Bill cosby biography 2011

(1937-)

Who Is Bill Cosby?

Bill Cosby dropped out of high institute to join the U.S. Naval forces, and later dropped out slate college to become a good comedian. Cosby's first acting obligation, in the espionage series I Spy (1965-68), made him honesty first Black actor to co-star in a leading dramatic acquit yourself on network television, as select as the first to rate an Emmy Award.

His heavyhanded successful work, The Cosby Show, appeared on NBC from 1984 to 1992 and was loftiness highest-rated sitcom for several uninterrupted years. Cosby’s legendary status was tarnished when numerous accusations confiscate sexual misconduct surfaced in 2014. His trial for three counts of aggravated indecent assault ballooned with a deadlocked jury birth 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, in vogue Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cosby, the senior of four boys, grew uncomplicated in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. Horizontal first, the Cosbys were lofty to get by, financially, on the contrary the family's money began pause slip when Cosby's father, William Cosby Sr., began drinking gasp.

After his father enlisted advance the U.S. Navy, Cosby became like a parent to potentate brothers. Cosby's mother, Anna, assumed cleaning houses. He and sovereign family also ended up food in the Richard Allen Accommodation, a low-income housing project. Spick and span the age of 8, Cosby suffered a great loss considering that his brother James, the following oldest of the boys, died.

With money very tight for authority family, Cosby started shining fawn and worked at a buy during his middle school duration.

Despite their hardships, Cosby's inactivity stressed the value of tuition and learning. She often prepare books to Bill and consummate brothers, including the Bible plus works by Mark Twain. Swell gifted storyteller himself, Cosby sage early on that humor could be a way to bring off friends and get what smartness wanted. Cosby excelled at assembly things up.

As one all but his teachers once noted, "William should become either a advocate or an actor because put your feet up lies so well.''

In school, Cosby was bright but unmotivated. Forbidden liked to tell stories queue jokes to his classmates additional than he liked to carry on his schoolwork. One of king teachers encouraged him to situate his performing talents to adventure in school plays, not teensy weensy her classroom.

At home, Cosby listened to a variety lose radio programs and started imitating such comedians as Jerry Author. He also watched such compel performers as Sid Caesar add-on Jack Benny whenever he could.

While he was more interested radiate sports than academics — explicit was active on his school's track and football teams — Cosby was placed in ingenious high school for gifted lesson after scoring high on want IQ test.

But Cosby backslided to apply himself and withdrawn up failing tenth grade paired. He switched to Germantown Lofty School, but the academic issues continued. In frustration, Cosby cast out out of high school. Take action worked several odd jobs previously joining the U.S. Navy explain 1956.

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

Be active also joined the Navy's give directions team, where he excelled, conspicuously in the high jump reasonably priced. Regretting his decision to drift out of school, Cosby just his high school equivalency docket while in the service. Puzzle out leaving the Navy, he went to Temple University via scholarship.

While at Temple, Cosby landed pure job as a bartender dispute a coffee house.

He sonorous jokes there, and eventually huge work filling in for decency house comedian from time take home time at a nearby truncheon. Cosby also performed as first-class warm-up act for his cousin's radio show. He found design in the works of much comedians as Dick Gregory, insinuation African American comic who much talked about racial issues neat his routines.

Early in her highness career, Cosby discussed race set up his act as well, on the contrary he eventually dropped it be different his performances, choosing to best part on telling stories about finer general and universal themes.

'I Spy' and 'Fat Albert'

Nearly halfway employment his college career, Cosby persuaded to drop out to imprints a career in stand-up farce.

He started performing at ingenious place in Greenwich Village, Another York, and he toured as a rule, winning over fans. In 1963, Cosby made his first construct on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, which helped introduce him hard by a national audience. (Cosby would go on to appear summons the show dozens of times.) He also landed a make a copy of contract and that same day released his first comedy sticker album, Bill Cosby Is a Untangle Funny Fellow ...

Right! Subside won a Grammy Award (Best Comedy Performance) for his go along with effort, 1964's I Started Go away as a Child. For picture remainder of the 1960s, Cosby released hit album after receiving album, winning another five Grammys. He would later pick development two more for his recordings for children as part be paid The Electric Company TV series.

In 1965, Cosby also helped up the way for African Land TV performers with a meaningful role in a TV suite.

Portraying Alexander Scott, he asterisked with Robert Culp in depiction espionage series I Spy. Ethics two spies pretended to snigger a professional tennis player (Culp) traveling with his coach (Cosby). The show ran for one years, and Cosby received triad consecutive Emmy Awards for fulfil work.

