Bill Cosby
Birth name	William Henry Cosby, Jr.
Born	July 12, 1937 (1937-07-12) (age 70) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, film, television, print
Nationality	American
Years active	1962–present
Genres	Observational comedy, Improvisational comedy, Physical comedy
Subject(s)	Childhood, Family, Parenting, Marriage, Aging, Everyday life
Influences	Jonathan Winters, Groucho Marx, George Carlin, Lenny Bruce[1]
Influenced	Richard Pryor,Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans, Adam Herbert
Spouse	Camille Hanks (1964–present) (5 children)
Notable works and roles	Alexander Scott in I Spy Host and voices in Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Himself in Bill Cosby: Himself Dr. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Stand-up comedy is a style of comedy where the performer speaks directly to the audience with the absence of the theatrical " Fourth wall " Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Nationality is a relationship between a Person and their State of Origin, Culture, association Affiliation and/or Loyalty The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Comedy may be divided into multiple Genres based on the source of humour the method of delivery and the context in which it is delivered Observational comedy is a style of Humor based on making remarks about various facets of Everyday life. Improvisational theatre (also known as improv or impro) is a form of Theatre in which the Actors use Improvisational acting techniques Physical comedy also known as Slapstick is a comedic performance relying mostly on the use of the body to convey Humor. Child article read through the various talk pages for the debate -- it's been put on and removed twice Family denotes a group of People affiliated by consanguinity affinity or co-residence Parenting is the process of raising and educating a Child from birth, or before until Adulthood In the case of humans it is usually NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** Ageing or aging (American English is the accumulation of changes in an organism Personal life (or everyday life or human existence) is the course of an individual Human 's life especially when viewed as the sum of personal choices Jonathan Harshman Winters III (born November 11 1925 is an American comedian and actor George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12 1937 – June 22 2008 was an American stand-up comedian, often considered one of the best of all time Lenny Bruce (October 13 1925 &ndash August 3 1966 born Leonard Alfred Schneider, was an American Stand-up comedian, Writer, social Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III ( December 1, 1940 &ndash December 10, 2005) was an American Comedian, Actor William Edward "Billy" Crystal (born March 14, 1948) is an American Golden Globe Award -nominated and Emmy Award -winning Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld (born on April 29 1954 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American comedian actor and writer Christopher Julius Rock III (born February 7, 1965) is an American Comedian, Actor, Screenwriter, Television Stephen Tyrone Colbert ( born May 13 1964 is an American Comedian, satirist, Actor and Writer, known for his ironic style David Khari Webber Chappelle (born August 24, 1973) is an American Comedian, Screenwriter, television / Film producer, and Louis CK (born Louis Szekely on September 12, 1967 in Washington D James Eugene Redmond "Jim" Carrey (born January 17 1962 is a Canadian-American Film actor and Comedian. Damon Kyle Wayans (born September 4, 1960) is an American stand-up comedian, Writer, and Actor who began his career Adam Herbert is the former President of Indiana University and of the University of North Florida. I Spy is an American television Secret agent adventure series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created produced and hosted (in Live action bookends by comedian Bill Cosby, who also Bill Cosby Himself is a 1983 Stand-up comedy Film featuring the comedic routines of Bill Cosby. Heathcliff Huxtable in The Cosby Show
Website	www.BillCosby.com
Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama Series 1966 I Spy 1967 I Spy 1968 I Spy Bob Hope Humanitarian Award 2003
Golden Globe Awards
Best Actor - Television Comedy/Musical 1985 The Cosby Show 1986 The Cosby Show
Grammy Awards
Best Comedy Recording 1965 I Started Out as a Child 1966 Why Is There Air? 1967 Wonderfulness 1968 Revenge 1969 To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With 1970 Sports 1987 Those of You With or Without Children, You'll Understand Best Recording for Children 1972 Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs 1973 The Electric Company

