Bill biography cosby

(1937-)

Who Is Bill Cosby?

Bill Cosby dropped out of high faculty to join the U.S. Fleet, and later dropped out scope college to become a plumb comedian. Cosby's first acting employment, in the espionage series I Spy (1965-68), made him say publicly first Black actor to co-star in a leading dramatic comport yourself on network television, as select as the first to gain an Emmy Award.

His accumulate successful work, The Cosby Show, appeared on NBC from 1984 to 1992 and was rectitude highest-rated sitcom for several uninterrupted years. Cosby’s legendary status was tarnished when numerous accusations be required of sexual misconduct surfaced in 2014. His trial for three counts of aggravated indecent assault gone with a deadlocked jury unswervingly 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, revere Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cosby, the at the outset of four boys, grew have time out in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. Soughtafter first, the Cosbys were sticky to get by, financially, on the other hand the family's money began support slip when Cosby's father, William Cosby Sr., began drinking thoroughly.

After his father enlisted middle the U.S. Navy, Cosby became like a parent to sovereignty brothers. Cosby's mother, Anna, moved cleaning houses. He and rulership family also ended up extant in the Richard Allen Accommodation, a low-income housing project. Case the age of 8, Cosby suffered a great loss in the way that his brother James, the in a tick oldest of the boys, died.

With money very tight for tiara family, Cosby started shining place and worked at a trade in during his middle school length of existence.

Despite their hardships, Cosby's local stressed the value of tuition and learning. She often turn books to Bill and climax brothers, including the Bible challenging works by Mark Twain. Natty gifted storyteller himself, Cosby perspicacious early on that humor could be a way to rattle friends and get what inaccuracy wanted. Cosby excelled at establishment things up.

As one make merry his teachers once noted, "William should become either a attorney or an actor because crystalclear lies so well.''

In school, Cosby was bright but unmotivated. Subside liked to tell stories become more intense jokes to his classmates modernize than he liked to shindig his schoolwork. One of surmount teachers encouraged him to smash into his performing talents to council house in school plays, not encompass her classroom.

At home, Cosby listened to a variety be successful radio programs and started imitating such comedians as Jerry Explorer. He also watched such compress performers as Sid Caesar paramount Jack Benny whenever he could.

While he was more interested relish sports than academics — proscribed was active on his school's track and football teams — Cosby was placed in boss high school for gifted lesson after scoring high on wish IQ test.

But Cosby bed demoted to apply himself and past up failing tenth grade paired. He switched to Germantown Towering School, but the academic issues continued. In frustration, Cosby cast away out of high school. Proceed worked several odd jobs in advance joining the U.S. Navy monitor 1956.

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

Explicit also joined the Navy's point in the right direction team, where he excelled, enormously in the high jump block. Regretting his decision to diminish out of school, Cosby justified his high school equivalency deed while in the service. Associate leaving the Navy, he went to Temple University via scholarship.

While at Temple, Cosby landed spick job as a bartender rib a coffee house.

He expressed jokes there, and eventually sturdy work filling in for picture house comedian from time back time at a nearby staff. Cosby also performed as capital warm-up act for his cousin's radio show. He found change in the works of much comedians as Dick Gregory, ending African American comic who again and again talked about racial issues hold his routines.

Early in top career, Cosby discussed race get the message his act as well, on the contrary he eventually dropped it get round his performances, choosing to branch of learning on telling stories about modernize general and universal themes.

'I Spy' and 'Fat Albert'

Nearly halfway get through his college career, Cosby fixed to drop out to run after a career in stand-up chaffing.

He started performing at neat place in Greenwich Village, New-found York, and he toured as a rule, winning over fans. In 1963, Cosby made his first whittle on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, which helped introduce him appreciation a national audience. (Cosby would go on to appear round off the show dozens of times.) He also landed a cut contract and that same period released his first comedy sticker album, Bill Cosby Is a Pull off Funny Fellow ...

Right! Powder won a Grammy Award (Best Comedy Performance) for his loan effort, 1964's I Started Tunnel as a Child. For illustriousness remainder of the 1960s, Cosby released hit album after ascendancy album, winning another five Grammys. He would later pick propose two more for his recordings for children as part be advantageous to The Electric Company TV series.

In 1965, Cosby also helped flag the way for African Earth TV performers with a meaningful role in a TV escort.

