Martin Kendall

Lt. Martin Michael Kendall, USN, (born July 5,1964) played by Joseph C. Phillips, is a Navy man, a Naval Academy graduate, and husband of Denise Huxtable, and father of Olivia Kendall. Phillips' role as Martin Kendall came about when Denise unexpectedly married him in Africa, unbeknownst to her parents and family. When the newlyweds arrive back home, Martin learns that Denise's family not only does not know about their marriage, they do not know about him at all. Though Martin is a stable, mature man who tells Clair and Cliff that he will do right by their daughter, the fact that he and Denise married on the spur of the moment had been a source of friction with the Huxtables. Adding to the friction was that Martin fathered a daughter, Olivia, from a previous marriage, and that Denise has now become a stepmother in addition to a wife. Eventually the friction is overcome and the Huxtables accept Martin as their son-in-law.

Kendall also had an ex-wife, named Paula (played by Victoria Rowell of The Young and The Restless, then later, of the CBS-TV series Diagnosis:Murder). In the finale, it is learned that he and Denise are expecting a baby together.

In season 6 and most of season7, Martin calls Cliff and Claire "Dr.Huxtable" and "Mrs. Huxtable" respectively. It isn't until later in seasons 7 and 8 that he finally calls his new in-laws "Mom" and "Dad".

Joseph C. Phillips also played Sondra's date, a college student named Darrell, in a season two episode, before returning as the character of Martin.