Bill Cosby (born William Henry Cosby, Jr on July 12, 1937) is an American comedian, actor, television producer, and activist. The Cosby Show is an American television Situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 This is a list of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winners I Spy is an American television Secret agent adventure series I Spy is an American television Secret agent adventure series I Spy is an American television Secret agent adventure series The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award was established in 2002 by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of Bob Hope 's trailblazing The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and Television programs given out each year during a formal dinner 1971: Flip Wilson, The Flip Wilson Show 1972: Carroll O'Connor, All in the Family The Cosby Show is an American television Situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 The Cosby Show is an American television Situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences The Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album was awarded from yearly 1959 to 1993 and then from 2004 to present day I Started Out as a Child (1964 is Bill Cosby 's second album It is the first Cosby album that features his childhood memories in his comic routines but many Why Is There Air? (1965 is Bill Cosby 's third album It was recorded at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada. Revenge (1967 is the sixth album by Bill Cosby. It was recorded live at Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Nevada by Warner Bros To Russell My Brother Whom I Slept With is the seventh album by Bill Cosby. Sports, an album released by Bill Cosby in 1970 received the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album that year Those of You with or Without Children You'll Understand is a 1986 album by Bill Cosby. The Grammy Award for Best Album for Children has been awarded since 1959 Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs (1971 is an album by Bill Cosby. The Electric Company is an educational American Children's television series which was produced by the Children's Television Workshop Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works The primary role of a television producer is to control all aspects of production ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking Activism, in a general sense can be described as intentional action to bring about social or political change A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a vanguard role in the 1960s action show I Spy. Stand-up comedy is a style of comedy where the performer speaks directly to the audience with the absence of the theatrical " Fourth wall " I Spy is an American television Secret agent adventure series He later starred in his own series, The Bill Cosby Show, in the late 1960s. The Bill Cosby Show is an American Situation comedy that aired for two seasons on NBC from 1969 until 1971 He was one of the major characters on the children's television show The Electric Company for its first two seasons, and created the humorous educational cartoon series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, about a group of young friends growing up in the city. The Electric Company is an educational American Children's television series which was produced by the Children's Television Workshop Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created produced and hosted (in Live action bookends by comedian Bill Cosby, who also Cosby also acted in numerous films.

During the 1980s, Cosby produced and starred in what is considered one of the decade's defining sitcoms, The Cosby Show, which lasted eight seasons from 1984 to 1992, and is still in syndication. The Cosby Show is an American television Situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 The sitcom highlighted the experiences and growth of an upper middle-class African-American family.

In the 1990s, Cosby starred in Cosby, which first aired in 1996, hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things, which began in 1998, and appeared in a number of movies. Cosby is an Emmy - and PCA -winning Situation comedy Television series broadcast on CBS from September 16, Kids Say the Darndest Things was an American Television series hosted by Bill Cosby and co-hosted by Art Linkletter that aired on He has also appeared on the stand-up circuit.

His good-natured, fatherly image has made him a popular personality and garnered him the nickname of "America's Dad". He has also been a sought-after spokesman for products like Jell-O Pudding, and the defunct retail chain Service Merchandise. Jell-O is a Brand name belonging to USA -based Kraft Foods for a number of Gelatin desserts including fruit gels Puddings and no-bake Service Merchandise is a defunct chain of Catalog showroom stores carrying fine jewelry toys sporting goods and Electronics that existed from 1934 to

Early life

William Henry Cosby, Jr. was born and raised in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Anna and William H. Cosby, Sr. He was one of four brothers. During much of his early childhood, Cosby's father was away in the US armed forces and spent several years fighting in World War II. The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including As a student, he described himself as a class clown. Class Clown is the third comedy album released by United States comedian George Carlin. Cosby was the captain of the baseball and track & field teams at Mary Channing Wister Elementary School in Philadelphia, as well as the class president. ^[2] Early on, though, teachers noted his propensity for clowning around rather than studying. ^[3] At Fitz-Simmons Junior High, Cosby began acting in plays as well as continuing his devotion to playing sports. ^[4] He went on to Central High School, an academically challenging magnet school, but his full schedule of playing football, basketball, baseball, and running track made it hard for him. Central High School is a public Secondary school in the Olney section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ^[5] In addition, Cosby was working before and after school, selling produce, shining shoes, and stocking shelves at a supermarket to help out the family. ^[6] He transferred to Germantown High School, but failed the tenth grade. Germantown High School is a secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ^[7] Instead of repeating, he got a job as an apprentice at a shoe repair shop, which he liked, but could not see himself doing the rest of his life. ^[8] Subsequently, he joined the Navy, serving at the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland and at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. Marine Corps Base Quantico is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle Virginia, covering nearly 100 square miles in southern Prince The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Naval Station Argentia is a former base of the United States Navy that operated from 1941-1994 Newfoundland — ˈn(jufənˌlænd (Terre-Neuve Talamh an Éisc — is a large island 15 km off the east coast of ^[9]

Cosby is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Omega Psi Phi (ΩΨΦ is an international fraternity and was the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black

While serving in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman for four years, Cosby worked in physical therapy with some seriously injured Korean War casualties,^[9] which helped him discover what was important to him. Hospital Corpsman (HM is a rating in the United States Navy and a member of the Navy's Hospital Corps He immediately realized the need for an education, and finished his equivalency diploma via correspondence courses. ^[10] He then won a track and field scholarship to Philadelphia's Temple University in 1961,^[11] and studied physical education while running track and playing fullback on the football team. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Temple University is a state-related public research University in Philadelphia. American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with However, he had continued to hone his talent for humor, joking with fellow enlistees in the service and then with college friends. When he began tending bar at the Cellar, a club in Philadelphia, to earn money, he became fully aware of his ability to make people laugh. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə He worked his customers and saw his tips increase, then ventured on to the stage. ^[12]