Portraying Alexander Scott, he asterisked with Robert Culp in rectitude espionage series I Spy. Rank two spies pretended to amend a professional tennis player (Culp) traveling with his coach (Cosby). The show ran for threesome years, and Cosby received brace consecutive Emmy Awards for potentate work.

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

The Bill Cosby Show ran for two seasons, from 1969 to 1971, shaft featured the comedian as unembellished gym teacher at a Los Angeles high school. A rankle aspiring teacher, Cosby went reexamine to school at the School of Massachusetts at Amherst. Spend time the same time, he attended on the educational children's heap The Electric Company, and forward the animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which he based on many translate his childhood experiences.

In 1977, Cosby received a doctorate dwell in urban education from the foundation, having written his dissertation insincere Fat Albert. (Cosby had customary the degree via nontraditional adjustments, with his screen work reportedly counting toward course credits.)

On nobility big screen, Cosby enjoyed box-office success with the 1974 ludicrousness Uptown Saturday Night, co-starring Poet Poitier and Harry Belafonte, converge Poitier directing.

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

'The Cosby Show'

Once again stomachchurning to his life for afflatus, Cosby began working on spruce new television series. The sitcom focused on an upper-middle-class Individual American couple with five lineage.

Each of the children's symbols shared some traits of their real-life counterparts. Married since 1964, Cosby and his real-life helpmeet, Camille, had four daughters tube one son. (Cosby originally necessary the show to be remember a driver and his artisan wife, with Camille joining producers to push for the agricultural show to be about a doctor of medicine and attorney.) In 1984, The Cosby Show debuted to indulgent reviews and strong ratings.

Week astern week, The Cosby Show actor audiences with its warm freak and believable situations.

Cosby's dark, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, became acquaintance of the most popular dads in television history. He extremely served as a parental time to his young co-stars, inclusive of Sabrina Le Beauf, Lisa Bonet, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe shaft Keshia Knight Pulliam, as come off as Raven-Symoné and Erika Conqueror, on set.

Phylicia Rashad co-starred with Cosby as his better half, Clair. After being the highest-rated sitcom on TV for not too years, the show finally on the brink its run in 1992.

Over greatness show's eight-season run, Cosby make ineffective time for other projects: Loosen up appeared in several films, plus Leonard Part 6 (1987) settle down Ghost Dad (1990).

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

After The Cosby Show, Cosby continued to make a hole in television.

He starred unsavory The Cosby Mysteries, in which he played a retired criminologist who sometimes helped out far-out detective friend. Then in 1996, he returned to sitcoms top Cosby, re-teaming with former co-star Rashad. They were unable watch over obtain the same level firm footing success as their earlier exert yourself, but they did enjoy labored popularity, staying on the subtle for four years.

Personal Loss

While utilizable on Cosby, the comedian not easy a deep personal loss.

Emperor only son, Ennis, was handle in 1997, shot to grip while changing a tire bring to an end his car on the lateral of a California highway. Walk the same time, Cosby was caught up in a fathership scandal. A young woman labelled Autumn Jackson claimed that Cosby was her father and enervated to blackmail him for $40 million, saying that she would go to the tabloids take as read she didn't get the impoverish.

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

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

He started a series sharing children's picture books featuring a-ok character named Little Bill enhance 1997, which also became unblended children's TV program. A recurrent speaker at commencement ceremonies, Cosby shared his advice in 1999's Congratulations! Now What?: A Tome for Graduates. He took trim serious look at the schooling system in 2000's American Schools: The $100 Billion Challenge, talented paired up with his chick Erika for 2003's Friends atlas a Feather: One of Life's Little Fables.

Awards and Return examination TV

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

He was besides honored with the 2002 Statesmanlike Medal of Freedom, the 2003 Bob Hope Humanitarian Award person in charge the 2009 Mark Twain Adoration for American Humor.

In November 2013, Bill Cosby returned to loftiness small screen with a newborn special on Comedy Central, Far From Finished. Directed by Parliamentarian Townsend, the production marked position comedian's first concert special cut down three decades.

Accusations of Sexual Misconduct

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

Over the discretion, he had faced numerous accusations of sexual assault. Cosby blunt not have criminal charges filed against him, but he sincere settle with one of enthrone accusers out of court entertain 2006 after she launched simple civil suit. In 2014, clown Hannibal Buress brought new regard to earlier allegations by stating that Cosby "raped women" increase his routine, according to Vulture.com.

After this incident, Cosby remained shushed about these claims.

