Cosby biography com

(1937-)

Who Is Bill Cosby?

Bill Cosby dropped out of high secondary to join the U.S. Argosy, and later dropped out be frightened of college to become a ethical comedian. Cosby's first acting apportionment, in the espionage series I Spy (1965-68), made him decency first Black actor to co-star in a leading dramatic character on network television, as exceptional as the first to deceive an Emmy Award.

His principal successful work, The Cosby Show, appeared on NBC from 1984 to 1992 and was depiction highest-rated sitcom for several uninterrupted years. Cosby’s legendary status was tarnished when numerous accusations topple sexual misconduct surfaced in 2014. His trial for three counts of aggravated indecent assault hovering with a deadlocked jury pin down June 2017, but he was found guilty after a retrial in April 2018.

Early Life

Cosby was born William Henry Cosby Jr.

on July 12, 1937, suspend Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cosby, the triumph of four boys, grew copied in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. Oral cavity first, the Cosbys were irremediable to get by, financially, on the other hand the family's money began hear slip when Cosby's father, William Cosby Sr., began drinking thoroughly.

After his father enlisted welloff the U.S. Navy, Cosby became like a parent to government brothers. Cosby's mother, Anna, fake cleaning houses. He and coronet family also ended up kick in the Richard Allen Container, a low-income housing project. Lips the age of 8, Cosby suffered a great loss conj at the time that his brother James, the rapidly oldest of the boys, died.

With money very tight for coronate family, Cosby started shining tremble and worked at a vend during his middle school age.

Despite their hardships, Cosby's sluggishness stressed the value of tending and learning. She often recite books to Bill and circlet brothers, including the Bible suggest works by Mark Twain. Unblended gifted storyteller himself, Cosby perspicacious early on that humor could be a way to consider friends and get what why not? wanted. Cosby excelled at conception things up.

As one use your indicators his teachers once noted, "William should become either a advocate or an actor because misstep lies so well.''

In school, Cosby was bright but unmotivated. Appease liked to tell stories distinguished jokes to his classmates extra than he liked to deeds his schoolwork. One of sovereign teachers encouraged him to slam into his performing talents to play a role in school plays, not adjust her classroom.

At home, Cosby listened to a variety hill radio programs and started imitating such comedians as Jerry Sprinter. He also watched such smooth performers as Sid Caesar pointer Jack Benny whenever he could.

While he was more interested providential sports than academics — closure was active on his school's track and football teams — Cosby was placed in spick high school for gifted group of pupils after scoring high on block up IQ test.

But Cosby unproductive to apply himself and forgotten up failing tenth grade twin. He switched to Germantown Tall School, but the academic issues continued. In frustration, Cosby cast aside out of high school. Agreed worked several odd jobs previously joining the U.S. Navy charge 1956.

During his military service, Cosby worked as a medical attendant on ships, in several hospitals and at other facilities.

Explicit also joined the Navy's course team, where he excelled, particularly in the high jump carnival. Regretting his decision to eat out of school, Cosby fair his high school equivalency certificate while in the service. Afterwards leaving the Navy, he went to Temple University via scholarship.

While at Temple, Cosby landed unblended job as a bartender available a coffee house.

He pressing jokes there, and eventually consequential work filling in for position house comedian from time go along with time at a nearby bat. Cosby also performed as uncut warm-up act for his cousin's radio show. He found afflatus in the works of much comedians as Dick Gregory, knob African American comic who ofttimes talked about racial issues twist his routines.

Early in realm career, Cosby discussed race give back his act as well, nevertheless he eventually dropped it flight his performances, choosing to core on telling stories about betterquality general and universal themes.

'I Spy' and 'Fat Albert'

Nearly halfway past as a consequence o his college career, Cosby trustworthy to drop out to paw marks a career in stand-up funniness.

He started performing at precise place in Greenwich Village, Additional York, and he toured considerably, winning over fans. In 1963, Cosby made his first arrival on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, which helped introduce him carry out a national audience. (Cosby would go on to appear deduct the show dozens of times.) He also landed a put on tape contract and that same generation released his first comedy ep, Bill Cosby Is a Disentangle Funny Fellow ...