Cosby left Temple to pursue a career in comedy. He lined up gigs at clubs in Philadelphia and soon was off to New York City, where he appeared at the Gaslight Cafe starting in 1962. The City of New York ^[13] He was discovered by actor Carl Reiner, who enjoyed Cosby's brand of humor. Carl Reiner (born March 20, 1922) is an American Actor, Film director, producer, Writer and Comedian Later, the university would grant him his Bachelor's degree on the basis of "life experience. A bachelor's degree is usually an Undergraduate Academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three four or in some cases and " Cosby's career took off quickly, and he lined up dates in Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Washington DC, among others. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D He received national exposure on NBC's Tonight Show in the summer of 1963 and released Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow . The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as appropriate --> The Tonight Show is a long-running . . Right!, the first of a series of popular comedy albums in 1964. He was able to return to finish his BA from Temple and received an MA and Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts in 1972 and 1977, respectively. A Master of Arts ( Latin: Magister Artium) is a Postgraduate academic Master's degree awarded by universities in a large The Doctor of Education degree ( EdD or DEd) is a discipline-based doctorate that prepares the student for academic administrative clinical or research positions The University of Massachusetts (officially nicknamed UMass) is the five-campus public university system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Cosby's Ed. D dissertation was entitled, An Integration of the Visual Media via Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Into the Elementary School Curriculum as a Teaching Aid and Vehicle to Achieve Increased Learning. ^[14][15]

While many comics were using the growing freedom of that decade to explore controversial, sometimes risqué material, Cosby was making his reputation with humorous recollections of his childhood. Many Americans wondered about the absence of race as a topic in Cosby's stories. As Cosby's success grew he had to defend his choice of material regularly; as he argued, "A white person listens to my act and he laughs and he thinks, 'Yeah, that's the way I see it too. ' Okay. He's white. I'm Negro. And we both see things the same way. That must mean that we are alike. . . So I figure I'm doing as much for good race relations as the next guy. "

I Spy

In 1965, Cosby achieved a first for African-Americans when he costarred with Robert Culp in I Spy, an adventure show in the James Bond-style. Robert Martin Culp (born August 16 1930) is an American actor and scriptwriter perhaps best known for his work in Television. I Spy is an American television Secret agent adventure series James Bond 007 is a Fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve Novels and two Short story But Cosby's presence as the first black star of a dramatic television series made I Spy unique; Cosby and NBC executives were concerned that some affiliates might be unwilling to carry the series. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's At the beginning of the 1965 season, however, only four stations--in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama--declined the show. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. But the rest of the country was taken with the show's exotic locales and the authentic chemistry of the stars, and it became one of the ratings hits of that television season. I Spy finished among the twenty most-watched shows that year, and Cosby was honored with an Emmy award for outstanding actor in a dramatic series, as he would be again for the next two consecutive years. Although ostensibly focused on Culp's character, the show had clearly become a vehicle for his co-star. ^[16]

Yet throughout the series' three-year run Cosby was repeatedly confronted with the question of race. For him it was enough that I Spy portrayed two men who worked as equals despite their different races; but critics took the show to task for not having a black character engage the racial issues that inflamed the country at that time. Cosby was relieved when the series ended, enabling him to concentrate on his family and to return to live performing. ^[17]

The Bill Cosby Show and the 1970s

He still pursued a variety of television projects: as a regular guest host on The Tonight Show and the star of an annual special for NBC. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as appropriate --> The Tonight Show is a long-running The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's He returned with another series in 1969, The Bill Cosby Show, a situation comedy that ran for two seasons. The Bill Cosby Show is an American Situation comedy that aired for two seasons on NBC from 1969 until 1971 Cosby played a physical education teacher at a Los Angeles high school (he had actually majored in physical education at Temple University); while only a modest critical success, the show was a ratings hit, finishing eleventh in its first season. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West

After The Bill Cosby Show left the air, Cosby returned to his education, actively pursuing an advanced degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The University of Massachusetts (officially nicknamed UMass) is the five-campus public university system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This professional interest led to his involvement in the PBS series The Electric Company, for which he recorded several segments teaching reading skills to young children. The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the The Electric Company is an educational American Children's television series which was produced by the Children's Television Workshop In 1972, he was back in prime time with a variety series, The New Bill Cosby Show, but this time he met with poor ratings, and the show lasted only a season. More successful was a Saturday morning show, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, hosted by Cosby and based on his own childhood, running from 1972 to 1979, then from 1979 to 1984 as The New Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created produced and hosted (in Live action bookends by comedian Bill Cosby, who also Some schools used the program as a teaching tool, and Cosby himself wrote his thesis on it in order to obtain his doctorate in Education in 1977.

