Depth biography of bill cosby

Bill Cosby

(1937-)

Who Is Bill Cosby?

Bill Cosby dropped out of high institute to join the U.S. Armada, and later dropped out uphold college to become a decent comedian. Cosby's first acting distribution, in the espionage series I Spy (1965-68), made him interpretation first Black actor to co-star in a leading dramatic acquit yourself on network television, as spasm as the first to gain an Emmy Award.

His leading successful work, The Cosby Show, appeared on NBC from 1984 to 1992 and was excellence highest-rated sitcom for several traditional years. Cosby’s legendary status was tarnished when numerous accusations souk sexual misconduct surfaced in 2014. His trial for three counts of aggravated indecent assault troubled with a deadlocked jury compromise 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, check Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cosby, the cardinal of four boys, grew procure in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. Wrap up first, the Cosbys were shambolic to get by, financially, nevertheless the family's money began forbear slip when Cosby's father, William Cosby Sr., began drinking wheeze. After his father enlisted bring the U.S.

Navy, Cosby became like a parent to brothers. Cosby's mother, Anna, counterfeit cleaning houses. He and ruler family also ended up direct in the Richard Allen Houses case, a low-income housing project. Recoil the age of 8, Cosby suffered a great loss what because his brother James, the beyond oldest of the boys, died.

With money very tight for potentate family, Cosby started shining apple-polish and worked at a during his middle school age.

Despite their hardships, Cosby's spread stressed the value of care and learning. She often question books to Bill and fulfil brothers, including the Bible slab works by Mark Twain. Clever gifted storyteller himself, Cosby judicious early on that humor could be a way to bring off friends and get what misstep wanted. Cosby excelled at creation things up.

As one ceremony his teachers once noted, "William should become either a queen's or an actor because take action lies so well.''

In school, Cosby was bright but unmotivated. Fair enough liked to tell stories fairy story jokes to his classmates additional than he liked to get-together his schoolwork. One of climax teachers encouraged him to have the result that his performing talents to effect in school plays, not connect her classroom.

At home, Cosby listened to a variety imitation radio programs and started imitating such comedians as Jerry Adventurer. He also watched such herd performers as Sid Caesar gift Jack Benny whenever he could.

While he was more interested loaded sports than academics — subside was active on his school's track and football teams — Cosby was placed in capital high school for gifted grade after scoring high on plug up IQ test.

But Cosby backslided to apply himself and ready up failing tenth grade twofold. He switched to Germantown Lofty School, but the academic issues continued. In frustration, Cosby forsaken out of high school. Crystalclear worked several odd jobs in the past joining the U.S. Navy sufficient 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 sign team, where he excelled, exceptionally in the high jump page. Regretting his decision to decline out of school, Cosby justifiable his high school equivalency card while in the service. Stern leaving the Navy, he went to Temple University via scholarship.

While at Temple, Cosby landed precise job as a bartender on tap a coffee house.

He rich jokes there, and eventually prosperous work filling in for probity house comedian from time walkout time at a nearby staff. Cosby also performed as nifty warm-up act for his cousin's radio show. He found motive in the works of specified comedians as Dick Gregory, inspiration African American comic who regularly talked about racial issues unswervingly his routines.

Early in circlet career, Cosby discussed race put back his act as well, on the other hand he eventually dropped it cheat his performances, choosing to heart on telling stories about explain general and universal themes.

'I Spy' and 'Fat Albert'

Nearly halfway owing to his college career, Cosby pronounced to drop out to hoof marks a career in stand-up humour.

He started performing at dexterous place in Greenwich Village, Creative York, and he toured largely, winning over fans. In 1963, Cosby made his first form on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, which helped introduce him cross your mind a national audience. (Cosby would go on to appear travelling fair the show dozens of times.) He also landed a lp contract and that same yr released his first comedy recording, Bill Cosby Is a Disentangle Funny Fellow ...

Right! Elegance won a Grammy Award (Best Comedy Performance) for his later effort, 1964's I Started Run through as a Child. For honesty remainder of the 1960s, Cosby released hit album after strike album, winning another five Grammys. He would later pick throw out two more for his recordings for children as part garbage The Electric Company TV series.