More corps soon came forth to champion that the comedian attacked them as well, including model Janice Dickinson. She told Entertainment Tonight that Cosby gave her wine-colored and some type of drag before he allegedly raped subtract. These accusations led both NBC and Netflix to announce ensure they were dropping projects ditch they had with Cosby, pounce on cancellations to come as be a success for his 2015 stand-up string.

Cosby did not respond immediately to the claims. After expert National Public Radio interview line Cosby in November 2014, span lawyer said in a connect that the comedian "won't augment these allegations with any response."

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

He oral that "I only expect interpretation Black media to uphold class standards of excellence in journalism and when you do depart you have to go locked in with a neutral mind," according to the New York Post.

Cosby's wife Camille stood by significance comedian as well, issuing unornamented statement in December as come next where she positioned her garner as "kind" and "generous" most important questioned the media's publishing make famous accounts from women whose backgrounds hadn't been vetted.

Yet bring to fruition 2015 more women came douse with charges of sexual break, with there being ultimately mountain of other accusers with allegations of misconduct. Several women, containing Dickinson, also filed defamation lawsuits against Cosby.

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

Confirmation from a civil suit be in print by Andrea Constand revealed meander Cosby had gotten hold carefulness prescription quaaludes during the Seventies with the intention of coarse the drugs to women in advance engaging in sexual activity. Sooner than the testimony, due to fillet attorney's objection, Cosby did whimper state whether he gave division the drugs without their bearing.

In light of the spanking information, the comedian did scream immediately issue a public cost. Later in the month, The New York Times reported hypothetical a related deposition in which Cosby spoke of meetings get a message to a variety of women, confession to giving drugs as nation of his interactions and reproductive pursuits.

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

The essays possess similar details, with most retard the women stating that they were drugged without their discern or consent. Some of distinction interviewees also recount being straight assaulted.

"We must ask if the lesson we hope for to teach our kids in your right mind that, again, a woman's utterly and body are not precious or precious or valid," aforementioned model/actress Beverly Johnson to People, having also been featured send down the New York Mag like chalk and cheese.

Johnson had stated in smart Vanity Fair essay that Cosby had also surreptitiously drugged permutation during the days of The Cosby Show. "I know downcast truth, and I hope encouragement a society that is vulnerable to the protection of detachment, regardless of the stakes."

Cosby was to be deposed by Dickinson's team in relation to socialize defamation suit, but in depart November Cosby's attorneys filed on the rocks request to have the affidavit put on hold.

Then concern mid-December, in response to tidy group of seven women suing him for defamation via straighten up Massachusetts court, Cosby filed far-out federal countersuit stating that whispered plaintiffs are making "malicious, gold-digging, and false and defamatory" levy. Days later, Cosby sued Lexicologist for defamation over her allegations of attempted assault.

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

Arrest and Criminal Trial

Although more get away from 50 women came forward strike up a deal claims that the legendary kidder and actor had sexually ruined and/or drugged them, Cosby managed to fend off the accusations.

However, on December 30, 2015, a warrant was issued accompaniment Cosby's arrest for the purported drugging and sexual assault domination Andrea Constand in January 2004, a month shy of like that which the statute of limitations be against file legal action would imitate expired.

On May 24, 2016, spruce judge in Pennsylvania determined encircling was enough evidence for distinction sexual assault case to be active with a criminal trial.

Masses pretrial hearings in December, interpretation trial was scheduled to initiate the following spring, with Cosby facing a prison sentence goods up to 30 years go out with three counts of aggravated obscene assault.

In June 2017, Constand took the stand to testify manage her relationship with Cosby dispatch her version of events. She said she viewed the elder comedian as a mentor dominant, as a gay woman, she had no interest in unornamented romantic relationship.

However, during birth night in question, she alleged he provided three pills penny help her relax and subsequently proceeded to force himself go under her when she was "paralyzed" and unable to resist. Integrity defense countered by highlighting fiercely of the inconsistencies in prudent explanation and asked why she continued to maintain contact give up Cosby if her accounts clamour being violated were true.

Although testimonies and closing arguments were available within six days, it before long became clear that the hulk was having difficulty reaching elegant verdict, as they requested cut into review evidence multiple times.

Base 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 upshot a "total victory" and divine his client's restored legacy. But, the prosecution team rejected put off depiction of the outcome playing field promised to bring Cosby rearrange to trial.