Also during the 1970s, Cosby and other African American actors, including Sidney Poitier, joined forces to make some successful comedy films which countered the violent "blaxploitation" films of the era. Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE (ˈpwɑːtie born February 20, 1927) is an Oscar - Golden Globe - BAFTA - and Grammy Blaxploitation is a Film genre that emerged in the United States in the early 1970s when many Exploitation films were made that targeted the urban Uptown Saturday Night (1974) and Let's Do It Again (1975) were generally praised, but much of Cosby's film work has fallen flat. For the Camp Lo album see Uptown Saturday Night (album Uptown Saturday Night is a 1974 Comedy Let's Do It Again is a 1975 film starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976) costarring Raquel Welch and Harvey Keitel; A Piece of the Action, with Poitier; and California Suite, a compilation of four Neil Simon plays; they were all panned. Mother Jugs & Speed is a 1976 Comedy film directed by Peter Yates. Raquel Welch (born September 5 1940 is a Golden Globe -winning American actor who achieved fame as a Hollywood sex symbol during the 1960s Harvey Keitel (born 13 May 1939 is an Academy Award -nominated American actor A Piece of the Action is a 1977 film starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. California Suite is a 1978 film based on the play by Neil Simon. Marvin Neil Simon (born July 4, 1927 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American Playwright and Screenwriter In addition, Cos (1976) an hour-long variety show featuring puppets, sketches, and musical numbers, was canceled within the year. Cos was an American Sketch comedy / variety TV series that debuted on the ABC Network in September 1976. Cosby was also regular on children's public television programs starting in the 70's, hosting the "Picture Pages" segments which lasted into the early 80s. This article is about the US educational television segment For information on the British television programme see Picture Page.

The Cosby Show and the 1980s

Bill Cosby was the spokesman for the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Home Computer

Cosby's greatest television success came in 1984 with the debut of The Cosby Show. The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A was an early Home computer, released in June 1981 originally at a price of USD $525 The Cosby Show is an American television Situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 For Cosby the new situation comedy was a response to the increasingly violent fare the networks usually offered. He insisted on and received total creative control of the series, and he was involved in every aspect of the series. Not surprisingly, the show had parallels to Cosby's actual family life: like the characters Cliff and Claire Huxtable, Cosby and his wife Camille were college educated, financially successful, and had five children. Essentially a throwback to the wholesome family situation comedy, The Cosby Show was unprecedented in its portrayal of an intelligent, affluent, nonstereotypical African-American family.

Much of the material from the pilot and first season of The Cosby Show was taken from his then popular video Bill Cosby: Himself, released in 1983. A television pilot is a test episode of an intended Television series. Bill Cosby Himself is a 1983 Stand-up comedy Film featuring the comedic routines of Bill Cosby. The series was an immediate success, debuting near the top of the ratings and staying there for most of its long run. The familiar question of relevance came up again but was more or less drowned out by praise for the series. People magazine called the show "revolutionary", and Newsday concurred that it was a "real breakthrough. People (full name People Weekly) is a weekly American Magazine of Celebrity and human interest stories, published Newsday is a daily Tabloid -size Pulitzer Prize winning Newspaper that primarily serves Long Island and the New York City "

In 1987, Cosby attempted to return to the big screen with the spy spoof Leonard Part 6. Leonard Part 6 is a 1987 Comedy film, that parodies spy movies and is directed by Paul Weiland and starring Bill Cosby, who also Unfortunately, although Cosby himself was producer and wrote the story,^[18] he realized during production that the film was not going to be what he wanted and publicly denounced it, warning audiences to "stay away".

In the 1990s and 2000s

Bill Cosby's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a Sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood Los Angeles California, USA, that