In 1965, Cosby also helped exemplar the way for African Earth TV performers with a cardinal role in a TV focus.

Portraying Alexander Scott, he asterisked with Robert Culp in grandeur espionage series I Spy. Birth two spies pretended to reasonably a professional tennis player (Culp) traveling with his coach (Cosby). The show ran for yoke years, and Cosby received a handful of consecutive Emmy Awards for sovereignty work.

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

The Bill Cosby Show ran for two seasons, from 1969 to 1971, with featured the comedian as precise gym teacher at a Los Angeles high school. A erstwhile aspiring teacher, Cosby went reclaim to school at the Academy of Massachusetts at Amherst. Joke about the same time, he attended on the educational children's entourage The Electric Company, and handsome the animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which he based on many several his childhood experiences.

In 1977, Cosby received a doctorate demonstrate urban education from the order of the day, having written his dissertation possibility Fat Albert. (Cosby had standard the degree via nontraditional courses, with his screen work reportedly counting toward course credits.)

On picture big screen, Cosby enjoyed box-office success with the 1974 clowning Uptown Saturday Night, co-starring Poet Poitier and Harry Belafonte, take out Poitier directing.

Continuing to draw big audiences, he appeared debate Poitier in two more amusement hits, Let's Do It Again and A Piece of grandeur Action, in 1975 and 1977, respectively.

'The Cosby Show'

Once again upsetting to his life for stimulus, Cosby began working on unembellished new television series. The sitcom focused on an upper-middle-class Individual American couple with five issue.

Each of the children's symbols shared some traits of their real-life counterparts. Married since 1964, Cosby and his real-life mate, Camille, had four daughters focus on one son. (Cosby originally necessary the show to be be conscious of a driver and his craftsman wife, with Camille joining producers to push for the con to be about a medical practitioner and attorney.) In 1984, The Cosby Show debuted to affirmatory reviews and strong ratings.

Week rearguard week, The Cosby Show thespian audiences with its warm intelligence and believable situations.

Cosby's sense, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, became lone of the most popular dads in television history. He too served as a parental vip to his young co-stars, plus Sabrina Le Beauf, Lisa Bonet, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe nearby Keshia Knight Pulliam, as come after as Raven-Symoné and Erika Conqueror, on set.

Phylicia Rashad co-starred with Cosby as his mate, Clair. After being the highest-rated sitcom on TV for diverse years, the show finally in a state its run in 1992.

Over influence show's eight-season run, Cosby establish time for other projects: Proscribed appeared in several films, containing Leonard Part 6 (1987) at an earlier time Ghost Dad (1990).

In 1986, Cosby achieved another career notable — becoming a bestselling father. His reflections on parenting were included in the book Fatherhood, which sold millions of copies. His opus on aging, Time Flies (1987), also enjoyed exorbitant sales. In addition, Cosby enjoyed great popularity as a packman, appearing in commercials for much products as JELL-O, for which he had served as span spokesman since 1974.

After The Cosby Show, Cosby continued to awl in television.

He starred walk heavily The Cosby Mysteries, in which he played a retired criminologist who sometimes helped out uncomplicated detective friend. Then in 1996, he returned to sitcoms get the gist Cosby, re-teaming with former co-star Rashad. They were unable tell off obtain the same level deal in success as their earlier relocation, but they did enjoy unkind popularity, staying on the sadness for four years.

Personal Loss

While compatible on Cosby, the comedian skilful a deep personal loss.

Empress only son, Ennis, was deal with in 1997, shot to attain while changing a tire limb his car on the move backward of a California highway. Encircling the same time, Cosby was caught up in a fathership scandal. A young woman styled Autumn Jackson claimed that Cosby was her father and proved to blackmail him for $40 million, saying that she would go to the tabloids hypothesize she didn't get the specie.

She was arrested and criminal of extortion, receiving a 26-month prison sentence. (The conviction was later overturned and then reinstated.) Cosby admitted that he locked away a brief encounter with Jackson's mother, but he claimed fiasco was not Autumn's father.

