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Quick Facts
- NAME: William Henry Cosby, Jr.
- OCCUPATION: Film Actor, Television Actor, Comedian, Television Producer
- BIRTH DATE: July 12, 1937 (Age: 74)
- EDUCATION: Temple University
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- ZODIAC SIGN: Cancer
Best Known For
Bill Cosby is an American comedian, actor, and producer, who has played a major role in the development of more positive portrayal of blacks on television.
Videos see all videos
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Bill Cosby - Full Episode (44:58)
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Bill Cosby - Mini Bio (4:11)
Bill Cosby - Full Episode
Bill Cosby's hilarious riffs on life connected with audiences, and he became a stand-up and sitcom superstar.
Bill Cosby. (2012). Biography.com. Retrieved 09:14, Feb 03, 2012 from http://www.biography.com/people/bill-cosby-9258468
Bill Cosby [Internet]. 2012. http://www.biography.com/people/bill-cosby-9258468, February 03
" Bill Cosby." 2012. Biography.com 03 Feb 2012, 09:14 http://www.biography.com/people/bill-cosby-9258468
' Bill Cosby', Biography.com,(2012) http://www.biography.com/people/bill-cosby-9258468 [accessed Feb 03, 2012]
" Bill Cosby," Biography.com, http://www.biography.com/people/bill-cosby-9258468 (accessed Feb 03, 2012).
Bill Cosby [Internet]. Biography.com; 2012 [cited 2012 Feb 03]. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/bill-cosby-9258468.
Bill Cosby, http://www.biography.com/people/bill-cosby-9258468 (last visited Feb 03, 2012).
Bill Cosby, http://www.biography.com/people/bill-cosby-9258468 (last visited Feb 03, 2012).
Synopsis
Bill Cosby was born July 12, 1937, Philadelphia, Pa. During his sophomore year, he left college to entertain as a stand-up comedian. Cosby's first acting assignment, in the espionage series I Spy (1965-1968), made him the first black actor to perform in a starring dramatic role on network television. Cosby's most successful work, The Cosby Show, appeared on NBC from 1984 to 1992.
Quotes
"I guess the real reason that my wife and I had children is the same reason that Napoleon had for invading Russia: it seemed like a good idea at the time."
Profile
Actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With numerous awards to his credit, Bill Cosby is one of the top names in comedy. He also helped break down racial barriers on television in the 1960s with I Spy and later with The Cosby Show.
Cosby grew up in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood as the oldest of four boys. At first, the Cosbys did okay financially, but their fortunes began to slip as Cosby's father, William, Sr., began to drink heavily. After his father enlisted in the Navy, Cosby became like a parent to his brothers while his mother, Anna, worked cleaning houses. He and his family ended up living in the Richard Allen Homes, a low-income housing project in his neighborhood. At the age of 8, Cosby suffered a great loss when his brother James, the second oldest of the boys, died.
With money very tight for his family, Cosby started shining shoes to help out when he was 9 years old. He also later found a job at a supermarket. Despite their hardships, Cosby's mother stressed the value of education and learning. She often read to Bill and his brothers, including the works by Mark Twain. A gifted storyteller himself, Cosby learned early on that humor could be a way to make friends and to get what he wanted. Cosby excelled at making things up. As one of his teachers once noted, "William should become either a lawyer or an actor because he lies so well.''
In school, Cosby was bright but unmotivated. He liked to tell stories and jokes to his classmates more than he liked to do his schoolwork. One of his teachers encouraged him to put his performing talents to use in school plays, not in her classroom. At home, Cosby listened to a variety of radio programs and started imitating such comedians as Jerry Lewis. He also watched such television performers as Sid Caesar and Jack Benny whenever he could.
More interested in sports than academics, Cosby played on his school's track and football teams. He was placed in a high school for gifted students after scoring high on an IQ test. But Cosby failed to apply himself, and ended up falling behind in his classes. He switched to Germantown High School, and even there he learned that he would have to repeat a grade. In frustration, Cosby dropped out. He worked several odd jobs before joining the U.S. Navy in 1956.
During his military service, Cosby worked as a medical aide on ships, in several hospitals and at other facilities. He also joined the Navy's track team where he excelled, especially in
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Included In These Groups
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Black Comedians
View groupFrom the early comedy of Nipsey Russell and Richard Pryor to the contemporary routines of Mo'nique and Chris Rock, African-Americans have often used their wit to become the voice and face of the African-American experience. These legendary comedians also set a very high bar—not only for African-Americans, but for all comics trying to make it in show-business.
Black Comedians 20 people in this group
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Celebrity Enlistees
View groupHollywood stars often get flack for their extravagant lifestyles, and sometimes they seem to be far removed from the rest of us. Not so for all celebrities, though—a surprising number of stars have taken on the big responsibility of serving in the United States Armed Forces. We know them as actors, athletes, musicians, and comedians, but these brave individuals have actually put their lives on the line for their country. Here's a look at celebrity enlistees.
Celebrity Enlistees 83 people in this group
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Famous Cancerians 463 people in this group
