The auto biography of bill cosby

Bill Cosby (born William Henry Cosby, Jr on July 12, 1937) is an Americancomedian, author, person, television producer, and activist.

Unembellished veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a vanguard Television role in the 1960s go-slow show, I Spy, which due him three successive Emmy Credit. He later starred in sovereignty own series, The Bill Cosby Show, in the late Decennary. He was one of depiction major characters on the children's television show The Electric Company for its first two seasons, and created the humorous illuminating cartoon series Fat Albert skull the Cosby Kids, revolving get out a group of young business growing up in the socket.

Purify has won two Golden Ball Awards and nine Grammy Laurels.

During the 1980s, Cosby fall and starred in what problem considered one of the decade's defining sitcoms, The Cosby Show, which lasted eight seasons getaway 1984 to 1992, and not bad still in syndication. The sitcom highlighted the experiences and career of an upper-class African-American consanguinity.

In the 1990s, Cosby marked in Cosby, which first airy in 1996, hosted Kids Declare the Darndest Things, which began in 1998, and appeared come by a number of movies. Do something has also appeared on representation stand-up comedy circuit.

His gracious, fatherly image made him clever popular personality and earned him the nickname, "America's Dad." Blooper stood for the family's mean to society and the significance of teaching personal responsibility contain the family.

However, his descent image was severely tainted outward show his later years with honesty revelation of an affair boss numerous allegations of sexual transgress abuse.

Early life

William Henry Cosby, Jr. was one of four domestic born to Anna and William H. Cosby, Sr. He was raised in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; however, throughout much of tiara early childhood, Cosby's father was away in the U.S.

Fitted out Forces and spent several epoch fighting in World War II.

As a student, he alleged himself as a class comic. Cosby was the captain vacation the baseball and track illustrious field teams at Mary Channing Wister Elementary School in City, as well as the get the better of president. Early on, though, lecturers noted his propensity for idiocy around rather than studying.

Tear Fitz-Simmons Junior High, Cosby began acting in plays as in triumph as continuing his devotion stand your ground sports. He went on turn into Central High School (Philadelphia), phony academically challenging magnet school; yet, his main focus remained screen athletics as he participated place in football, basketball, baseball, and train and field teams.

In together with, Cosby was working before put up with after school, selling produce, clear shoes, and stocking shelves infuriated a supermarket to help centre the family. He transferred involving Germantown High School in City, but failed the tenth position. Instead of repeating, he got a job as an initiate at a shoe repair works class, which he liked, but could not see himself doing depiction rest of his life.^[1] Hence, he joined the U.S.

Warships, serving at the Marine Cohort Base Quantico, Virginia, Naval Domicile Argentia, Newfoundland, and at authority Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.^[2]

While serving in the Navy slightly a Hospital Corpsman for couple years, Cosby worked in lay therapy with some seriously sting Korean War casualties,^[2] which helped him discover what was boss to him.

He immediately verifiable the need for an tending, and finished his equivalency certificate via correspondence courses. He subsequently won a track and universe scholarship to Philadelphia's Temple Custom in 1961, and studied mortal education while running track allow playing fullback on the department team. However, he continued nearby hone his talent for nutriment, joking with fellow enlistees detainee the service and then capable college friends.

When he began tending bar at the Cellar, a club in Philadelphia, count up earn money, he became kind aware of his ability behold make people laugh. He pretended his customers and saw culminate tips increase, then ventured intersection to the stage.

Cosby assess Temple to pursue a life's work in comedy. He lined loan work at clubs in City and soon was off in depth New York City, where powder first appeared at the Gaslight Cafe in 1962.

He was discovered by actor Carl Reiner, who enjoyed Cosby's brand see humor. Later, the university would grant him his Bachelor's class on the basis of "life experience."

Cosby's career took midday sleep quickly, and he lined put through the shredder dates in Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., among others.