After The Cosby Show went off the air in 1992, Cosby embarked on a number of other projects, including a notably scripted revival of the classic Groucho Marx game show You Bet Your Life (1992-1993) along with the ill-fated TV-movie I Spy Returns (1994) and The Cosby Mysteries (1994). You Bet Your Life is an American Radio and Television Quiz show. I Spy is an American television Secret agent adventure series The Cosby Mysteries was a Television mystery series starring Bill Cosby. In the mid-1990s, he appeared as a detective in black and white film noir-themed commercials for Turner Classic Movies. Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation Turner Classic Movies ( TCM) is a cable television channel featuring commercial -free classic movies mostly from the Turner Entertainment and Warner He also made appearances in three more films, Ghost Dad (1990), The Meteor Man (1993); and Jack (1996); in addition to being interviewed in Spike Lee's 4 Little Girls (1997), a documentary about the racist bombing of a Birmingham, Alabama, church in 1963. Ghost Dad is a 1990 Comedy film directed by Sidney Poitier and starring Bill Cosby, in which a widower's Spirit ---- The Meteor Man is a 1993 Film by director writer and star Robert Townsend about a Superhero. Jack is a 1996 Comedy-drama film starring Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin, Jennifer Lopez, Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20 1957 is an Emmy Award -winning and Academy Award -nominated American Film director, 4 Little Girls is a 1997 historical documentary film about the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham (ˈbɝmɪŋhæm is the largest City in the US state of Alabama and is the County seat of Jefferson County. Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. Also in 1996, he started up a new show for CBS, Cosby, again co-starring Phylicia Rashād, his onscreen wife on The Cosby Show. Cosby is an Emmy - and PCA -winning Situation comedy Television series broadcast on CBS from September 16, Phylicia Rashād (born Phylicia Ayers-Allen on June 19, 1948) is a Tony Award -winning American actress, perhaps best known Cosby co-produced the show for Carsey-Werner Productions. The show was based on a cynical British program called One Foot in the Grave, but Cosby lightened the humor. One Foot in the Grave was a BBC television Situation comedy series written by David Renwick. It centered on Cosby as Hilton Lucas, an iconoclastic senior citizen who tries to find a new job after being "downsized", and in the meantime, gets on his wife's nerves. Madeline Kahn costarred as Rashād's goofy business partner. Madeline Kahn ( September 29, 1942 – December 3, 1999) was an American actress, known primarily for her comedic roles Cosby was hired by CBS to be the official "spokesman" for the WWJ-TV during an advertising campaign from 1995-1998. WWJ-TV is the CBS - Owned and operated station in Detroit, Michigan. In addition, Cosby in 1998 became the host of Kids Say the Darndest Things. Kids Say the Darndest Things was an American Television series hosted by Bill Cosby and co-hosted by Art Linkletter that aired on After four solid seasons, Kids Say the Darndest Things was canceled. The last episode aired April 28, 2000. Events 1192 - Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat (Conrad I King of Jerusalem, in Tyre, two days after his title 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Cosby continued to work with CBS through a development deal and other projects. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network.

His wellspring of creativity became manifest again with a series for preschoolers, Little Bill, which made its debut on Nickelodeon in 1999. Nickelodeon (commonly referred to as Nick) is an American Cable television network owned by Viacom International, founded in 1977 as Pinwheel The network renewed the popular program in November 2000. In 2001, at an age when many give serious consideration to retirement, Cosby's agenda included the publication of a new book, as well as delivering the commencement addresses at Morris Brown College and at Ohio State University. Morris Brown College (MBC is a four-year private coed liberal arts college located in the Vine City Community of Atlanta Georgia. The Ohio State University ( OSU) is a Coeducational public Research university in the state of Ohio. Also that year, he signed a deal with 20th Century Fox to develop a live-action feature film centering on the popular Fat Albert character from his 1970s cartoon series. Fat Albert was released in theaters in December 2004. Fat Albert is a 2004 live-action/animated film based on the Filmation animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. In May 2007 he spoke at the Commencement of High Point University. High Point University is a private, selective Liberal arts University in High Point North Carolina, USA, affiliated with the

Personal life

Cosby met his wife Camille Hanks while he was performing stand-up in Washington, D.C., in the early 1960s, and she was a student at the University of Maryland. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The University of Maryland College Park (often referred to as The University of Maryland UMD, UMCP or simply Maryland) is a public research They married on January 25, 1964, and had five children: daughters Erika Ranee, Erinn Chalene, Ensa Camille, and Evin Harrah, and son Ennis William. Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Ennis William Cosby ( April 15, 1969 – January 16, 1997) was the Son of actor Bill Cosby and Camille Cosby His son Ennis was shot to death while changing a flat tire on the side of a Los Angeles freeway on January 16, 1997. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar

On November 8, 2006, the media reported that Cosby had settled a lawsuit with a woman alleging he had sexually assaulted her. Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. For other uses of settlement including legal uses see Settlement. Sexual assault is any Assault of a sexual nature on another person The woman claimed that Cosby assaulted her at his mansion in Cheltenham in early 2004 after giving her some blue pills. Cheltenham Township is a township bordering Philadelphia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The woman said the pills had rendered her semiconscious, and that the comedian molested her. She said she awoke to find her bra undone and her clothes in disarray. In and around the same time reports surfaced from 12 women alleging that they were sexually assaulted by Cosby, but none of the complainants elected to proceed with criminal charges. ^[19][20]

Bill Cosby is an active alumni supporter of his alma mater, Temple University, and in particular their men's basketball team, whose games Cosby frequently attends (particularly during the team's glory days under coach John Chaney, who is a close friend of Cosby). Temple University is a state-related public research University in Philadelphia. John Chaney (born January 21, 1932) is an American retired college Basketball coach best known for his tenure at Temple University.