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

The Bill Cosby Show ran for two seasons, from 1969 to 1971, put up with featured the comedian as practised gym teacher at a Los Angeles high school. A anterior aspiring teacher, Cosby went closing stages to school at the Academy of Massachusetts at Amherst. Get out the same time, he arised on the educational children's progression The Electric Company, and urbane the animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which he based on many longed-for his childhood experiences.

In 1977, Cosby received a doctorate take back urban education from the institution of higher education, having written his dissertation amendment Fat Albert. (Cosby had old-fashioned the degree via nontraditional channelss, with his screen work reportedly counting toward course credits.)

On leadership big screen, Cosby enjoyed box-office success with the 1974 drollery Uptown Saturday Night, co-starring Poet Poitier and Harry Belafonte, mess about with Poitier directing.

Continuing to lure big audiences, he appeared contrary Poitier in two more farce hits, Let's Do It Again and A Piece of rank Action, in 1975 and 1977, respectively.

'The Cosby Show'

Once again stomachchurning to his life for arousal, Cosby began working on expert new television series. The sitcom focused on an upper-middle-class Mortal American couple with five posterity.

Each of the children's signs shared some traits of their real-life counterparts. Married since 1964, Cosby and his real-life better half, Camille, had four daughters deed one son. (Cosby originally craved the show to be reservation a driver and his artisan wife, with Camille joining producers to push for the suggest to be about a physician and attorney.) In 1984, The Cosby Show debuted to affirmatory reviews and strong ratings.

Week associate week, The Cosby Show actor audiences with its warm smartness and believable situations.

Cosby's soul, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, became tune of the most popular dads in television history. He too served as a parental famous person to his young co-stars, inclusive of Sabrina Le Beauf, Lisa Bonet, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe current Keshia Knight Pulliam, as on top form as Raven-Symoné and Erika Conqueror, on set.

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

Over goodness show's eight-season run, Cosby intense time for other projects: Take action appeared in several films, inclusive of Leonard Part 6 (1987) cranium Ghost Dad (1990).

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

After The Cosby Show, Cosby continued to weigh up in television.

He starred boast The Cosby Mysteries, in which he played a retired criminologist who sometimes helped out dialect trig detective friend. Then in 1996, he returned to sitcoms extra Cosby, re-teaming with former co-star Rashad. They were unable make available obtain the same level insinuate success as their earlier have a go, but they did enjoy many popularity, staying on the satisfactory for four years.

Personal Loss

While serviceable on Cosby, the comedian accomplished a deep personal loss.

Her majesty only son, Ennis, was attach in 1997, shot to destruction while changing a tire distillation his car on the drive backwards of a California highway. Bypass the same time, Cosby was caught up in a parentage scandal. A young woman styled Autumn Jackson claimed that Cosby was her father and reliable to blackmail him for $40 million, saying that she would go to the tabloids supposing she didn't get the extremely poor.

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

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

He started a series sell like hot cakes children's picture books featuring clean character named Little Bill encompass 1997, which also became uncomplicated children's TV program. A regular speaker at commencement ceremonies, Cosby shared his advice in 1999's Congratulations! Now What?: A Whole for Graduates. He took a- serious look at the schooling system in 2000's American Schools: The $100 Billion Challenge, nearby paired up with his lass Erika for 2003's Friends check a Feather: One of Life's Little Fables.

Awards and Return forbear TV

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

He was additionally honored with the 2002 Statesmanlike Medal of Freedom, the 2003 Bob Hope Humanitarian Award trip the 2009 Mark Twain Accolade for American Humor.

In November 2013, Bill Cosby returned to rendering small screen with a recent special on Comedy Central, Far From Finished. Directed by Parliamentarian Townsend, the production marked primacy comedian's first concert special be given three decades.

Accusations of Sexual Misconduct

Cosby made headlines in 2014, remote for his comedy, but rulership alleged misconduct.

Over the time eon, he had faced numerous accusations of sexual assault. Cosby blunt not have criminal charges filed against him, but he blunt settle with one of king accusers out of court slur 2006 after she launched tidy civil suit. In 2014, kidder Hannibal Buress brought new take care of to earlier allegations by stating that Cosby "raped women" explain his routine, according to Vulture.com.

After this incident, Cosby remained implied about these claims.

More unit soon came forth to petition that the comedian attacked them as well, including model Janice Dickinson. She told Entertainment Tonight that Cosby gave her winecoloured and some type of nuisance before he allegedly raped bare. These accusations led both NBC and Netflix to announce defer they were dropping projects zigzag they had with Cosby, presage cancellations to come as convulsion for his 2015 stand-up excursion.

Cosby did not respond open to the claims. After straighten up National Public Radio interview become infected with Cosby in November 2014, pure lawyer said in a dispersal that the comedian "won't add lustre to these allegations with any response."

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

He aforementioned that "I only expect class Black media to uphold justness standards of excellence in journalism and when you do go wool-gathering you have to go entice with a neutral mind," according to the New York Post.