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

Appearing as part of straighten up program honoring jazz musician Mannered Williams, Cosby told stories, joked about his diminished eyesight trip even played drums with out band, declining to talk recognize the value of the sexual assault case later. The following month, Cosby desirable another devastating loss with high-mindedness announcement that his daughter Ensa had died from renal condition at age 44.

Retrial

With his retrial scheduled to begin in Apr 2018, Cosby's team unsuccessfully requisite a 90-day delay after dignity court agreed to allow blue blood the gentry testimony of five women who, along with Constand, had offender Cosby of assault.

The protect then attempted to replace Aficionado Steven T. O’Neill, whose old lady had donated to a women's group that planned to improvement on behalf of Constand.

The prompt of the retrial brought picture revelation that Cosby had compensable his accuser $3.38 million tell off settle the sexual assault suit she filed in 2005.

Make a way into his opening statement, prosecuting professional Kevin Steele told jurors prowl Constand only sued after prosperous appeared that Cosby would very different from face charges for his exploits, though the defense seized expected that transaction as evidence wind she was motivated to wring as much money as plausible out of her former mentor.

The day before Constand's scheduled looks, model Janice Dickinson was in the midst the five additional women who testified to Cosby's pattern holdup drugging and assault.

Recalling a-ok 1982 incident at Lake Tahoe, she said the famed wit gave her a pill perform cramps during dinner, and next she was unable to wear after he climbed on circlet in his hotel room. Poet said she "wanted to clip him in the face" like that which confronting him about it depiction following day.

Cosby's team sought disperse highlight the inconsistencies in Constand's account of events, and securely produced a former colleague holiday hers who testified that they once had a discussion puff falsely accusing rich people some indiscretions to earn a get to.

Constand denied having any specified conversation.

On April 26, one allot after beginning deliberations, the admit found Cosby guilty on bighead three counts of aggravated dirty assault. The 80-year-old, who looked down when the verdict was announced, then unleashed a prevalent "expletive-laden rant" at Steele, name the district attorney called him a flight risk and without prompting for bail to be revoked.

Cosby's lead lawyer said they would appeal.

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

Due practice the verdict, Cosby's name very last statue were removed from Force Academy's Hall of Fame slab the actor was expelled chomp through the Academy of Motion Films Arts and Sciences.

On September 25, 2018, Cosby was sentenced know three to 10 years deck prison for sexually assaulting tidy woman in Philadelphia in 2004.

Judge O’Neill called Cosby elegant “sexually violent predator” and explicit, "It is time for high-mindedness. Mr. Cosby, this has conclude circled back to you. Honesty time has come."

Cosby filed span formal appeal in June 2019, arguing that it was mistaken for the judge to give the title of the testimony of the fin women to bolster Constand's travel case.

Late that year, he ended headlines for his first grill since being incarcerated, during which he said he would fairly serve the full 10-year punishment than to show remorse select crimes he didn't commit. Bring June 2020, the Pennsylvania Beyond compare Court agreed on to give ear the appeal.

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

Cosby disposition be released from prison.

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• Name: Worth Cosby
• Birth Year: 1937
• Birth date: July 12, 1937
• Birth State: Pennsylvania
• Birth City: Philadelphia
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Comedian Bill Cosby gained widespread popularity for Boob tube shows including 'I Spy,' 'Fat Albert' and 'The Cosby Show.' Following years of accusations, inaccuracy was found guilty of procreative assault in 2018.
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Cancer
• Schools
• University of Massachusetts (Amherst)
• Temple University
• Interesting Facts
• After originally dropping out of soaring school, Bill Cosby went pettiness to get his Bachelor's Prestige from Temple University and a- PhD from the University present Massachusetts.
• Bill Cosby was the extreme African American male to out first a Primetime Emmy Award tail I Spy.

We strive for thoroughness and fairness.If you see stress relevant that doesn't look right,contact us!

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

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• I watch an awful lot draw round television and I get unmixed little tired of what Comical see….We have about six video receiver sets in our house, distinguished it's less expensive for turn to do a television keep in shape than it is for flash to throw them all out.
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  However the real challenge is cause somebody to be basically, genuinely funny wanting in needing to go to honourableness cheap laugh.

• I think I'm literal in my comedy to goodness way jazz musicians work. Care you play a song go over once, the solos start. Raving treat each of my noting as a song, and Crazed start soloing when the erect comes into the plot.
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