Cosby is a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Recently, when both the Eagles' starting and backup quarterbacks were injured, Cosby sent some of his old football gear to head coach Andy Reid, joking he was ready to play if needed.

Cosby also attends many public events, such as the 100th Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York on February 2, 2007. Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four Arenas in New York City. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Cosby enjoys cigars, a hobby he picked up from Groucho Marx, one of his comedy influences. A cigar is a tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented Tobacco which is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the smoker's mouth

Cosby is also a noted pen collector, and often frequents several well-known fountain pen stores; he is the spokesperson for Fountain Pen Hospital.

Cosby maintains homes in Shelburne, Massachusetts and Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. Shelburne is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Cheltenham Pennsylvania is a census-designated place within Cheltenham Township Pennsylvania, with a zip code of 19012

Bill Cosby also has been hosting the Los Angeles Playboy Jazz Festival since 1979. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Playboy is an American Men's magazine, founded in Chicago Illinois, by Hugh Hefner and his associates which has grown into Playboy

The Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles 2007. Bill Cosby is on stage.

• Cosby received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Carnegie Mellon University at its 2007 commencement ceremony, where he was also the keynote speaker. The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters ( Latin: Litterarum humanarum doctor; D Carnegie Mellon University (also known as CMU) is a private Research University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United ^[21]
• Cosby received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Yale University on 2003. The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters ( Latin: Litterarum humanarum doctor; D ^[22]
• Cosby received an Honorary Degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Cincinnati during the 2001 graduation season. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, is a Nonsectarian private Research University located in Troy, New York The University of Cincinnati is a Coeducational public Research university in Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Cosby received an Honorary Degree in 2003 presented by President William Harjo LoneFight from the Sisseton Wahpeton College on the Lake Traverse Reservation for his contributions to minority education. Dr William Harjo LoneFight, (born 1966 is President and CEO of American Native Services a consulting firm in Bismarck North Dakota. The Sisseton Wahpeton College was established in 1979 as an entity of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate.
• Cosby received an Honorary Doctorate from West Chester University of Pennsylvania during the 2003 graduation ceremony. West Chester University of Pennsylvania, is a public University located in West Chester Pennsylvania, United States 34 miles (54 km west by north of Philadelphia
• Cosby received an Honorary Doctorate from Baylor University (September 4, 2003 "Spirit Rally"). Baylor University is a private, Baptist -affiliated Research University located in Waco Texas. Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
• Cosby received an Honorary Doctorate from Haverford College, May 2002. Haverford College is a highly selective private, Coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, a suburb ^[23] (Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa)
• Cosby received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in May 1997. The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn) is a private University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He also served as the commencement speaker.
• In a British 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted among the top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.
• He received Kennedy Center Honors in 1998. ^[24]
• He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a decoration bestowed by the President of the United States and is along with the equivalent Congressional Gold Medal bestowed
• He received an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music during the 2004 commencement ceremony. Berklee College of Music, founded in 1945 is an independent music College in Boston Massachusetts. ^[25] Cosby was also a speaker at the school's 60th anniversary concert in 2005.
• He won the 2003 Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award was established in 2002 by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of Bob Hope 's trailblazing
• In 1969, he received the third in a long line of prestigious "Man of the Year" awards from Harvard University's famed performance group, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. The Hasty Pudding Theatricals, known informally simply as The Pudding, is a theatrical student society at Harvard University, known for its Burlesque

The Pound Cake speech and other comments on moral values

Main article: Pound Cake speech

In May 2004 after receiving an award at the celebration of the 50th Anniversary commemoration of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that outlawed school segregation, Cosby made public remarks critical of those blacks who put higher priorities on sports, fashion, and "acting hard" than on education, self-respect, and self-improvement. The Pound Cake Speech was given by Bill Cosby in May 2004 at an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, 347 US 483 (1954 was a Landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court, which overturned earlier The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively Fashion refers to styles of dress (but can also include cuisine literature art architecture and general comportment that are popular in a culture at any given time He has made a plea for African American families to educate their children on the many different aspects of American culture (Baker). According to the Washington Times, he has had a long history of endeavors to advance African Americans (DeBose, Brian). The Washington Times is a daily Broadsheet Newspaper published in Washington D

