Bill Cosby

Family: Cosby was born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is one of four sons of Anna Pearl (née Hite), and William Henry Cosby Sr., who served as a mess steward in the U.S. Navy.

Bill Cosby an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, and convicted sex offender. He is currently incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution – Phoenix in Pennsylvania.

Background

Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the hungry i in San Francisco during the 1960s.

In 1972, using the Fat Albert character to develop his stand-up routines, Cosby created, produced, and hosted the animated comedy television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids which ran until 1985, centering on a group of young friends growing up in an urban area.

In 1976, he earned his Doctor of Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His dissertation discussed the use of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids as a teaching tool in elementary schools.

Beginning in the 1980s, Cosby produced and starred in the television sitcom The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992 and was rated as the number one show in America for 1985 through 1989. The sitcom highlighted the experiences and growth of an affluent African-American family.

Cosby also produced the spin-off sitcom A Different World, which aired from 1987 to 1993.