Newark's Keshia Knight from 'Cosby Show' to 'Celebrity Apprentice'

For Keshia Knight Pulliam, posing for the camera began at the age of 9 months, when she appeared in an ad for Johnson & Johnson baby products.

From there, she was featured in more TV commercials, then "Sesame Street," then made her feature-film debut in "The Last Dragon," in 1985. At age 5, she became the youngest person ever to be nominated for an Emmy, for playing the part of Rudy Huxtable on "The Cosby Show."

On May 9 and 10, Philadelphians will be able to meet and greet the former child star for the first time at Wizard World Comic Con (May 7 through 10), the annual tradition for pop-culture geeks at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

From 2007 through 2012, Pulliam appeared on the TBS comedy-drama "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," playing the reformed con artist Miranda Lucas-Payne. More recently, she was the first contestant fired on the seventh season of "Celebrity Apprentice," on NBC.

"Of course, everyone grew up with me as Rudy Huxtable, and now several generations of kids have been able to experience [her]," Pulliam said during a recent interview with the Daily News.

But Pulliam has her hand in much more than the cookie jar these days. She runs a nonprofit camp for girls called Kamp Kizzy. Based out of Atlanta, Kamp Kizzy strives to provide a nurturing environment for girls ages 11 to 16 - ensuring that they know their value as young women and their ability to make a difference in the world.

"I'm always working on something," she said.

"I have workshops all about teaching parents and children who are interested in the industry. It's a no-holds-barred look into what it really means to be a child star."

As for Comic Con, she said, "Even when we do these kinds of appearances, it's bridging the gap between the characters you play and the actual person you are. It gives fans and people the opportunity to meet you and not just know you as the character.

"I'm looking forward to the experience, to tell you the truth."

Pulliam hails from Newark, N.J., but spent most of her childhood in Atlanta. While she hates to be "stereotypical," she said she loves coming back to Philly from time to time for the good grub.

"I'm such a foodie, but I love a cheesesteak," she said.

Pulliam said that she and all the old cast of characters from "The Cosby Show" still keep in touch, despite everyone having gone in different directions.

"No matter how much time lapses, you pick up right where you left off."