In "Pound Cake", Cosby, whose doctorate degree is in education, asked that African American parents begin teaching their children better morals at a younger age. He directed this address to the leaders in the lower and middle economic classes of the African-American community (see main article). The Pound Cake Speech was given by Bill Cosby in May 2004 at an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v Cosby told reporters of the Washington Times, "Parenting needs to come to the forefront. If you need help and you don't know how to parent, we want to be able to reach out and touch" (DeBose, Brian). Richard Leiby of the Washington Post reported, "Bill Cosby was anything but politically correct in his remarks Monday night at a Constitution Hall bash commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D Political correctness (adjectivally politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term applied to Language, ideas policies or behavior DAR Constitution Hall is a Concert hall in Washington DC It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, 347 US 483 (1954 was a Landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court, which overturned earlier "

Cosby again came under sharp criticism, and again he was largely unapologetic for his stance when he made similar remarks during a speech in a July 1 Rainbow Coalition meeting commemorating the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, 347 US 483 (1954 was a Landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court, which overturned earlier During that speech, he admonished blacks for not assisting or concerning themselves with the individuals who are involved with crime or have counter-productive aspirations. He further described those who needed attention as "blacks [who] had forgotten the sacrifices of those in the Civil Rights Movement. See also Protests of 1968 Historically the civil rights movement was a concentrated period of time around the world of approximately twenty years (1960-1980 in " The talk was interrupted several times by applause and received praise from leaders such as Jesse Jackson. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr (born October 8 1941 is an American Civil rights activist and Baptist minister.

Parody

In recent years the popular comedian has been parodied on several television cartoons such as The Simpsons, Family Guy and The Boondocks. Family Guy is an animated American television sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane that airs on Fox and regularly on other The Boondocks is an American animated series created by Aaron McGruder for the Adult Swim programming block of Turner Broadcasting Bill Cosby has become extensively parodied in the animated short film series House of Cosbys, a series of 5 minute episodes posted on the website of the Los Angeles film festival Channel 101 that chronicle the main character, Mitchell, and his residence filled with cloned Cosbys, each possessing their own unique personality. House of Cosbys was an animated cartoon about a Bill Cosby fan who creates a cloning machine to clone a series of Cosbys each with a different personality Channel 101 is a short film festival (usually monthly in Los Angeles created by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab where participants submit a short film in Also in the cartoon Codename: Kids Next Door, Numbuh 5's father is based on Bill Cosby. Codename Codename There is also a character of him in the popular internet show SMF.

Famous impressions of him on TV have included Aries Spears on MADtv, Wayne Brady onWhose Line Is It Anyway?, Nick Cannon on Wild 'N Out, and Kenan Thompson on All That and Saturday Night Live. Aries Spears (born April 3, 1975) is an American Actor and Comedian. MADtv, is an American Sketch comedy television series based on the humor magazine Mad. Wayne Alphonso Brady (born June 2, 1972) is an Emmy -winning American Comedian, Singer and Television personality Whose Line Is It Anyway? (abbreviated to Whose Line? or WLIIA) was a short-form Improvisational comedy TV show Nicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon (born October 8 1980 is an American Actor and Rapper. Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'n Out is a show on MTV starring Nick Cannon. Kenan Thompson (born May 10 1978 is an American Actor and Comedian who is currently known for the titular role in Fat Albert, as a regular All That is an American Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City

He also became a lengthy internet meme and fad on popular web site YTMND, one such ytmnd, "Cosby Bebop" having recorded nearly one million views since its creation in November 2005. A meme (miːm consists of any idea or behavior that can pass from one person to another by learning or imitation YTMND, an initialism for " You're The Man Now Dog

Albums

• Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right! (1963)
• I Started Out as a Child (1964)
• Why Is There Air? (1965)
• Wonderfulness (1966)
• Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings (1967)
• Revenge (1967)
• To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With (1968)
• 200 M.P.H. (1968)
• Bill Cosby Sings Hooray for the Salvation Army Band! (1968)
• 8:15 12:15 (1969)
• It's True! It's True! (1969)
• The Best of Bill Cosby (1969)
• More of the Best of Bill Cosby (1970)
• Sports (Bill Cosby Album) (1970)
• Live: Madison Square Garden Center (1970)
• When I Was a Kid (1971)
• For Adults Only (1971)
• Badfoot Brown & the Bunions Bradford Funeral Marching Band (1971)
• Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs (1971)
• Inside the Mind of Bill Cosby (1972)
• Fat Albert (1973)
• Bill (1973)
• At Last Bill Cosby Really Sings (1974)
• Down Under (1975)
• Bill Cosby Is Not Himself These Days (1976)
• Disco Bill (1977)
• My Father Confused Me... What Must I Do? What Must I Do? (1977)
• Bill's Best Friend (1978)
• Bill Cosby: Himself (1982)
• Those of You With or Without Children, You'll Understand (1986)
• Cosby and the Kids (1986)
• Where You Lay Your Head (1990)
• My Appreciation (1991)
• Oh, Baby (1991)
• At His Best (1994)
• Hello Friend: To Ennis, With Love (1997)
• 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bill Cosby (2001)
• The Bill Cosby Collection (2004)
• State of Emergency (2008)

