Bill Cosby

From ArticleWorld

Dr. William Henry Cosby Jr. (Bill Cosby) was born on July 12, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is an actor, author, educator, producer, philanthropist, and comedian. Cosby broke many racial and prejudicial boundaries; he was a pioneer in African-American television.

The Early Years

Cosby dropped out of high school to join the Navy. He went on to get his GED and attended Temple University on an athletic scholarship. He also worked as a bartender to put himself through school. He began working as a stand-up comedian and recording and selling albums in 1963.

Cosby the Actor

Cosby was the first black man to star in his personal TV series, I Spy in the mid 1960’s. He also was a pioneer in black stand-up comedy during the 1960-70’s. He also starred in Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, a very successful cartoon that won Cosby two Emmy Awards. In 1982, the sit-com which would make Bill Cosby a household name, The Cosby Show, aired for the first time. Thanks to this show and other roles he played, Cosby was one of the highest paid entertainers during the 1980’s. He recorded a top forty song in 1969 and has collected more Grammies in the comedy division than any other artist. His comedy albums have been a huge hit and he has amassed three gold and six platinum certified albums.

Cosby has tried his hand at film acting, playing roles in The Devil and Max Devlin, Uptown Saturday Night, Let’s Do it Again, and Ghost Dad. He did not have as much success here, however, as he found on television.

Cosby has made commercials for many of the major advertisers, including Coca-Cola, Eastman Kodak, and Jell-O.

Cosby the Author

Bill Cosby has authored some very humorous and popular books regarding the many different aspects of life. Most of these are based on his stand-up comedy and are in line with his style. His books include Love and Marriage, Time Flies, and Fatherhood. The latter were best sellers in non-fiction in 1986-87.