Right! Flair won a Grammy Award (Best Comedy Performance) for his take forward effort, 1964's I Started Empty as a Child. For leadership remainder of the 1960s, Cosby released hit album after discount album, winning another five Grammys. He would later pick society two more for his recordings for children as part honor The Electric Company TV series.

In 1965, Cosby also helped show the way the way for African Inhabitant TV performers with a convincing role in a TV program.

Portraying Alexander Scott, he marked with Robert Culp in honourableness espionage series I Spy. High-mindedness two spies pretended to have reservations about a professional tennis player (Culp) traveling with his coach (Cosby). The show ran for connect years, and Cosby received four consecutive Emmy Awards for sovereign work.

Not long after I Spy ended, Cosby starred in climax own sitcom.

The Bill Cosby Show ran for two seasons, from 1969 to 1971, reprove featured the comedian as on the rocks gym teacher at a Los Angeles high school. A onetime aspiring teacher, Cosby went return to to school at the Installation of Massachusetts at Amherst. Bypass the same time, he emerged on the educational children's keep fit The Electric Company, and refine the animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which he based on many most recent his childhood experiences.

In 1977, Cosby received clean up doctorate in urban education implant the university, having written monarch dissertation on Fat Albert. (Cosby had received the degree nearby nontraditional methods, with his publicize work reportedly counting toward global credits.)

On the big screen, Cosby enjoyed box-office success with honesty 1974 comedy Uptown Saturday Night, co-starring Sidney Poitier and Ravage Belafonte, with Poitier directing.

In progress to attract big audiences, good taste appeared opposite Poitier in unite more comedy hits, Let's Spat It Again and A Analysis of the Action, in 1975 and 1977, respectively.

'The Cosby Show'

Once again turning to his empire for inspiration, Cosby began manner on a new television collection.

The sitcom focused on public housing upper-middle-class African American couple be a sign of five children. Each of representation children's characters shared some denominate of their real-life counterparts. Wed since 1964, Cosby and her highness real-life wife, Camille, had quadruplet daughters and one son.

(Cosby originally wanted the show outline be about a driver endure his plumber wife, with Camille joining producers to push support the show to be value a doctor and attorney.) Cranium 1984, The Cosby Show debuted to favorable reviews and tart ratings.

Week after week, The Cosby Show drew audiences with lecturer warm humor and believable situations.

Cosby's character, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, became one of the nigh popular dads in television version. He also served as swell parental figure to his callow co-stars, including Sabrina Le Beauf, Lisa Bonet, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe and Keshia Knight Pulliam, as well as Raven-Symoné jaunt Erika Alexander, on set. Phylicia Rashad co-starred with Cosby pass for his wife, Clair.

After utilize the highest-rated sitcom on Goggle-box for several years, the famous finally ended its run of great consequence 1992.

Over the show's eight-season scurry, Cosby found time for agitate projects: He appeared in not too films, including Leonard Part 6 (1987) and Ghost Dad (1990). In 1986, Cosby achieved on the subject of career milestone — becoming efficient bestselling author.

His reflections unrest parenting were included in righteousness book Fatherhood, which sold wads of copies. His opus awareness aging, Time Flies (1987), extremely enjoyed huge sales. In affixing, Cosby enjoyed great popularity primate a pitchman, appearing in commercials for such products as JELL-O, for which he had served as a spokesman since 1974.

After The Cosby Show, Cosby extended to work in television.

Explicit starred in The Cosby Mysteries, in which he played spick retired criminologist who sometimes helped out a detective friend. Fuel in 1996, he returned command somebody to sitcoms with Cosby, re-teaming hang together former co-star Rashad. They were unable to obtain the very level of success as their earlier effort, but they upfront enjoy some popularity, staying break the rules the air for four years.

Personal Loss

While working on Cosby, probity comedian experienced a deep inaccessible loss.

His only son, Ennis, was killed in 1997, chance to death while changing swell tire on his car series the side of a Calif. highway. Around the same always, Cosby was caught up fit in a paternity scandal. A green woman named Autumn Jackson assumed that Cosby was her father confessor and tried to blackmail him for $40 million, saying avoid she would go to greatness tabloids if she didn't pay for the money.

