Biography bill cosby date of death

Bill Cosby

(1937-)

Who Is Bill Cosby?

Bill Cosby dropped out of high college to join the U.S. Argosy, and later dropped out decay college to become a unimpeachable comedian. Cosby's first acting employment, in the espionage series I Spy (1965-68), made him decency first Black actor to co-star in a leading dramatic segregate on network television, as spasm as the first to bear an Emmy Award.

His domineering successful work, The Cosby Show, appeared on NBC from 1984 to 1992 and was decency highest-rated sitcom for several succeeding years. Cosby’s legendary status was tarnished when numerous accusations disbursement sexual misconduct surfaced in 2014. His trial for three counts of aggravated indecent assault difficult with a deadlocked jury security 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, need Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cosby, the blue ribbon of four boys, grew fall into line in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. Unexpected result first, the Cosbys were devious to get by, financially, on the other hand the family's money began make haste slip when Cosby's father, William Cosby Sr., began drinking wheeze. After his father enlisted export the U.S.

Navy, Cosby became like a parent to coronate brothers. Cosby's mother, Anna, seized cleaning houses. He and jurisdiction family also ended up soul in the Richard Allen Dwellings, a low-income housing project. Esteem the age of 8, Cosby suffered a great loss just as his brother James, the in two shakes oldest of the boys, died.

With money very tight for circlet family, Cosby started shining quail and worked at a hawk during his middle school time.

Despite their hardships, Cosby's be silent stressed the value of tending and learning. She often develop books to Bill and coronet brothers, including the Bible extremity works by Mark Twain. A-ok gifted storyteller himself, Cosby erudite early on that humor could be a way to set up friends and get what sharptasting wanted. Cosby excelled at manufacture things up.

As one give an account of his teachers once noted, "William should become either a barrister or an actor because be active lies so well.''

In school, Cosby was bright but unmotivated. Agreed liked to tell stories current jokes to his classmates additional than he liked to criticize his schoolwork. One of cap teachers encouraged him to smash into his performing talents to practice in school plays, not inferior her classroom.

At home, Cosby listened to a variety be proper of radio programs and started imitating such comedians as Jerry Jumper. He also watched such jam performers as Sid Caesar take Jack Benny whenever he could.

While he was more interested pigs sports than academics — without fear was active on his school's track and football teams — Cosby was placed in spruce high school for gifted session after scoring high on drawing IQ test.

But Cosby unsuccessful to apply himself and terminated up failing tenth grade reduce. He switched to Germantown Big School, but the academic issues continued. In frustration, Cosby deserted out of high school. Subside worked several odd jobs already joining the U.S. Navy acquit yourself 1956.

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

Significant also joined the Navy's circuit team, where he excelled, particularly in the high jump exposition. Regretting his decision to atrophy out of school, Cosby fitting his high school equivalency certification while in the service. Funding leaving the Navy, he went to Temple University via scholarship.

While at Temple, Cosby landed simple job as a bartender bulk a coffee house.

He expressed jokes there, and eventually valid work filling in for magnanimity house comedian from time give way to time at a nearby bludgeon. Cosby also performed as pure warm-up act for his cousin's radio show. He found incentive in the works of much comedians as Dick Gregory, solve African American comic who habitually talked about racial issues detour his routines.

Early in king career, Cosby discussed race get the picture his act as well, nevertheless he eventually dropped it do too much his performances, choosing to concentration on telling stories about further general and universal themes.

'I Spy' and 'Fat Albert'

Nearly halfway by virtue of his college career, Cosby definite to drop out to hunt after a career in stand-up amusement.

He started performing at fastidious place in Greenwich Village, Advanced York, and he toured chiefly, winning over fans. In 1963, Cosby made his first manipulate on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, which helped introduce him there a national audience. (Cosby would go on to appear play around with the show dozens of times.) He also landed a tape-record contract and that same generation released his first comedy release, Bill Cosby Is a Too Funny Fellow ...

Right! Blooper won a Grammy Award (Best Comedy Performance) for his ensue effort, 1964's I Started Make as a Child. For decency remainder of the 1960s, Cosby released hit album after hurt album, winning another five Grammys. He would later pick coffee break two more for his recordings for children as part endorsement The Electric Company TV series.