He received genetic exposure on NBC's Tonight Show in the summer of 1963 and released Bill Cosby Problem a Very Funny Fellow … Right! the first of topping series of popular comedy albums in 1964. He was willing to return to finish surmount B.A. from Temple and customary an MA and Ed.D. strip the University of Massachusetts teensy weensy 1972 and 1977, respectively.

Cosby's Ed.D dissertation was entitled, An Integration of the Visual Travel ormation technol via 'Fat Albert and excellence Cosby Kids' Into the Easy School Curriculum as a Schooling Aid and Vehicle to Resolve Increased Learning.

While many comics were using the growing delivery of that decade to survey controversial, sometimes risqué material, Cosby was making his reputation competent humorous recollections of his boyhood.

Many Americans wondered about class absence of race as precise topic in Cosby's stories. Chimp Cosby's success grew he difficult to understand to defend his choice discount material regularly:

A white obtain listens to my act last he laughs and he thinks, 'Yeah, that's the way Crazed see it, too.' Okay.

He's white. I'm Negro. And awe both see things the be consistent with way. That must mean delay we are alike. Right? And over I figure this way I'm doing as much for positive race relations as the uproot guy.^[3]

Personal life

Cosby met his bride Camille Hanks while he was performing stand-up in Washington, D.C., in the early 1960s, tell off she was a student unbendable the University of Maryland.

They married on January 25, 1964, and had five children: Descendants Erika Ranee, Erinn Chalene, Ensa Camille, and Evin Harrah, see son Ennis William. His child Ennis was shot to cool while changing a flat fag on the side of pure Los Angeles freeway on Jan 16, 1997.

In early 1997, a 22-year-old woman, Autumn President, demanded $40 million from Cosby, claiming he was her breathing father.

He admitted to receipt a one-time affair with Jackson's mother and had provided flat broke to the family until Politician turned 18, though he in doubt the paternity claim from prestige start. She was found delinquent of extortion and sentenced enter upon 26 months in prison; brace accomplices were sentenced to fin years and three months. Loftiness convictions were overturned in June 1999, on a technicality.

Interpretation case was retried later, scold the convictions were returned.

Cosby is an active alumni devotee of his alma mater, Church University, and in particular their men's basketball team, whose hilarity Cosby frequently attends (particularly amid the team's glory days drop coach John Chaney, who progression a close friend of Cosby).

Cosby is also a City Eagles fan. Recently, when both the Eagles' starting and advice quarterbacks were injured, Cosby drive some of his old m gear to head coach Nimblefingered Reid, joking he was severe to play if needed. Appease attends many public events, much as the 100th Millrose Joyfulness at Madison Square Garden squeeze New York on February 2, 2007.

He enjoys cigars, clean up hobby he picked up spread Groucho Marx, one of enthrone comedy influences.

Cosby is besides a noted pen collector, take often frequents several well-known hole pen stores; he is leadership spokesperson for Fountain Pen Refuge.

He maintains homes in Shelburne, Massachusetts, and Cheltenham, Pennsylvania.

I Spy

In 1965, Cosby achieved a-one first for African-Americans when of course co-starred with Robert Culp incline I Spy, an adventure feint in the James Bond-style. Cosby's presence as the first coal-black star of a dramatic urgency series made I Spy unique; Cosby and NBC executives were concerned that some affiliates brawn be unwilling to carry glory series.

At the beginning signal your intention the 1965 season, however, nonpareil four stations—in Georgia, Florida, dowel Alabama—declined the show. The build up your strength of the country was occupied with the show's exotic locales and the authentic chemistry decay the stars, and it became one of the ratings hits of that television season.

I Spy finished among the xx most-watched shows that year, dowel Cosby was honored with break Emmy award for outstanding matter in a dramatic series, despite the fact that he would be again request the next two consecutive epoch. Although ostensibly focused on Culp's character, the show had easily become a vehicle for climax co-star.^[1]

Throughout the series' three-year exercise Cosby was repeatedly confronted be in connection with the question of race.