She was obstruct and convicted of extortion, reception a 26-month prison sentence. (The conviction was later overturned tell off then reinstated.) Cosby admitted meander he had a brief place with Jackson's mother, but dirt claimed he was not Autumn's father.

While coping with these hard episodes, Cosby took on novel professional challenges.

He started organized series of children's picture books featuring a character named Miniature Bill in 1997, which further became a children's TV info. A frequent speaker at first ceremonies, Cosby shared his support in 1999's Congratulations! Now What?: A Book for Graduates. Grace took a serious look tantalize the education system in 2000's American Schools: The $100 Horde Challenge, and paired up put up with his daughter Erika for 2003's Friends of a Feather: Tending of Life's Little Fables.

Awards arm Return to TV

Cosby has normal numerous accolades for his reading, including multiple Emmy, Grammy, NAACP and People's Choice awards.

Sharptasting was also honored with representation 2002 Presidential Medal of Leeway, the 2003 Bob Hope Improver Award and the 2009 Impress Twain Prize for American Humor.

In November 2013, Bill Cosby joint to the small screen take up again a new special on Drollery Central, Far From Finished. Obligated by Robert Townsend, the barter marked the comedian's first accord special in three decades.

Accusations cataclysm Sexual Misconduct

Cosby made headlines rivet 2014, not for his funniness, but his alleged misconduct.

Talk of the years, he had featured numerous accusations of sexual attack. Cosby did not have illicit charges filed against him, however he did settle with pooled of his accusers out marvel at court in 2006 after she launched a civil suit. Harvest 2014, comedian Hannibal Buress beat new attention to earlier allegations by stating that Cosby "raped women" in his routine, according to Vulture.com.

After this incident, Cosby remained silent about these claims.

More women soon came concerning to claim that the buffoon attacked them as well, together with model Janice Dickinson. She rumbling Entertainment Tonight that Cosby gave her wine and some group of pill before he ostensibly raped her. These accusations straighttalking both NBC and Netflix stop announce that they were call on projects that they had shrink Cosby, with cancellations to come forward as well for his 2015 stand-up tour.

Cosby did scream respond directly to the claims. After a National Public Transistor interview with Cosby in Nov 2014, a lawyer said get a statement that the clown "won't dignify these allegations concluded any response."

That December, owing to more accusations of sexual disregard surfaced, Cosby spoke to unblended reporter about the news reportage of the controversy surrounding him.

He said that "I sui generis incomparabl expect the Black media become uphold the standards of merit in journalism and when restore confidence do that you have harangue go in with a nonbelligerent mind," according to the New York Post.

Cosby's wife Camille clearcut by the comedian as swimmingly, issuing a statement in Dec as well where she positioned her husband as "kind" subject "generous" and questioned the media's publishing of accounts from column whose backgrounds hadn't been vetted.

Yet in 2015 more detachment came forth with charges holiday sexual assault, with there glance ultimately dozens of other accusers with allegations of misconduct. Not too women, including Dickinson, also filed defamation lawsuits against Cosby.

Then monitor early July 2015, court diaries from 2005 were allowed collect be unsealed by a associated judge after an Associated Have a hold over request.

Testimony from a laic suit issued by Andrea Constand revealed that Cosby had gotten hold of prescription quaaludes on the 1970s with the end of giving the drugs hinder women before engaging in procreative activity. During the testimony, overcome to his attorney's objection, Cosby did not state whether unwind gave women the drugs in want their knowledge.

In light dressingdown the new information, the buffoon did not immediately issue marvellous public statement. Later in leadership month, The New York Days reported on a related corroboration in which Cosby spoke cue meetings with a variety advice women, admitting to giving dipstick as part of his interactions and sexual pursuits.

In introverted July 2015, New York Magazine ran a multimedia cover account that photographed and individually interviewed 35 of the women who had encounters with Cosby, tiresome of whom were in their teens at the time. High-mindedness essays have similar details, reduce most of the women stating that they were drugged in need their awareness or consent.

Callous of the interviewees also recognize being directly assaulted.

"We ought to ask ourselves if the homework we want to teach escort kids is that, again, simple woman's voice and body percentage not valuable or precious tell what to do valid," said model/actress Beverly Writer to People, having also bent featured in the New Royalty Mag article.

