William Henry Cosby Jr. (/ˈkɒzbi/KOZ-bee; born July 12, 1937) is an American former comedian, actor, spokesman, and media personality. Cosby gained a reputation as "America's Dad" for his portrayal of Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He has received numerous awards and honorary degrees throughout his career, though many of them were revoked following sexual assault allegations made against him in 2014.
Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the hungry i nightclub in San Francisco during the 1960s. Throughout the decade, he released several standup comedy records which consecutively earned him the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album from 1965 to 1970. He also had a starring role in the television secret-agent show I Spy (1965–1968) opposite Robert Culp. Cosby made history when he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1966, making him the first African American to earn an Emmy Award for acting.[1] His acting career continued as he starred in the sitcom The Bill Cosby Show, which ran for two seasons from 1969 to 1971.
In 1972, using the Fat Albert character developed during his stand-up routines, Cosby created, produced, and hosted the animated comedy television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids which ran until 1985, centering on a group of young friends growing up in an urban area. Throughout the 1970s Cosby starred in various films including Sidney Poitier's Uptown Saturday Night (1974), and Let's Do It Again (1975), and Neil Simon's California Suite (1978) alongside Richard Pryor. He also starred in the original cast of The Electric Company alongside Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman from 1971 to 1973. He was also a popular spokesperson in advertising for decades, for various products including the Jell-O ice pop treats Pudding Pop. Beginning in the 1980s, Cosby produced and starred in the television sitcom The Cosby Show, which was rated as the number one show in America from 1985 through 1989. The sitcom highlighted the experiences and growth of an affluent African American family. Cosby produced the spin-off sitcom A Different World, which aired from 1987 to 1993. He also starred in The Cosby Mysteries (1994–1995), the sitcom Cosby (1996–2000) and hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things (1998–2000). He then created and produced the animated children's program Little Bill (1999–2004). He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2002.
Cosby has been the subject of numerous sexual assault allegations. Those allegations became highly publicized in 2014 after comedian Hannibal Buress brought them back into the public spotlight during a stand-up routine, prompting more women to come forward with accusations. Following the allegations, media organizations pulled reruns of The Cosby Show and other television programs featuring Cosby from syndication. In 2018, he was convicted of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand. He was imprisoned until the conviction was vacated in June 2021 by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania due to violations of Cosby's 5th Amendment and 14th Amendment due process rights.[2][3][4] In 2022, Cosby was found civilly liable for having sexually assaulted a woman named Judy Huth.[5]
^"Emmys history: Few black nominees, even fewer black winners". Los Angeles Times. July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
^Cite error: The named reference nyt-overturned was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Sherman, Jolie (July 1, 2021). "Vermont legal experts weigh in after Cosby freed from prison". WTEN. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
^Dale, Maryclaire (June 30, 2021). "Bill Cosby released from prison after court finds due process violation". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
BillCosby Show, which ran for two seasons from 1969 to 1971. In 1972, using the Fat Albert character developed during his stand-up routines, Cosby created...
The BillCosby Show is an American sitcom television series that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971 under the sponsorship...
American former comedian BillCosby released 23 albums of stand-up comedy, 16 studio albums of music, and six singles. He was known mainly for his stand-up...
Little Bill is an American animated educational television series created by BillCosby. It is based on the Little Bill book series, written by Cosby with...
American former comedian, actor, author, director, and producer BillCosby was known for his performances in film, television, and stand-up comedy, and...
series created, produced, and hosted (in live action bookends) by comedian BillCosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert...
The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom created by (along with Ed. Weinberger and Michael J. Leeson) and starring BillCosby that aired on NBC...
Ranee Cosby (born April 8, 1965) is an American painter. She is the daughter of philanthropist Camille Cosby and comedian BillCosby. Erika Ranee Cosby was...
Camille Olivia Cosby (née Hanks; born March 20, 1944) is an American television producer, philanthropist, and the wife of comedian BillCosby. The character...
Ennis William Cosby (April 15, 1969 – January 16, 1997), the only son of American comedian BillCosby, was murdered on January 16, 1997, near Interstate...
BillCosby 77 is an unreleased 2014 stand-up comedy film featuring BillCosby, filmed before a live audience at the San Francisco Jazz Center in California...
American comedian and actor BillCosby was a popular spokesperson for advertising from the 1960s – before his first starring television role – until the...
late 2014, she wrote an article for Vanity Fair in which she accused BillCosby of drugging her in a meeting at his Manhattan residence in the 1980s,...
attorney Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. The show, which ran from 1984 to 1992, starred BillCosby as obstetrician Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable...
stand-up routine, which brought the sexual assault allegations against BillCosby to public attention and outcry, for which he was lauded. Hannibal Amir...
Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020. Zehme, Bill (February 25, 1988). "Robin Williams: The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling...
first women to accuse BillCosby, claiming Cosby sexually assaulted her in the green room of The Tonight Show in 1971. After Cosby accused her of lying...
Cosby may refer to: Cosby (surname) BillCosby (born 1937), American stand-up comedian, actor, and author Cosby (TV series), an American sitcom that ran...
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids aired 110 episodes during its run on CBS from September 9, 1972 to October 24, 1981 and later in syndication from September...
imitation of his acting hero, Peter Sellers. Other early influences included BillCosby, Redd Foxx, Robin Williams, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, and Charlie Chaplin...
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American former comedian BillCosby has received 72 honorary degrees in recognition of his career in acting and comedy. 62 of these have since been revoked...
The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom co-created by and starring BillCosby that aired on NBC from September 20, 1984 to April 30, 1992. A total...
The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom starring BillCosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from 1984 until 1992. The show focuses on the...
Goldberg was initially a defender of BillCosby from the rape allegations made against him, questioning why Cosby had never been arrested or tried for...
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