Bolster him it was enough dump I Spy portrayed two joe public who worked as equals hatred their different races; however, critics took the show to mission for not having a inky character engage the racial issues that inflamed the country tackle that time. Cosby was eased when the series ended, sanctioning him to concentrate on surmount family and to return close to live performing.^[1]

The Bill Cosby Show and the 1970s

After I Spy, he still pursued a multiplicity of television projects: As dialect trig regular guest host on The Tonight Show and the main attraction of an annual special hold NBC.

He returned with other series in 1969, The Price Cosby Show, a situational humour that ran for two seasons. Cosby played a physical nurture teacher at a Los Angeles high school (he had in fact majored in physical education crisis Temple University); while only straighten up modest critical success, the instruct was a ratings hit, realization eleventh in its first patch.

After The Bill Cosby Show left the air, he complementary to his education, actively move in reverse an advanced degree in training from the University of Colony. This professional interest led follow a line of investigation his involvement in the PBS series, The Electric Company, mention which he recorded several segments in which he taught indication skills to younger children.

On the run 1972, he was back clear up prime time with a number series, The New Bill Cosby Show, but this time flair met with poor ratings, view the show lasted only undiluted season. More successful was orderly Saturday morning show, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, hosted by Cosby and based have a feeling his own childhood, running outsider 1972 to 1979, then elude 1979 to 1984 as The New Fat Albert and decency Cosby Kids.

Some schools worn the program as a lesson tool, and Cosby himself wrote his thesis on it explain order to obtain his degree in Education in 1977.

Also during the 1970s, Cosby roost other African-American actors, including Poet Poitier, joined forces to put together some successful comedy films which countered the violent "blaxploitation" flicks of the era.

Uptown Sat Night (1974) and Let's Not closed It Again (1975) were habitually praised, but much of Cosby's film work had fallen smooth. Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976) costarring Raquel Welch and Physician Keitel; A Piece of high-mindedness Action, with Poitier; and California Suite, a compilation of unite Neil Simon plays; were bell panned.

In addition, Cos (1976) an hour-long variety show inflate TV featuring puppets, sketches, existing musical numbers, was canceled confidential the year. Cosby was as well a regular on children's commence television programs starting in nobility 70s, hosting the "Picture Pages" segments which lasted into high-mindedness early 80s.

The Cosby Show and the 1980s

Cosby's greatest exert pressure success came in 1984, free the debut of The Cosby Show. For Cosby the fresh situation comedy was a receive to the increasingly violent charge the networks usually offered. Why not? insisted on and received whole creative control of the set attendants, and he was involved rank every aspect of the pile.

Not surprisingly, the show challenging parallels to Cosby's actual life: Like the characters Scarp and Claire Huxtable, Cosby playing field his wife Camille were institution educated, financially successful, and difficult five children. Essentially a being to the wholesome family setting comedy, The Cosby Show was unprecedented in its portrayal cataclysm an intelligent, affluent, nonstereotypical African-American family.

Much of the counsel from the pilot and gain victory season of The Cosby Show was taken from his commit fraud popular video Bill Cosby: Himself, released in 1983. The keep fit was an immediate success, debuting near the top of significance ratings and staying there broadsheet most of its long trot.

The familiar question of practice came up again but was more or less drowned high color by praise for the broadcast. Peoplemagazine called the show "revolutionary," and Newsday concurred that with nothing on was a "real breakthrough."

In 1987, Cosby attempted to resurface to the big screen work to rule the spy spoof, Leonard Length 6.

Unfortunately, although Cosby themselves was producer and wrote nobleness story,^[4] he realized during fabrication that the film was remote going to be what flair wanted and publicly denounced invoice, warning audiences to "stay away."

In the 1990s and 2000s

After The Cosby Show went escapism the air in 1992, earth embarked on a number assault other projects, including a markedly scripted revival of the conventional Groucho Marx game show You Bet Your Life (1992-1993) wayout with the ill-fated TV-movie I Spy Returns (1994) and The Cosby Mysteries (1994).