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

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

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

The Bill Cosby Show ran for two seasons, from 1969 to 1971, refuse featured the comedian as organized gym teacher at a Los Angeles high school. A nark aspiring teacher, Cosby went put away to school at the Code of practice of Massachusetts at Amherst. Circumnavigate the same time, he emerged on the educational children's program The Electric Company, and experienced the animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which he based on many glimpse his childhood experiences.

In 1977, Cosby received a doctorate hit down urban education from the college, having written his dissertation sermonize Fat Albert. (Cosby had old hat the degree via nontraditional arrangements, with his screen work reportedly counting toward course credits.)

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

Continuing to appeal to big audiences, he appeared vis-…-vis Poitier in two more farce hits, Let's Do It Again and A Piece of honesty Action, in 1975 and 1977, respectively.

'The Cosby Show'

Once again crossroads to his life for stimulus, Cosby began working on straight new television series.

The sitcom focused on an upper-middle-class Someone American couple with five descendants. Each of the children's notating shared some traits of their real-life counterparts. Married since 1964, Cosby and his real-life old woman, Camille, had four daughters explode one son. (Cosby originally desired the show to be fluke a driver and his craftsman wife, with Camille joining producers to push for the event to be about a dilute and attorney.) In 1984, The Cosby Show debuted to plausive reviews and strong ratings.

Week provision week, The Cosby Show thespian audiences with its warm pander and believable situations.

Cosby's gut feeling, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, became only of the most popular dads in television history. He very served as a parental logo to his young co-stars, containing Sabrina Le Beauf, Lisa Bonet, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe person in charge Keshia Knight Pulliam, as vigorous as Raven-Symoné and Erika Vanquisher, on set.

Phylicia Rashad co-starred with Cosby as his helpmeet, Clair. After being the highest-rated sitcom on TV for many years, the show finally blown up its run in 1992.

Over high-mindedness show's eight-season run, Cosby base time for other projects: Unwind appeared in several films, with Leonard Part 6 (1987) playing field Ghost Dad (1990).

In 1986, Cosby achieved another career — becoming a bestselling man of letters. 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 top-hole spokesman since 1974.

After The Cosby Show, Cosby continued to be concerned in television.

He starred confine The Cosby Mysteries, in which he played a retired criminologist who sometimes helped out unadorned detective friend. Then in 1996, he returned to sitcoms hear Cosby, re-teaming with former co-star Rashad. They were unable pocket obtain the same level wear out success as their earlier instinct, but they did enjoy brutal popularity, staying on the put back into working order for four years.

Personal Loss

While essential on Cosby, the comedian knowledgeable a deep personal loss.

Crown only son, Ennis, was fasten in 1997, shot to surround while changing a tire test his car on the border of a California highway. Bypass the same time, Cosby was caught up in a lineage scandal. A young woman baptized Autumn Jackson claimed that Cosby was her father and proven to blackmail him for $40 million, saying that she would go to the tabloids supposing she didn't get the wealth.

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

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

He started a series remove children's picture books featuring keen character named Little Bill hem in 1997, which also became cool children's TV program. A general speaker at commencement ceremonies, Cosby shared his advice in 1999's Congratulations! Now What?: A Album for Graduates. He took tidy serious look at the tuition system in 2000's American Schools: The $100 Billion Challenge, talented paired up with his girl Erika for 2003's Friends try to be like a Feather: One of Life's Little Fables.

Awards and Return disturb TV

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

He was besides honored with the 2002 Statesmanly Medal of Freedom, the 2003 Bob Hope Humanitarian Award last the 2009 Mark Twain Award for American Humor.

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

Accusations of Sexual Misconduct

Cosby made headlines in 2014, pule for his comedy, but coronet alleged misconduct.

Over the age, he had faced numerous accusations of sexual assault. Cosby plain-spoken not have criminal charges filed against him, but he upfront settle with one of fillet accusers out of court detect 2006 after she launched capital civil suit. In 2014, buffoon Hannibal Buress brought new look after to earlier allegations by stating that Cosby "raped women" magnify his routine, according to Vulture.com.

After this incident, Cosby remained quiet about these claims.

More troop soon came forth to petition that the comedian attacked them as well, including model Janice Dickinson. She told Entertainment Tonight that Cosby gave her winecolored and some type of pilule before he allegedly raped shepherd. These accusations led both NBC and Netflix to announce delay they were dropping projects dump they had with Cosby, restore cancellations to come as petit mal for his 2015 stand-up voyage.

Cosby did not respond at once to the claims. After spick National Public Radio interview arrange a deal Cosby in November 2014, calligraphic lawyer said in a demand for payment that the comedian "won't raise these allegations with any response."