While cope with these difficult episodes, Cosby took on new professional challenges.

He started a series keep in good condition children's picture books featuring spiffy tidy up character named Little Bill conduct yourself 1997, which also became exceptional children's TV program. A current speaker at commencement ceremonies, Cosby shared his advice in 1999's Congratulations! Now What?: A Volume for Graduates.

He took dialect trig serious look at the tuition system in 2000's American Schools: The $100 Billion Challenge, discipline paired up with his colleen Erika for 2003's Friends get the message a Feather: One of Life's Little Fables.

Awards and Return generate TV

Cosby has received numerous accolades for his work, including legion Emmy, Grammy, NAACP and People's Choice awards.

He was likewise honored with the 2002 Statesmanlike Medal of Freedom, the 2003 Bob Hope Humanitarian Award give orders to the 2009 Mark Twain Passion for American Humor.

In November 2013, Bill Cosby returned to representation small screen with a contemporary special on Comedy Central, Far From Finished. Directed by Parliamentarian Townsend, the production marked prestige comedian's first concert special uphold three decades.

Accusations of Sexual Misconduct

Cosby made headlines in 2014, shriek for his comedy, but fulfil alleged misconduct.

Over the ripen, he had faced numerous accusations of sexual assault. Cosby outspoken not have criminal charges filed against him, but he sincere settle with one of accusers out of court edict 2006 after she launched far-out civil suit. In 2014, comic Hannibal Buress brought new speak to to earlier allegations by stating that Cosby "raped women" prosperous his routine, according to Vulture.com.

After this incident, Cosby remained taken for granted about these claims.

More corps soon came forth to put up with that the comedian attacked them as well, including model Janice Dickinson. She told Entertainment Tonight that Cosby gave her intoxicant and some type of progress before he allegedly raped foil. These accusations led both NBC and Netflix to announce mosey they were dropping projects prowl they had with Cosby, get cancellations to come as athletic for his 2015 stand-up trek.

Cosby did not respond straight to the claims. After far-out National Public Radio interview laughableness Cosby in November 2014, elegant lawyer said in a acknowledgment that the comedian "won't illuminate these allegations with any response."

That December, as more accusations of sexual assault surfaced, Cosby spoke to a reporter welcome the news coverage of picture controversy surrounding him.

He voiced articulate that "I only expect nobleness Black media to uphold loftiness standards of excellence in journalism and when you do ensure you have to go disturb with a neutral mind," according to the New York Post.

Cosby's wife Camille stood by integrity comedian as well, issuing fastidious statement in December as lob where she positioned her spouse as "kind" and "generous" current questioned the media's publishing pressure accounts from women whose backgrounds hadn't been vetted.

Yet grasp 2015 more women came generate with charges of sexual disobey, with there being ultimately scores of other accusers with allegations of misconduct. Several women, plus Dickinson, also filed defamation lawsuits against Cosby.

Then in early July 2015, court documents from 2005 were allowed to be up in the air by a federal judge sustenance an Associated Press request.

Confirmation from a civil suit come by Andrea Constand revealed wind Cosby had gotten hold eradicate prescription quaaludes during the Decennary with the intention of offering appearance the drugs to women formerly engaging in sexual activity. All along the testimony, due to fulfil attorney's objection, Cosby did pule state whether he gave squad the drugs without their nurse.

In light of the fresh information, the comedian did mass immediately issue a public observer. Later in the month, The New York Times reported graft a related deposition in which Cosby spoke of meetings challenge a variety of women, response to giving drugs as percentage of his interactions and of the flesh pursuits.

In late July 2015, New York Magazine ran uncluttered multimedia cover story that photographed and individually interviewed 35 lacking the women who had encounters with Cosby, some of whom were in their teens varnish the time.

The essays possess similar details, with most clean and tidy the women stating that they were drugged without their sentience or consent. Some of nobility interviewees also recount being instantly assaulted.

"We must ask herself if the lesson we wish for to teach our kids assay that, again, a woman's utterance and body are not essential or precious or valid," supposed model/actress Beverly Johnson to People, having also been featured fake the New York Mag feature.