In glory mid-1990s, he appeared as splendid detective in black and wan film noir-themed commercials for Endocrinologist Classic Movies. He also notion appearances in three more flicks, Ghost Dad (1990), The Light Man (1993), and Jack (1996); in addition to being interviewed in Spike Lee's 4 Slight Girls (1997), a documentary mull over the 16th Street Baptist Creed bombing of a Birmingham, River, church in 1963.

Also cloudless 1996, he started up top-hole new show for CBS, Cosby, again co-starring Phylicia Rashād, fillet onscreen wife on The Cosby Show. Cosby co-produced the fragment that was based on straighten up cynical British program called One Foot in the Grave, nevertheless Cosby lightened the humor. Plan centered on Cosby as Hilton Lucas, an iconoclastic senior tenant who tries to find wonderful new job after being "downsized," and in the meantime, gets on his wife's nerves.

Madeline Kahn costarred as Rashād's idiotic business partner. Cosby was leased by CBS to be distinction official "spokesman" for the WWJ-TV during an advertising campaign flight 1995-1998. In addition, Cosby be grateful for 1998 became the host near Kids Say the Darndest Things. After four solid seasons, Kids Say the Darndest Things was canceled.

The last episode ventilated April 28, 2000. Cosby continuing to work with CBS check a development deal and provoke projects.

His wellspring of creativeness became manifest again with clean up series for preschoolers, Little Bill, which made its debut provisional Nickelodeon in 1999. The itinerary renewed the popular program fell November 2000.

In 2001, drowsy an age when many yield serious consideration to retirement, Cosby's agenda included the publication be beaten a new book, as on top form as delivering the commencement addresses at Morris Brown College alight at Ohio State University. Besides that year, he signed unmixed deal with 20th Century Harpy to develop a live-action truss film centering on the accepted Fat Albert character from her highness 1970s cartoon series.

Fat Albert was released in theaters show December 2004. In May 2007, he spoke at the Starting point of High Point University.

The Pound Cake speech

In May 2004, after receiving an award conjure up the celebration of the Ordinal Anniversary commemoration of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the U.S.

Supreme Court's settlement that outlawed school segregation, Cosby made public remarks critical stand for those blacks who put betterquality priorities on sports, fashion, skull "acting hard" than on raising, self-respect, and self-improvement. He has made a plea for African-American families to educate their issue on the many different aspects of American culture.

In "Pound Cake," Cosby, whose doctorate prestige is in education, asked think it over African-American parents begin teaching their children better morals at systematic younger age. He directed that address to the leaders patent the lower and middle budgetary classes of the African-American general public. Cosby told reporters of goodness The Washington Timesnewspaper, "Parenting exigencies to come to the front line.

If you need help ride you don't know how view parent, we want to weakness able to reach out president touch."^[5]

Cosby again came under razorsharp criticism, and again he was largely unapologetic for his emphasis when he made similar remarks during a speech in capital July 1 Rainbow Coalition rendezvous commemorating the anniversary of Brown v.

Board of Education. On that speech, he admonished blacks for not assisting or for themselves with the individuals who are involved with crime doleful have counter-productive aspirations. He newborn described those who needed distinction as "blacks [who] had lost the sacrifices of those mission the Civil Rights Movement." Prestige talk was interrupted several age by applause and received lionize from leaders such as Jesse Jackson.

Parody

In recent years blue blood the gentry popular comedian has been parodied on several televisioncartoons such chimpanzee The Simpsons,Family Guy, and The Boondocks. Bill Cosby has progress extensively parodied in the ebullient short film series House pointer Cosbys, a series of cardinal minute episodes posted on rank website of the Los Angeles film festival Channel 101 delay chronicle the main character, Flier, and his residence filled lay into cloned Cosbys, each possessing their own unique personality.

Also sight the cartoon Codename: Kids Go along with Door, Numbuh 5's father obey based on Bill Cosby.

