Comedian, writer, television producer. Born William Henry Cosby on July 12, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rather than repeat the tenth grade, he left school and joined the navy. While attending Temple University on an athletic scholarship, he appeared at New York's Gaslight Cafe (1962), where his comic routines were so successful that he left college to pursue a career in entertainment.
In 1965, Cosby became the first African American actor to star in a weekly television dramatic series, I Spy (1965–8), winning two Emmys as an undercover Central Intelligence Agency agent. Later series were The Bill Cosby Show (1969–71), The New Bill Cosby Show (1972–3), and Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–84). His interest in children and education led him to earn MA and EdD degrees at the University of Massachusetts and to incorporate many of his ideas and ideals in his work.
As obstetrician Cliff Huxtable in The Cosby Show (1984–1992), he projected a new image of middle-class African-American families, and the programme was one of the most popular and lucrative in television history. His gentle, wry clowning appealed to both children and adults, leading to a series of successful TV commercials, comedy records, and books, and making him one of the wealthiest people in the history of the American entertainment industry. Only his films failed to be money-makers.
In later years, Cosby has become a generous contributor to various causes and institutions, particularly Atlanta's Spelman College, and is often seen at track-and-field meets for amateur athletes, to which he also contributes. In 2003 he was honoured with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
Cosby married his wife Camille in 1964, and the couple had five children, Erika Ranee, Erinn Chalene, Ensa Camille, Evin Harrah and Ennis William. Tragically, Ennis was shot to death while changing a flat tire on the side of a Los Angeles freeway in 1997.Related Works
Films
1971 Hickey and Boggs
1974 Uptown Saturday Night
1975 Let's Do It Again
1977 A Piece of the Action
1978 California Suite
1981 The Devil and Max Devlin
1987 Leonard: Part VI
1990 Ghost Dad
1993 Meteor Man
1996 Jack
Television
1965–8 I Spy
1969 The Bill Cosby Special
1969–71 The Bill Cosby Show
1972–3 The New Bill Cosby Show
1972–84 Fat Albert and the Cosby
1984–92 The Cosby Show
1996 Cosby
In 1965, Cosby became the first African American actor to star in a weekly television dramatic series, I Spy (1965–8), winning two Emmys as an undercover Central Intelligence Agency agent. Later series were The Bill Cosby Show (1969–71), The New Bill Cosby Show (1972–3), and Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–84). His interest in children and education led him to earn MA and EdD degrees at the University of Massachusetts and to incorporate many of his ideas and ideals in his work.
As obstetrician Cliff Huxtable in The Cosby Show (1984–1992), he projected a new image of middle-class African-American families, and the programme was one of the most popular and lucrative in television history. His gentle, wry clowning appealed to both children and adults, leading to a series of successful TV commercials, comedy records, and books, and making him one of the wealthiest people in the history of the American entertainment industry. Only his films failed to be money-makers.
In later years, Cosby has become a generous contributor to various causes and institutions, particularly Atlanta's Spelman College, and is often seen at track-and-field meets for amateur athletes, to which he also contributes. In 2003 he was honoured with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
Cosby married his wife Camille in 1964, and the couple had five children, Erika Ranee, Erinn Chalene, Ensa Camille, Evin Harrah and Ennis William. Tragically, Ennis was shot to death while changing a flat tire on the side of a Los Angeles freeway in 1997.Related Works
Films
1971 Hickey and Boggs
1974 Uptown Saturday Night
1975 Let's Do It Again
1977 A Piece of the Action
1978 California Suite
1981 The Devil and Max Devlin
1987 Leonard: Part VI
1990 Ghost Dad
1993 Meteor Man
1996 Jack
Television
1965–8 I Spy
1969 The Bill Cosby Special
1969–71 The Bill Cosby Show
1972–3 The New Bill Cosby Show
1972–84 Fat Albert and the Cosby
1984–92 The Cosby Show
1996 Cosby
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