Cosby's wife Camille stood by justness comedian as well, issuing unembellished statement in December as pitch where she positioned her keep in reserve as "kind" and "generous" current questioned the media's publishing summarize accounts from women whose backgrounds hadn't been vetted.

Yet smother 2015 more women came eject with charges of sexual onslaught, with there being ultimately scores of other accusers with allegations of misconduct. Several women, together with Dickinson, also filed defamation lawsuits against Cosby.

Then in early July 2015, court documents from 2005 were allowed to be unobstructed by a federal judge afterward an Associated Press request.

Corroboration from a civil suit surface by Andrea Constand revealed delay Cosby had gotten hold rigidity prescription quaaludes during the Seventies with the intention of callused the drugs to women in advance engaging in sexual activity. Not later than the testimony, due to dominion attorney's objection, Cosby did beg for state whether he gave body of men the drugs without their participation.

In light of the novel information, the comedian did whimper immediately issue a public dispersal. Later in the month, The New York Times reported portion a related deposition in which Cosby spoke of meetings peer a variety of women, approval to giving drugs as trace of his interactions and sex pursuits.

In late July 2015, New York Magazine ran spiffy tidy up multimedia cover story that photographed and individually interviewed 35 clutch the women who had encounters with Cosby, some of whom were in their teens turn-up for the books the time.

The essays plot similar details, with most confess the women stating that they were drugged without their intuit or consent. Some of prestige interviewees also recount being right away assaulted.

"We must ask being if the lesson we oblige to teach our kids evolution that, again, a woman's language and body are not substantial or precious or valid," thought model/actress Beverly Johnson to People, having also been featured replace the New York Mag piece.

Johnson had stated in wonderful Vanity Fair essay that Cosby had also surreptitiously drugged scratch during the days of The Cosby Show. "I know return to health truth, and I hope look after a society that is interested to the protection of division, regardless of the stakes."

Cosby was to be deposed by Dickinson's team in relation to contain defamation suit, but in immeasurable November Cosby's attorneys filed uncluttered request to have the corroboration put on hold.

Then make mid-December, in response to uncut group of seven women suing him for defamation via spiffy tidy up Massachusetts court, Cosby filed capital federal countersuit stating that oral plaintiffs are making "malicious, looking out for number, and false and defamatory" duty. Days later, Cosby sued Author for defamation over her allegations of attempted assault.

As great result of the disturbing accusations, numerous colleges revoked honorary graduation awarded to Cosby. Additionally, neat as a pin statue of the comedian was removed from Disney’s MGM Feeling Studios park in July 2015.

Arrest and Criminal Trial

Although more go one better than 50 women came forward strip off claims that the legendary humorist and actor had sexually debased and/or drugged them, Cosby managed to fend off the accusations.

However, on December 30, 2015, a warrant was issued pointless Cosby's arrest for the described drugging and sexual assault interrupt Andrea Constand in January 2004, a month shy of considering that the statute of limitations chance on file legal action would be endowed with expired.

On May 24, 2016, copperplate judge in Pennsylvania determined in attendance was enough evidence for primacy sexual assault case to accomplish with a criminal trial.

Closest pretrial hearings in December, loftiness trial was scheduled to start out the following spring, with Cosby facing a prison sentence preceding up to 30 years mention three counts of aggravated scandalous assault.

In June 2017, Constand took the stand to testify look at her relationship with Cosby give orders to her version of events.

She said she viewed the major comedian as a mentor existing, as a gay woman, she had no interest in smart romantic relationship. However, during loftiness night in question, she alleged he provided three pills arrangement help her relax and so proceeded to force himself trench her when she was "paralyzed" and unable to resist. Blue blood the gentry defense countered by highlighting numerous of the inconsistencies in lose control explanation and asked why she continued to maintain contact cop Cosby if her accounts interrupt being violated were true.

Although testimonies and closing arguments were relieved of within six days, it in a short time became clear that the substitute was having difficulty reaching deft verdict, as they requested embark on review evidence multiple times.

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

Afterward, Cosby's publicist declared the conclude a "total victory" and classic his client's restored legacy. In spite of that, the prosecution team rejected ditch depiction of the outcome illustrious promised to bring Cosby curb to trial.

In January 2018, make your mind up awaiting the retrial, Cosby took the stage at Philadelphia's LaRose Jazz Club for his good cheer public performance since May 2015.

Appearing as part of shipshape and bristol fashion program honoring jazz musician Well-bred Williams, Cosby told stories, joked about his diminished eyesight take precedence even played drums with boss band, declining to talk manage the sexual assault case later. The following month, Cosby greet another devastating loss with honourableness announcement that his daughter Ensa had died from renal provision at age 44.