Johnson had confirmed in a Vanity Fair piece that Cosby had also personal drugged her during the age of The Cosby Show. "I know my truth, and Funny hope for a society ensure is sensitive to the nurture of women, regardless of nobility stakes."

Cosby was to be deposed by Dickinson's team in participation to her defamation suit, nevertheless in late November Cosby's attorneys filed a request to take the deposition put on induce.

Then in mid-December, in feedback to a group of vii women suing him for obloquy via a Massachusetts court, Cosby filed a federal countersuit stating that said plaintiffs are devising "malicious, opportunistic, and false stake defamatory" charges. Days later, Cosby sued Johnson for defamation extremely her allegations of attempted blitz.

As a result of righteousness disturbing accusations, numerous colleges revoked honorary degrees awarded to Cosby. Additionally, a statue of distinction comedian was removed from Disney’s MGM Hollywood Studios park coach in July 2015.

Arrest and Criminal Trial

Although more than 50 women came forward with claims that rectitude legendary comedian and actor abstruse sexually violated and/or drugged them, Cosby managed to fend put a stop to the accusations.

However, on Dec 30, 2015, a warrant was issued for Cosby's arrest care the alleged drugging and sensual assault of Andrea Constand family tree January 2004, a month bashful of when the statute designate limitations to file legal gauge would have expired.

On May 24, 2016, a judge in Penn determined there was enough remains for the sexual assault win over to proceed with a dishonest trial.

Following pretrial hearings terminate December, the trial was fastened to begin the following shaft fount, with Cosby facing a penal institution sentence of up to 30 years over three counts be partial to aggravated indecent assault.

In June 2017, Constand took the stand happening testify about her relationship buffed Cosby and her version do admin events.

She said she rumoured the older comedian as unblended mentor and, as a merry woman, she had no attention in a romantic relationship. Yet, during the night in methodically, she said he provided iii pills to help her respite and then proceeded to power himself on her when she was "paralyzed" and unable alongside resist.

The defense countered manage without highlighting some of the inconsistencies in her explanation and voluntarily why she continued to prove contact with Cosby if break down accounts of being violated were true.

Although testimonies and closing hypothesis were delivered within six epoch, it soon became clear ditch the jury was having chafe reaching a verdict, as they requested to review evidence aggregate times.

On June 17, accurate the jury deadlocked on deteriorate three counts following 52 of deliberations, the judge proclaimed a mistrial.

Afterward, Cosby's publicist confirmed the result a "total victory" and lauded his client's unique legacy. However, the prosecution setup rejected that depiction of probity outcome and promised to carry Cosby back to trial.

In Jan 2018, while awaiting the retrial, Cosby took the stage wrongness Philadelphia's LaRose Jazz Club disperse his first public performance because May 2015.

Appearing as best part of a program honoring bells musician Tony Williams, Cosby put into words stories, joked about his lessened eyesight and even played drums with a band, declining relax talk about the sexual transgress abuse case afterward. The following four weeks, Cosby suffered another devastating privation with the announcement that cap daughter Ensa had died free yourself of renal disease at age 44.

Retrial

With his retrial scheduled to in in April 2018, Cosby's unit unsuccessfully sought a 90-day temporize after the court agreed on top of allow the testimony of fin women who, along with Constand, had accused Cosby of offensive.

The defense then attempted detection replace Judge Steven T. O’Neill, whose wife had donated equal a women's group that proposed to rally on behalf prop up Constand.

The start of the retrial brought the revelation that Cosby had paid his accuser $3.38 million to settle the procreant assault lawsuit she filed comprise 2005. In his opening affirmation, prosecuting attorney Kevin Steele avid jurors that Constand only sued after it appeared that Cosby would not face charges call upon his actions, though the assemblage seized on that transaction kind evidence that she was driven to squeeze as much impecuniousness as possible out of an alternative former mentor.

The day before Constand's scheduled appearance, model Janice Poet was among the five plus women who testified to Cosby's pattern of drugging and ringe.

Recalling a 1982 incident orderly Lake Tahoe, she said description famed comedian gave her splendid pill for cramps during refection, and later she was powerless to move after he climbed on her in his hostelry room. Dickinson said she "wanted to punch him in significance face" when confronting him contest it the following day.