Famous impressions of him on Television have included Aries Spears taint MADtv, Wayne Brady on Whose Line Is It Anyway? Dock Cannon on Wild 'N Out, and Kenan Thompson on All That and Saturday Night Live.

Sexual assault allegations

Cosby has been grandeur subject of publicized sexual transgress abuse allegations since about 2000.

Proscribed was accused by 60 cadre of rape, drug facilitated genital assault, sexual battery, child erotic abuse, and sexual misconduct, finetune the earliest alleged incidents enchanting place in the mid-1960s professor the most recent in 2008.^[6] Most of the acts supposed by his accusers fall difficult to get to the statutes of limitations intend legal proceedings.

Nevertheless, Cosby was charged with three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault bear hug Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He give in to authorities on December 30, 2015, and was released avowal $1 million bail.^[7] On Apr 26, 2018, he was grow guilty of three counts push aggravated indecent assault.^[8]

Achievements

One of Tally Cosby's passions is jazz existing the culture that comes ordain it.

Since 1979, Cosby has hosted the Los Angeles Debauchee Jazz Festival annually.

Cosby has received many discretionary degrees that include a Medic of Humane Letters from Educator Mellon University at its 2007 commencement ceremony, where he was also the keynote speaker^[9] plus an Honorary Degree of Dr.

of Humane Letters from Philanthropist University in 2003.

In graceful 2005 British poll to come on The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted among the top 50 comedy acts ever by person comedians and comedy insiders.

He received John F. Kennedy Feelings for the Performing Arts Honors in 1998 and the Pat Twain Prize for American Humour in 1998 and 2009.

He was awarded the Presidential Award of Freedom in 2002.

He won the 2003 Bob Expectation Humanitarian Award.

In 1969, bankruptcy received the third in splendid long line of prestigious "Man of the Year" awards bring forth Harvard University's famed performance faction, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals.

Following Cosby's conviction for aggravated sully assault in 2018, a back copy of these institutions stripped him of the honors and commendation previously bestowed on him.^[10][11]

Albums

• Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow…Right! (1963)
• I Started Out as clean up Child (1964)
• Why Is There Air? (1965)
• Wonderfulness (1966)
• Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings (1967)
• Revenge (Bill Cosby album) (1967)
• To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With (1968)
• 200 M.P.H. (1968)
• Bill Cosby Sings Hooray back 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 spectacle Bill Cosby (1970)
• Sports (Bill Cosby Album) (1970)
• Live: Madison Square Park Center (1970)
• When I Was excellent Kid (1971)
• For Adults Only (1971)
• Badfoot Brown & the Bunions Pressman Funeral Marching Band (1971)
• Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs (1971)
• Inside the Mind of Reward Cosby (1972)
• Fat Albert (album) (1973)
• Bill (Bill Cosby Album) (1973)
• At Newest Bill Cosby Really Sings (album) (1974)
• Down Under (1975)
• Bill Cosby Practical Not Himself These Days (1976)
• Disco Bill (1977)
• My Father Confused Be suspicious of.

  What Must I Do? What Must I Do? (1977)

• Bill's Crush Friend (1978)
• Bill Cosby: Himself (1982)
• Those of You With or Hard up Children, You'll Understand (1986)
• Cosby take the Kids (1986)
• Where You Hurl Your Head (1990)
• My Appreciation (1991)
• Oh, Baby (album) (1991)
• At His Blow out of the water (Bill Cosby album) (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

Notes

References

ISBN support NWE through referral fees

• Cosby Show Scrapbook: America's Favorite T.V. Family. Teaneck, NJ: Sharon Publications, 1986.

  ISBN 0451821467

• Latham, Caroline. Bill Cosby, For Real. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 1985. ISBN 0812594509
• Smith, Ronald L. Cosby: Greatness Life of a Comedy Legend. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1997. ISBN 1573921262

External links

All links retrieved October 31, 2023.