers Allen.
- His aunt is actress and director Debbie Allen.
- A 2001 report identified him as a production coordinator.
- He was also reported to be living in Los Angeles at that time.
- He did not pursue a public acting career.
- His current profession and residence are not publicly confirmed.
- His marriage and relationship status are unknown.
- He has no publicly confirmed children.
- His net worth is not reliably known.
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