William H. Cosby Jr. was born on July 12th, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for over thirty years, he has been one of the world's most respected and well-known entertainers and comedians. After tenth grade, Cosby joined the Navy and completed high school through a correspondence course. He later took up an athletics scholarship at Temple University, supporting himself during his studies by tending bar, where his easy-going style and witty joking with the clientèle prompted suggestions that he try stand-up comedy. This he did and was soon to be discovered by the legendary Carl Reiner.

In his early twenties he appeared on many well-known variety programs including "The Ed Sullivan Show" . His big break came in 1965 when he appeared as Alexander Scott in I Spy, winning numerous Emmys for his performance. He later appeared in The Bill Cosby Show, playing a teacher, although originally the show only lasted for two years. He then created a Filmation cartoon based on many of his high school buddies including Weird Harold, Dumb Donald, Mushmouth, and others: the show was, of course, The New Fat Albert Show. The theme was humorous but also focused on Cosby's more educational side.

He studied for many years during his career in the 1960s and 1970s, and he received a doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts. Cosby also starred in some highly successful movies such as Uptown Saturday Night, Let's Do It Again, A Piece of the Action, Mother, Jugs & Speed, and California Suite. During his early years he also made some comedy albums that sold very well; his most notable comedy song being "Little Old Man." He was one of the original cast members of The Electric Company, and he was featured in the series Pinwheel during the late 1970s and then appeared in the mediocre The Devil and Max Devlin.

In 1984, 'Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids' stopped production, and The Cosby Show commenced. The show was originally intended to follow a blue-collar family, but finally ended up portraying a white-collar family. It was originally rejected by ABC, accepted by a then-floundering NBC, and was an almost instant success. From 1985 to 1987 the show broke viewing records, with Cosby becoming perhaps the strongest driving force in television during the eighties. Despite this great success, he arguably created his own downfall. The Cosby Show led what was considered by many at that time to be the best night of television: the line-up included Night Court, Hill Street Blues, and Family Ties, which all followed The Cosby Show.

Cosby was dissatisfied with the way minorities were portrayed on television. He produced the TV series A Different World and insisted that this program should follow the Cosby Show, rather than Family Ties. A Different World was set in an historically Black college and concentrated on young people and education. Impact was felt on the show immediately; at its peak, the Cosby Show logged an estimated 70 million viewers. However, after the scheduling reshuffle, the show lost roughly 20% of its massive audience. However, Cosby was still riding high in the early nineties until massive competition from The Simpsons.

The Cosby Show finally ended in 1992, conceding to The Simpsons, with the final production considered to be one of the highest-rated shows of the season and featured a pleading Cosby asking for peace in riot-torn Los Angeles during the height of the Rodney King riots. Cosby never seemed able to top the success of the Cosby Show; his film Leonard Part 6 was considered to be one of the worst American films in history and may have contributed in part to his downfall as a film actor, along with his performance in Ghost Dad. He did attempt a minor comeback in 1996 starring in the Robin Williams film Jack, which was directed by Francis Ford Coppola; and in another show, Cosby, (starring Phylicia Rashad, who appeared as his wife in the previous Cosby Show). Since then he has produced films such as Men of Honor, and shows including Little Bill.

Sadly, his son Ennis was murdered in 1997. Throughout the years, Bill Cosby has taken a socially conscious tone, often associated with family values, coupled with a distinctly urban spin on his style. He will go down in entertainment history as one of the most successful and most respected entertainers in the world.


National Enquirer offers $100,000 reward for the capture of the killer of Bill's son, Ennis. [January 1997] He and wife Camille O. Cosby have five children: Erika (b. 8 April 1965), Erinn (b. 23 July 1966), Ennis (15 April 1969 - 16 January 1997), Ensa (b. 8 April 1973) and Evin (b. 27 August 1976). His wife, Camille O. Cosby, is a direct descendant of Nancy Hanks, Abraham Lincoln's mother. Sang on a number of albums in the 1970s. Insisted that "The Cosby Show" (1984) be filmed in New York; he disliked working in Hollywood. Many elements of "The Cosby Show" (1984) were references to his own family. Phylicia Rashad's (Clair Huxtable's) maiden name was Hanks, like his wife Camille's maiden name. Also, like he has in real life, the Huxtables had four daughters and one son. Son Ennis is buried on Cosby family estate in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Biography in "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pp. 120-122. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387 The oldest of 4 children. Broke Radio City's 53-year-old attendance record for his concert appearance. (1986) Is a best-selling author. Fat Albert, Old Weird Harold, and Dumb Donald were based on his series of comedy routines about his school pals, and he tested them on his most appreciative audience: his mother. Was once part-owner of the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. The character Dr. Hibbert from "The Simpsons" (1989) is based on him. When "The Simpsons" (1989)) started competing with "The Cosby Show" (1984) in 1989, the already declining audience of the show decreased even more. Because of this, both shows had a playful attitude toward each other. "The Cosby Show" made small references to the "The Simpsons", including one episode where Bill wore a Bart Simpson mask, and "The Simpsons" made small references to "The Cosby Show", including the character of Dr. Hibbert, a direct reference to Cosby. When "The Cosby Show" (1984) was ruling the NBC line-up in the mid-'80s, he insisted that his newly produced show, "A Different World" (1987), a spin-off of "The Cosby Show", follow after his show instead of the hit "Family Ties" (1982). He wanted this because he felt there was a lack of shows on TV that featured African-Americans in a positive light. NBC made the move, which led to two things happening: "The Cosby Show" audience was cut by 20% and never fully recovered, and "Family Ties" struggled to get the high numbers it once received. It was canceled in 1989. Wife Camille O. Cosby (nee Hanks) is related to Tom Hanks, and both share lineage with Abraham Lincoln through Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks. Recently became a vegetarian. Outstanding athlete at Temple University, in football and track and field. Won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album six years in a row, 1965 to 1970. Did not submit himself for Emmy consideration during the eight-year run of "The Cosby Show" (1984). Played as Running Back for Temple University (Philadelphia, PA, USA) football team during the 1962-64 seasons. Received the 12th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor [October 2009].