Who is the youngest person to be nominated for an Emmy?

The answer is: Keshia Knight Pulliam

Entertainment industry insiders might've done a double-take when the 1986 Emmy nominees came out, and Keshia Knight Pulliam was listed as a nominee. The baby of "The Cosby Show" was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series alongside Rhea Perlman, Julia Duffy, and even co-star Lisa Bonet.

Child actors rarely got any Emmy attention, so the fact that she beat out established actresses from "Night Court" and "Kate & Allie" was a real testament to the young star's acting chops. But fans of the show weren't surprised. They already knew about her talent from her on-screen chemistry with her Cosby family, like their famous Ray Charles lipsync in the episode "Happy Anniversary."

The role itself was kind of an accident. Cosby had originally written Rudy as a boy (and a little older), but her audition was so good that the role was changed. It wasn't easy, considering the five-year-old Pulliam couldn't actually read the script and had to have her lines read to her so she could memorize them.

Perlman took home the Emmy for "Cheers" that year, but Pulliam's nomination changed perceptions about child actors in television. She not only hit her marks while being adorable but also delivered performances that stood up against primetime's biggest names. No performer has matched her record since.