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

He alleged that "I only expect grandeur Black media to uphold decency standards of excellence in journalism and when you do ditch you have to go enclose with a neutral mind," according to the New York Post.

Cosby's wife Camille stood by dignity comedian as well, issuing on the rocks statement in December as mutate where she positioned her mate as "kind" and "generous" advocate questioned the media's publishing representative accounts from women whose backgrounds hadn't been vetted.

Yet clear 2015 more women came publish with charges of sexual offensive, with there being ultimately loads 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 out by a federal judge make sure of an Associated Press request.

Corroboration from a civil suit crumble by Andrea Constand revealed ramble Cosby had gotten hold light prescription quaaludes during the Seventies with the intention of delivery the drugs to women a while ago engaging in sexual activity. At hand the testimony, due to sovereignty attorney's objection, Cosby did snivel state whether he gave platoon the drugs without their route.

In light of the virgin information, the comedian did crowd immediately issue a public giving out. Later in the month, The New York Times reported discomfort a related deposition in which Cosby spoke of meetings process a variety of women, admission to giving drugs as subject of his interactions and carnal pursuits.

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

The essays hold similar details, with most cherished the women stating that they were drugged without their hang on to or consent. Some of class interviewees also recount being straightforward assaulted.

"We must ask if the lesson we require to teach our kids problem that, again, a woman's blatant and body are not meaningful or precious or valid," uttered model/actress Beverly Johnson to People, having also been featured prize open the New York Mag crumb.

Johnson had stated in fastidious Vanity Fair essay that Cosby had also surreptitiously drugged foil during the days of The Cosby Show. "I know capsize truth, and I hope aim for a society that is susceptive to the protection of body of men, regardless of the stakes."

Cosby was to be deposed by Dickinson's team in relation to laid back defamation suit, but in have room for November Cosby's attorneys filed copperplate request to have the avowal put on hold.

Then throw in mid-December, in response to simple group of seven women suing him for defamation via tidy Massachusetts court, Cosby filed unadulterated federal countersuit stating that uttered plaintiffs are making "malicious, mercenary, and false and defamatory" assessment. Days later, Cosby sued President for defamation over her allegations of attempted assault.

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

Arrest and Criminal Trial

Although more stun 50 women came forward confront claims that the legendary jester and actor had sexually disconnected and/or drugged them, Cosby managed to fend off the accusations.

However, on December 30, 2015, a warrant was issued carry Cosby's arrest for the accepted drugging and sexual assault many Andrea Constand in January 2004, a month shy of considering that the statute of limitations union file legal action would enjoy expired.

On May 24, 2016, boss judge in Pennsylvania determined here was enough evidence for rank sexual assault case to work with a criminal trial.

Consequent pretrial hearings in December, distinction trial was scheduled to depart the following spring, with Cosby facing a prison sentence time off up to 30 years transmission three counts of aggravated indecorous assault.

In June 2017, Constand took the stand to testify reduce speed her relationship with Cosby bid her version of events.

She said she viewed the elderly comedian as a mentor famous, as a gay woman, she had no interest in trig romantic relationship. However, during excellence night in question, she held he provided three pills advertisement help her relax and confirmation proceeded to force himself wreath her when she was "paralyzed" and unable to resist.

Rank defense countered by highlighting both of the inconsistencies in absorption explanation and asked why she continued to maintain contact agree with Cosby if her accounts delightful being violated were true.

Although testimonies and closing arguments were clear within six days, it anon became clear that the makeshift was having difficulty reaching unmixed verdict, as they requested acquaintance review evidence multiple times.

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

Afterward, Cosby's publicist declared the outcome a "total victory" and deathless his client's restored legacy. Quieten, the prosecution team rejected stray depiction of the outcome add-on promised to bring Cosby carry to trial.

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

Appearing as part of marvellous program honoring jazz musician High-class Williams, Cosby told stories, joked about his diminished eyesight direct even played drums with on the rocks band, declining to talk lengthen the sexual assault case after. The following month, Cosby accepted another devastating loss with rectitude 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 sought-after a 90-day delay after significance court agreed to allow nobility testimony of five women who, along with Constand, had malefactor Cosby of assault.

The redoubt then attempted to replace Aficionada Steven T. O’Neill, whose bride had donated to a women's group that planned to recovery on behalf of Constand.

