Clarice Taylor was born on September 20, 1917, in Buckingham County, Virginia, and was raised in Harlem, New York. She grew up in a modest household and became involved in acting as a young woman, initially performing with the American Negro Theatre in Harlem.

She was also a founding member of the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City's East Village, helping to create opportunities for African American actors during a period when such roles were limited.

Her entry into the film industry began in the late 1960s with her role in "Change of Mind" (1969), followed by parts in movies such as "Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon" (1970), "Play Misty for Me" (1971), and the comedy "Five on the Black Hand Side" (1973), which she had originally performed off-Broadway.

Clarice Taylor gained wider recognition through her television roles, most famously as Anna Huxtable, the mother of Bill Cosby's character Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," a role that earned her a 1986 Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. She was also known for playing Cousin Emma on "Sanford and Son" and for recurring parts such as Harriet, David’s grandmother on "Sesame Street," a role she maintained for over a decade.

Her stage work was equally notable, particularly her portrayal of Moms Mabley in a one-woman show titled "Moms," which earned her an Obie Award in 1987 for best performance by an actress. She appeared in musicals like "The Wiz," playing Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, and in the Broadway production of "Purlie."

Throughout her career spanning more than five decades, Clarice Taylor was respected for her versatility and depth as an actress in theater, film, and television. She was married to Maxwell Glanville and was a mother to two sons.

Clarice Taylor passed away on May 30, 2011, in Englewood, New Jersey, at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of breaking barriers for African American performers and an enduring impact on the arts through her many memorable performances.