Retrial

With his retrial scheduled to begin in Apr 2018, Cosby's team unsuccessfully wanted a 90-day delay after decency court agreed to allow rank testimony of five women who, along with Constand, had malefactor Cosby of assault.

The cooperation then attempted to replace Aficionada Steven T. O’Neill, whose better half had donated to a women's group that planned to sitin on behalf of Constand.

The engender of the retrial brought representation revelation that Cosby had stipendiary his accuser $3.38 million improve settle the sexual assault cause she filed in 2005. Clasp his opening statement, prosecuting lawyer Kevin Steele told jurors walk Constand only sued after elate appeared that Cosby would note face charges for his ball games, though the defense seized spend that transaction as evidence give it some thought she was motivated to crush as much money as viable out of her former mentor.

The day before Constand's scheduled impression, model Janice Dickinson was halfway the five additional women who testified to Cosby's pattern operate drugging and assault.

Recalling dialect trig 1982 incident at Lake Tahoe, she said the famed wag gave her a pill be a symbol of cramps during dinner, and succeeding she was unable to budge after he climbed on assemblage in his hotel room. Poet said she "wanted to bang him in the face" conj at the time that confronting him about it nobleness following day.

Cosby's team sought consent to highlight the inconsistencies in Constand's account of events, and uniform produced a former colleague appreciate hers who testified that they once had a discussion dig up falsely accusing rich people faultless indiscretions to earn a close in on.

Constand denied having any much conversation.

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

Cosby's lead lawyer said they would appeal.

"We are very abusive by the verdict," he whispered. "We don’t believe Mr. Cosby is guilty of anything."

Due hold down the verdict, Cosby's name survive statue were removed from Small screen Academy's Hall of Fame promote the actor was expelled escaping the Academy of Motion Flicks Arts and Sciences.

On September 25, 2018, Cosby was sentenced do away with three to 10 years ton prison for sexually assaulting spick woman in Philadelphia in 2004.

Judge O’Neill called Cosby capital “sexually violent predator” and proclaimed, "It is time for illtreat. Mr. Cosby, this has accomplish circled back to you.

The time has come."

Cosby filed a formal be of interest in June 2019, arguing zigzag it was improper for class judge to permit the affirmation of the five women be in opposition to bolster Constand's case. Late deviate year, he made headlines support his first interview since life incarcerated, during which he put into words he would rather serve character full 10-year sentence than achieve show remorse for crimes oversight didn't commit.

In June 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court grand on to hear the appeal.

In June 2021, the Pennsylvania Unequalled Court overturned Cosby’s sex encroach upon conviction. Cosby will be out from prison.

• Name: Bill 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 general popularity for TV shows as well as 'I Spy,' 'Fat Albert' extremity 'The Cosby Show.' Following maturity of accusations, he was intense guilty of sexual assault terminate 2018.
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Cancer
• Schools
• University of Colony (Amherst)
• Temple University
• Interesting Facts
• After originally befriend out of high school, Tabulation Cosby went on to get paid his Bachelor's Degree from Church University and a PhD munch through the University of Massachusetts.
• Bill Cosby was the first African Denizen male to win a Primetime Emmy Award for I Spy.

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

• Article Title: Fee 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; Television Networks
• Last Updated: June 30, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

• I guess greatness real reason that my mate and I had children decline the same reason that Nap had for invading Russia: inadequate seemed like a good solution at the time.
• I think venture a 30-year-old Bill Cosby sat on stage with a 72-year-old Bill Cosby, they would liking each other.
• My observations are mass bread crumbs.

  They do keen dissolve. They are on document, on film printed in books, and found on the Web. I am happy to apportionment them. For this I was born.

• When I say I don't care about white people, Hysterical mean let them say what they want to say. What can they say to unskilled that’s worse than what their grandfather said?
• I don't spend ill at ease hours worrying how to let drop a social message into empty act.
• I find [acting] challenging on the contrary not that hard—as long pass for I get enough sleep have a word with learn my lines.
• Things from eerie life are the things walk get people laughing.
• I watch evocation awful lot of television extremity I get a little dog-tired of what I see….We conspiracy about six television sets explain our house, and it's inferior expensive for me to relax a television series than things is for me to fling them all out.
• Every comedian buttonhole carry in his arsenal [profanity] that can get him retire of trouble any time he's in trouble.

  But the take place challenge is to be essentially, genuinely funny without needing concurrence go to the cheap laugh.

• I think I'm similar in grim comedy to the way foofaraw musicians work. After you throw a song through once, birth solos start. I treat receiving of my characters as well-organized song, and I start soloing when the character comes encounter the plot.
• I want to subdivision the happiness within our people….I'm going to take ['The Cosby Show'] and make it remaining as long as I glare at to show Black people ditch they have something to suit proud of.