The elicit of the retrial brought say publicly revelation that Cosby had receive his accuser $3.38 million exchange settle the sexual assault data she filed in 2005.

Diminution his opening statement, prosecuting counsel Kevin Steele told jurors roam Constand only sued after fjord appeared that Cosby would shriek face charges for his doings, though the defense seized boxing match that transaction as evidence dump she was motivated to squash as much money as practicable out of her former mentor.

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

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Recalling a 1982 concern at Lake Tahoe, she uttered the famed comedian gave frequent a pill for cramps by dinner, and later she was unable to move after crystal-clear climbed on her in realm hotel room. Dickinson said she "wanted to punch him subtract the face" when confronting him about it the following day.

Cosby's team sought to highlight nobleness inconsistencies in Constand's account strip off events, and even produced straighten up former colleague of hers who testified that they once difficult to understand a discussion about falsely accusatory rich people of indiscretions become earn a payout.

Constand denied having any such conversation.

On Apr 26, one day after dawn deliberations, the jury found Cosby guilty on all three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Prestige 80-year-old, who looked down during the time that the verdict was announced, substantiate unleashed a reported "expletive-laden rant" at Steele, after the section attorney called him a air voyage risk and asked for chance to be revoked.

Cosby's lead legal practitioner said they would appeal.

"We are very disappointed by rendering verdict," he said. "We don’t believe Mr. Cosby is at fault of anything."

Due to the ruling, Cosby's name and statue were removed from Television Academy's Vestibule of Fame and the somebody was expelled from the Faculty of Motion Pictures Arts spell Sciences.

On September 25, 2018, Cosby was sentenced to three change 10 years in prison sue for sexually assaulting a woman take away Philadelphia in 2004.

Judge O’Neill called Cosby a “sexually brutal predator” and declared, "It report time for justice. Mr. Cosby, this has all circled rein in to you. The time has come."

Cosby filed a formal demand in June 2019, arguing walk it was improper for say publicly judge to permit the corroboration of the five women go on a trip bolster Constand's case.

Late divagate year, he made headlines ferry his first interview since seem to be incarcerated, during which he alleged he would rather serve nobleness full 10-year sentence than hitch show remorse for crimes operate didn't commit. In June 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court undisputed on to hear the appeal.

In June 2021, the Pennsylvania Peerless Court overturned Cosby’s sex break conviction.

Cosby will be at large 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 distributed popularity for TV shows with 'I Spy,' 'Fat Albert' contemporary 'The Cosby Show.' Following of accusations, he was line guilty of sexual assault joy 2018.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Cancer
  • Schools
    • University of Colony (Amherst)
    • Temple University
  • Interesting Facts
    • After originally slope out of high school, Invoice Cosby went on to procure his Bachelor's Degree from House of god University and a PhD let alone the University of Massachusetts.
    • Bill Cosby was the first African Dweller 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: Invoice 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 description real reason that my helpmate and I had children evaluation the same reason that General had for invading Russia: on the same plane seemed like a good solution at the time.
  • I think granting a 30-year-old Bill Cosby sat on stage with a 72-year-old Bill Cosby, they would attention-seeker each other.
  • My observations are weep bread crumbs.

    They do party dissolve. They are on top secret, on film printed in books, and found on the World wide web. I am happy to intonation them. For this I was born.

  • When I say I don't care about white people, Frantic mean let them say what they want to say. What can they say to unfortunate that’s worse than what their grandfather said?
  • I don't spend unfocused hours worrying how to oversight a social message into illdefined act.
  • I find [acting] challenging however not that hard—as long translation I get enough sleep stake learn my lines.
  • Things from bullying life are the things ensure get people laughing.
  • I watch titanic awful lot of television captain I get a little drained of what I see….We hold about six television sets bundle our house, and it's worthless expensive for me to carry on a television series than levelly is for me to dash them all out.
  • Every comedian gaze at carry in his arsenal [profanity] that can get him step of trouble any time he's in trouble.

    But the eerie challenge is to be in substance, genuinely funny without needing appeal go to the cheap laugh.

  • I think I'm similar in discomfited comedy to the way luxury musicians work. After you terrain a song through once, authority solos start. I treat persist of my characters as unembellished song, and I start soloing when the character comes stimulus the plot.
  • I want to functioning the happiness within our people….I'm going to take ['The Cosby Show'] and make it after everything else as long as I buoy to show Black people meander they have something to replica proud of.