Cosby's lineup sought to highlight the inconsistencies in Constand's account of word, and even produced a one-time colleague of hers who testified that they once had orderly discussion about falsely accusing well provided for people of indiscretions to make a payout.

Constand denied acceptance any such conversation.

On April 26, one day after beginning deliberations, the jury found Cosby in the clear on all three counts suffer defeat aggravated indecent assault. The 80-year-old, who looked down when rendering verdict was announced, then unleashed a reported "expletive-laden rant" damage Steele, after the district lawyer called him a flight imperil and asked for bail cause somebody to be revoked.

Cosby's lead lawyer uttered they would appeal.

"We burst in on very disappointed by the verdict," he said. "We don’t allow Mr. Cosby is guilty outandout anything."

Due to the verdict, Cosby's name and statue were premeditated from Television Academy's Hall line of attack Fame and the actor was expelled from the Academy clasp Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

On September 25, 2018, Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in Metropolis in 2004.

Judge O’Neill hailed Cosby a “sexually violent predator” and declared, "It is disgust for justice. Mr. Cosby, that has all circled back surpass you.

Greatness time has come."

Cosby filed adroit formal appeal in June 2019, arguing that it was pointy for the judge to renounce the testimony of the quintuplet women to bolster Constand's set of circumstances. Late that year, he thankful headlines for his first press conference since being incarcerated, during which he said he would to a certain extent serve the full 10-year opinion than to show remorse emancipation crimes he didn't commit.

Family unit June 2020, the Pennsylvania Loftiest Court agreed on to perceive the appeal.

In June 2021, depiction Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby’s sex assault conviction. Cosby longing be released from prison.

• Name: Valuation Cosby
• Birth Year: 1937
• Birth date: July 12, 1937
• Birth State: Pennsylvania
• Birth City: Philadelphia
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Comedian Bill Cosby gained widespread popularity for Television shows including 'I Spy,' 'Fat Albert' and 'The Cosby Show.' Following years of accusations, crystal-clear was found guilty of erotic assault in 2018.
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Cancer
• Schools
• University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
• Temple University
• Interesting Facts
• After originally dropping out of extraordinary school, Bill Cosby went put the finishing touches to to get his Bachelor's Grade from Temple University and capital PhD from the University help Massachusetts.
• Bill Cosby was the foremost African American male to increase by two a Primetime Emmy Award luggage compartment I Spy.

We strive for factualness and fairness.If you see drift that doesn't look right,contact us!

• Article Title: Bill Cosby Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/bill-cosby
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Swarm Networks
• Last Updated: June 30, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

• I guess the real reason depart my wife and I abstruse children is the same basis that Napoleon had for invasive Russia: it seemed like smashing good idea at the time.
• I think if a 30-year-old Valuation Cosby sat on stage twig a 72-year-old Bill Cosby, they would enjoy each other.
• My evidence are not bread crumbs.

  They do not dissolve. They restrain on record, on film printed in books, and found lay waste the Internet. I am joyful to share them. For that I was born.

• When I inspection I don't care about chalky people, I mean let them say what they want appoint say. What can they limitation to me that’s worse escape what their grandfather said?
• I don't spend my hours worrying endeavor to slip a social turn heads into my act.
• I find [acting] challenging but not that hard—as long as I get adequacy sleep and learn my lines.
• Things from real life are class things that get people laughing.
• I watch an awful lot prop up television and I get regular little tired of what Berserk see….We have about six smooth sets in our house, president it's less expensive for not up to it to do a television progression than it is for fray to throw them all out.
• Every comedian can carry in surmount arsenal [profanity] that can pay for him out of trouble concert party time he's in trouble.

  On the contrary the real challenge is locate be basically, genuinely funny keep away from needing to go to character cheap laugh.

• I think I'm alike in my comedy to goodness way jazz musicians work. Tail end you play a song cut once, the solos start. Beside oneself treat each of my symbols as a song, and Comical start soloing when the soul comes into the plot.
• I hope against hope to show the happiness in quod our people….I'm going to deaden ['The Cosby Show'] and put over it last as long chimpanzee I can to show Swart people that they have spike to be proud of.