Books

• Fatherhood (1986) - ISBN 0-425-09772-2
• Time Flies (1987) - ISBN 0-553-27724-3
• Love and Marriage (1989) - ISBN 0-553-28467-3
• Childhood (1991) - ISBN 0-399-13647-9
• Kids Say the Darndest Things (1998) - ISBN 0-553-58126-0
• Congratulations! Now What? A Book for Graduates (1999) - ISBN 0-7868-6572-5
• American Schools: The 100 Billion Dollar Challenge (2000) - ISBN 0-7595-5000-X (with Dwight Allen Ed. Bill Cosby Is A Very Funny FellowRight! is the debut album release by Bill Cosby. I Started Out as a Child (1964 is Bill Cosby 's second album It is the first Cosby album that features his childhood memories in his comic routines but many Why Is There Air? (1965 is Bill Cosby 's third album It was recorded at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada. Silver Throat Bill Cosby Sings (1967 is the fifth album by Bill Cosby. Revenge (1967 is the sixth album by Bill Cosby. It was recorded live at Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Nevada by Warner Bros To Russell My Brother Whom I Slept With is the seventh album by Bill Cosby. 200 MPH (1968 is the eighth album by Bill Cosby. It was recorded live at Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Nevada by Warner Bros Bill Cosby Sings Hooray for the Salvation Army Band! (1968 is the ninth album by Bill Cosby. It's True! It's True! (1969 is the eleventh album by Bill Cosby. The Best of Bill Cosby (1969 is the twelfth album by Bill Cosby. More of the Best of Bill Cosby (1970 is the thirteenth album by Bill Cosby. Sports, an album released by Bill Cosby in 1970 received the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album that year Live Madison Square Garden Center (1970 is the fourteenth album by Bill Cosby. When I Was a Kid (1971 is an album by Bill Cosby. The cover is an early appearance of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. For Adults Only (1971 is an album by Bill Cosby. The title "For Adults Only" was also used for a 1959 Pearl Bailey LP (Roulette R-25016 Badfoot Brown & the Bunions Bradford Funeral Marching Band (1971 is an album by Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs (1971 is an album by Bill Cosby. Inside the Mind of Bill Cosby (1972 is an album by Bill Cosby. Fat Albert (1973 is an album by Bill Cosby. After six years of recalling memories of his childhood friend in his stand-up routines this would be the final album Bill (1973 is a compilation album of previously released material by Bill Cosby. The term Down Under is a Colloquialism referring to Australia and occasionally New Zealand. Bill Cosby Is Not Himself These Days (1976 is an album by Bill Cosby. Disco Bill (1977 is an album by Bill Cosby. After four musical comedy/parody albums this would be the last Cosby would do My Father Confused Me What Must I Do? What Must I Do? is an album by Bill Cosby, originally released on vinyl in 1977 Bill's Best Friend is an album by Bill Cosby. Much of the material was recycled in the film and accompanying album Himself. Himself is an album by Bill Cosby. The album contains highlights from the stand-up comedy film of the same name. Those of You with or Without Children You'll Understand is a 1986 album by Bill Cosby. State of Emergency is an album by Bill Cosby that is to be released October 2008 on store shelves and ITunes. Fatherhood is a bestselling 1986 Book attributed to Bill Cosby and published by Doubleday & Company Inc D. )
• Cosbyology: Essays and Observations from the Doctor of Comedy (2001) - ISBN 0-7868-6810-4
• I Am What I Ate. . . and I'm Frightened!!! (2003) - ISBN 0-06-054573-9
• Friends of a Feather (2003) - ISBN 0-06-009147-9
• Come On People: On the Path from Victims to Victors (2007) - ISBN 1-59-555092-5 (with Alvin F. Poussaint M. D. )

References

General References

External links

• Official Bill Cosby Site

Bill Cosby at the Internet Movie Database

Bill Cosby at the Internet Broadway Database

• Interview with Cosby from 1990 (24 minutes)
• Interview transcript from interview after the Pound Cake Speech
• You Bet Your Life home page
• Works by or about Bill Cosby in libraries (WorldCat catalog)