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Bill Cosby

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9.6 Superb
123 votes

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Biography

Recent Role:
Guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Gender:
Male
Born:
7-12-1937
Birthplace:
Philidelphia,Pennslyvania USA
Birth Name:
William Henry Cosby Jr.
AKA:
Dr. William Henry Cosby, Ed.D., William H. Cosby Jr., William H. Cosby, William Cosby Jr. Ed., William H. Cosby Jr., William Cosby
William H. Cosby Jr. was born on July 12th, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bill Cosby is an American actor, comedian, television producer, and activist. 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. Later he 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… More comedy. This he did and was soon to be discovered by the legendary Carl Reiner.



In Bill's 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, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. 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.



Bill Cosby will go down in entertainment history as one of the most successful and most respected entertainers in the world.

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    A television icon. hide show

    Bill Cosby has my respect as a celebrity. I think that he's one of the most genuine people and has made his mark in television for the ages. The Bill Cosby show was great. I thought that it was really funny as its humor was original and its acting was very good, especially for a sitcom. I feel bad for Bill about what happened to his son. He has shown some great toughness in keeping his life together after the tragedy. He has been an unforgettable person and he will go down as one of television's faces. He did very well for African-Americans by being a great role model. Thank you.

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    cactusjack39 Added Jan 24, 2009 All my reviews
  •  
    9.5 Superb
    classic! hide show

    If you do not know who Bill Cosby is then you've missed one of the greatest and most well - known comedians today. He has his own unique styles that defines him and makes him stand out. The moments he created in the Cosby Show are just halarious and stay with us forever. He made one of the funniest shows with the most interesting tv family out there. I really enjoy his type of humor and his uniqueness. Overall, amazing actor and comedian and one of the all time greats that should be recognized for his amazing work over the years.

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    Fwirrel Added Sep 26, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    7.5 Good

    Where is My Pud – Ding!?
    hide show

    What can I say about old’ Bill? He’s lost his edge, is probably one thing (Did Phil’s Funny Man even have an edge to begin with?). Everybody seems to be directing skits and funny parodies of dear old Mr. Cosby. Hate to have to admit it but he’s been labeled “the Black Mr. Rogers” – That’s just a scary thing.

    As a child without consciousness i.e. the ability to sift through the garbage on TV I loved The Cosby’s. As I got older and grew more disillusioned with the world and everything else, I began to despise TV Shows like these…Hence my Hatred of 7th Heaven and the happy-go-lucky crap it represents.

    I suppose he’s over stayed his welcome like stale milk in the fridge. You don’t want to touch it but you HAVE to get rid of it; but while it’s in the fridge turning into curds and whey you make cracks about how it stinks!

    Don’t get me wrong, overall he’s okay.

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    Kon-Kai Added Jul 4, 2006 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    Bill Cosby truly is one of the all time greats! hide show

    Bill has always made it possible to show Afican American in an extremly good way with his hit TV show, The Coby Show. Not only is the show funny and successful, but it led many other people to stardom. Also Bill Cosby does a good way of parenting. By teaching kids and parents life on the set and on off they set. His stand-up comedy talks about many thing that many people can relate to. I also believe he is the greatest becauce he goes to many colleges helpng many students. He knows that education is very important. He doesn't just talk the talk but also walk the walk. This is why Bill Cosby is one of the all-time greats.

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    homeydaclown Added Mar 29, 2006 All my reviews
  •  
    9.9 Superb
    One of the all-time greats. hide show

    Bill Cosby is a legend. He is a comedian, but used clean humor to make him funny. The Cosby Show shall be remembered for ages, and it was him that made it funny. He's a great role model that shows that you don't have to use gross/ dirty humor to make jokes funny. Overall, he's a funny, clean, comedy legend.
    9.9/10.
    ~Pharaoh2.

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    pharaoh2 Added Jan 6, 2006 All my reviews
 
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