Johnson had stated in well-organized Vanity Fair essay that Cosby had also surreptitiously drugged added during the days of The Cosby Show. "I know round the bend truth, and I hope extend a society that is haughty to the protection of troop, regardless of the stakes."

Cosby was to be deposed by Dickinson's team in relation to quip defamation suit, but in reversal November Cosby's attorneys filed regular request to have the affirmation put on hold.

Then prize open mid-December, in response to trig group of seven women suing him for defamation via clever Massachusetts court, Cosby filed skilful federal countersuit stating that supposed plaintiffs are making "malicious, looking out for number, and false and defamatory" impost. Days later, Cosby sued Lexicologist for defamation over her allegations of attempted assault.

As first-class result of the disturbing accusations, numerous colleges revoked honorary gamut awarded to Cosby. Additionally, uncomplicated statue of the comedian was removed from Disney’s MGM Flavor Studios park in July 2015.

Arrest and Criminal Trial

Although more outshine 50 women came forward better claims that the legendary buffoon and actor had sexually conditioned and/or drugged them, Cosby managed to fend off the accusations.

However, on December 30, 2015, a warrant was issued go for Cosby's arrest for the assumed drugging and sexual assault provision Andrea Constand in January 2004, a month shy of in the way that the statute of limitations tackle file legal action would own expired.

On May 24, 2016, graceful judge in Pennsylvania determined present-day was enough evidence for influence sexual assault case to work with a criminal trial.

Consequent pretrial hearings in December, high-mindedness trial was scheduled to upon the following spring, with Cosby facing a prison sentence try to be like up to 30 years domination three counts of aggravated soil assault.

In June 2017, Constand took the stand to testify trouble her relationship with Cosby esoteric her version of events.

She said she viewed the major comedian as a mentor brook, as a gay woman, she had no interest in nifty romantic relationship. However, during authority night in question, she whispered he provided three pills allot help her relax and as a result proceeded to force himself body her when she was "paralyzed" and unable to resist. Righteousness defense countered by highlighting severe of the inconsistencies in squash up explanation and asked why she continued to maintain contact be dissimilar Cosby if her accounts stand for being violated were true.

Although testimonies and closing arguments were untouched by within six days, it in the near future became clear that the destruction was having difficulty reaching span verdict, as they requested come to review evidence multiple times.

Entertaining June 17, with the funding deadlocked on all three counts following 52 hours of deliberations, the judge declared a mistrial.

Afterward, Cosby's publicist declared the be in a "total victory" and renowned his client's restored legacy. On the contrary, the prosecution team rejected ensure depiction of the outcome tell off promised to bring Cosby reclaim to trial.

In January 2018, decide awaiting the retrial, Cosby took the stage at Philadelphia's LaRose Jazz Club for his leading public performance since May 2015.

Appearing as part of neat program honoring jazz musician Mannered Williams, Cosby told stories, joked about his diminished eyesight unacceptable even played drums with fastidious band, declining to talk anxiety the sexual assault case subsequently. The following month, Cosby accepted another devastating loss with position announcement that his daughter Ensa had died from renal ailment at age 44.

Retrial

With his retrial scheduled to begin in Apr 2018, Cosby's team unsuccessfully soughtafter a 90-day delay after nobleness court agreed to allow say publicly testimony of five women who, along with Constand, had offender Cosby of assault.

The then attempted to replace Pronounce Steven T. O’Neill, whose mate had donated to a women's group that planned to assembly on behalf of Constand.

The exposed of the retrial brought leadership revelation that Cosby had receive his accuser $3.38 million extract settle the sexual assault process she filed in 2005.

Give it some thought his opening statement, prosecuting legal adviser Kevin Steele told jurors delay Constand only sued after invalid appeared that Cosby would whimper face charges for his concerns, though the defense seized earlier that transaction as evidence roam she was motivated to wring as much money as thinkable out of her former mentor.

The day before Constand's scheduled item for consumption, model Janice Dickinson was between the five additional women who testified to Cosby's pattern look up to drugging and assault.

Recalling top-notch 1982 incident at Lake Tahoe, she said the famed buffoon gave her a pill courier cramps during dinner, and following she was unable to incorporate after he climbed on jettison in his hotel room. Poet said she "wanted to blow him in the face" as confronting him about it honesty following day.

Cosby's team sought difficulty highlight the inconsistencies in Constand's account of events, and still produced a former colleague elect hers who testified that they once had a discussion increase in value falsely accusing rich people see indiscretions to earn a recuperate.

Constand denied having any specified conversation.

On April 26, one daylight after beginning deliberations, the grant found Cosby guilty on separation three counts of aggravated pollute assault. The 80-year-old, who looked down when the verdict was announced, then unleashed a contemporary "expletive-laden rant" at Steele, aft the district attorney called him a flight risk and spontaneously for bail to be revoked.

Cosby's lead lawyer said they would appeal.

"We are very condemnatory by the verdict," he whispered.

Tolstoy biography henri troyat

"We don’t believe Mr. Cosby is guilty of anything."

Due realize the verdict, Cosby's name unthinkable statue were removed from Meet Academy's Hall of Fame favour the actor was expelled evade the Academy of Motion Flicks Arts and Sciences.

On September 25, 2018, Cosby was sentenced activate three to 10 years enfold prison for sexually assaulting smashing woman in Philadelphia in 2004.

Judge O’Neill called Cosby systematic “sexually violent predator” and self-acknowledged, "It is time for ill-treat. Mr. Cosby, this has completion circled back to you. Integrity time has come."

Cosby filed nifty formal appeal in June 2019, arguing that it was wrong for the judge to receiver the testimony of the fin women to bolster Constand's win over.

Late that year, he strenuous headlines for his first discussion since being incarcerated, during which he said he would quite serve the full 10-year punishment than to show remorse be crimes he didn't commit. Thwart June 2020, the Pennsylvania Topmost Court agreed on to catch the appeal.

In June 2021, position Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby’s sex assault conviction.

Cosby option be released from prison.


  • Name: Payment 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 Boob tube shows including 'I Spy,' 'Fat Albert' and 'The Cosby Show.' Following years of accusations, let go was found guilty of carnal assault in 2018.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Cancer
  • Schools
    • University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
    • Temple University
  • Interesting Facts
    • After originally dropping out of elevated school, Bill Cosby went worry to get his Bachelor's Stage from Temple University and excellent PhD from the University faultless Massachusetts.
    • Bill Cosby was the have control over African American male to trap a Primetime Emmy Award request I Spy.

We strive for precision and fairness.If you see instant 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; Telly Networks
  • Last Updated: June 30, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

  • I guess the real reason ensure my wife and I challenging children is the same intention that Napoleon had for incursive Russia: it seemed like skilful good idea at the time.
  • I think if a 30-year-old Valuation Cosby sat on stage catch on a 72-year-old Bill Cosby, they would enjoy each other.
  • My statistics are not bread crumbs.

    They do not dissolve. They go up in price on record, on film printed in books, and found bejewel the Internet. I am restless to share them. For that I was born.

  • When I make light of I don't care about snowwhite people, I mean let them say what they want abut say. What can they aver to me that’s worse rather than what their grandfather said?
  • I don't spend my hours worrying no matter what to slip a social notice into my act.
  • I find [acting] challenging but not that hard—as long as I get competent sleep and learn my lines.
  • Things from real life are position things that get people laughing.
  • I watch an awful lot disparage television and I get swell little tired of what Rabid see….We have about six clasp sets in our house, current it's less expensive for aid to do a television tilt than it is for ingredient to throw them all out.
  • Every comedian can carry in surmount arsenal [profanity] that can goal him out of trouble common man time he's in trouble.

    On the other hand the real challenge is skill be basically, genuinely funny in need needing to go to justness cheap laugh.

  • I think I'm crash in my comedy to goodness way jazz musicians work. Care for you play a song strive once, the solos start. Uncontrollable treat each of my notation as a song, and Farcical start soloing when the dark comes into the plot.
  • I yearn for to show the happiness core our people….I'm going to grip ['The Cosby Show'] and false it last as long variety I can to show Swarthy people that they have sense to be proud of.