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Bill Cosby
Actor, Producer, Writer, Director, Composer, Additional CreditsBorn July 12, 1937 (87 years)
William Henry "Bill" Cosby Jr. (born July 12, 1937) is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer and convicted sex offender. He got his start as a nightclub stand-up comic before landing a starring role in the action show I Spy (1965-1968). After various film and television roles, Cosby's greatest success came when he produced and starred in The Cosby Show (1984-1992), a popular sitcom that highlighted the experiences and growth of an upper-middle-class African-American family. Due to this role, he was widely dubbed "America's Dad." After the show ended, he produced and starred in multiple other shows and films. He was a sought-after spokesman from the 1960s until the early 2000s, endorsing a number of products including Jell-O, Kodak film, Ford, Texas Instruments, and Coca-Cola.
Cosby has received several awards including 5 Primetime Emmy Awards, 2 Daytime Emmy Awards, 9 Grammy Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contribution to television (2002), and several honorary degrees from colleges and universities. Many of his awards have been rescinded due to numerous sexual assault allegations, including the 1998 Kennedy Center Honor, the 2009 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and all but 10 of 72 honorary degrees. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled him as a member of the Actors Branch in May 2018.
Approximately 60 women have accused Cosby of various forms of sexual assault in alleged incidents spanning from 1965 to 2008. These allegations became highly publicized in 2014, leading to several civil suits and criminal investigations for cases that had not yet reached the statute of limitations. Many networks, including NBC, removed reruns of The Cosby Show from their schedules. In April of 2018, Cosby was sentenced to three to ten years in prison for multiple counts of aggravated indecent assault. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction in June 2021 due to violation of a prior prosecutorial agreement that Cosby's previous civil suit testimony—in which he admitted to giving drugs to women he wanted to have sex with—would not be used in the criminal trial. He was released from prison later that month after serving almost three years of the sentence and maintains his innocence in all accusations. As of August 2021, there is still one known active civil suit against Cosby.
Cosby has received several awards including 5 Primetime Emmy Awards, 2 Daytime Emmy Awards, 9 Grammy Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contribution to television (2002), and several honorary degrees from colleges and universities. Many of his awards have been rescinded due to numerous sexual assault allegations, including the 1998 Kennedy Center Honor, the 2009 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and all but 10 of 72 honorary degrees. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled him as a member of the Actors Branch in May 2018.
Approximately 60 women have accused Cosby of various forms of sexual assault in alleged incidents spanning from 1965 to 2008. These allegations became highly publicized in 2014, leading to several civil suits and criminal investigations for cases that had not yet reached the statute of limitations. Many networks, including NBC, removed reruns of The Cosby Show from their schedules. In April of 2018, Cosby was sentenced to three to ten years in prison for multiple counts of aggravated indecent assault. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction in June 2021 due to violation of a prior prosecutorial agreement that Cosby's previous civil suit testimony—in which he admitted to giving drugs to women he wanted to have sex with—would not be used in the criminal trial. He was released from prison later that month after serving almost three years of the sentence and maintains his innocence in all accusations. As of August 2021, there is still one known active civil suit against Cosby.
Known For
Filmography
| 2022 | The Case Against Cosby (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2022 | Bill Cosby: Walking Free · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2022 | We Need to Talk About Cosby (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2021 | When Ruby Wax Met... (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2021 | The One and Only Dick Gregory · as Self |
| 2020 | Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story · as Self |
| 2019 | Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project · as Self |
| 2019 | |
| 2019 | Cola Wars · as Self [archival Footage] |
| 2019 | What's My Name: Muhammad Ali · as Self |
| 2019 | I Am Richard Pryor · as Self - Actor And Comedian (archive Footage) |
| 2018 | Basketball: A Love Story (TV Series) · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2018 | Seeing Allred · as Self |
| 2017 | |
| 2017 | Bill Cosby: Fall of an American Icon · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2017 | Exposed with Deborah Norville (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2015 | Cosby: The Women Speak · as Self |
| 2015 | Gameplay · as Self |
| 2014 | Nelson Mandela Redrawn · as Self |
| 2014 | Keep on Keepin' On · as Self |
| 2014 | Unsung Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2013 | Bill Cosby: Far from Finished · as Himself |
| 2013 | The Arsenio Hall Show (2013) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2013 | Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic · as Self |
| 2013 | Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley · as Self |
| 2013 | After Newtown: Guns in America · as Self |
| 2013 | Betty White's 2nd Annual 90th Birthday · as Self |
| 2012 | How Playboy Changed the World · as Self |
| 2012 | B.B. King: The Life of Riley · as Self |
| 2011 | |
| 2011 | Bowl of Dreams · as Self |
| 2010 | Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way · as Self |
| 2010 | Sky Midnight News (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | |
| 2009 | Lopez Tonight (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | The Jay Leno Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2009 | 15 Unforgettable Hollywood Tragedies · as Self |
| 2009 | |
| 2008 | Unsung (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | The Doctors (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2008 | Mike Douglas: Moments & Memories · as Self |
| 2008 | Joe Louis: America's Hero... Betrayed · as Self |
| 2008 | Pioneers of Television (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project · as Self |
| 2007 | Larry King Live: The Greatest Interviews · as Self |
| 2007 | Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven · as Self |
| 2007 | Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s and '70s · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2007 | 100 Greatest Stand-Ups · as Self |
| 2007 | 38th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2006 | The Pact · as Himself |
| 2005 | The Colbert Report (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2005 | Class Dismissed: How TV Frames the Working Class · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2005 | 500 Years Later · as Self |
| 2005 | |
| 2004 | Fat Albert · as Self |
| 2004 | Lightning in a Bottle · as Self |
| 2004 | Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling · as Self (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 2004 | 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time (TV Series) · as Self #8 |
| 2004 | TV in Black: The First Fifty Years · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 2004 | Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | Baadasssss! · as Himself |
| 2003 | The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Bob Hope Humanitarian Award Recipient |
| 2003 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2003 | A Century of Black Cinema · as Self |
| 2002 | Comedian · as Self |
| 2002 | Dr. Phil (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | The Cosby Show: A Look Back · as Self / Dr. Cliff Huxtable (archive Footage) |
| 2002 | NBC 75th Anniversary Special · as Self |
| 2002 | Playboy: Inside the Playboy Mansion · as Self |
| 2001 | Little Bill: Big Little Bill · as Self |
| 2000 | The BET 20th Anniversary Celebration · as Self |
| 2000 | Ennis' Gift · as Self |
| 2000 | Playboy 2000: The Party Continues · as Self |
| 2000 | 2000 Essence Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1999 | |
| 1999 | 1999 Essence Awards · as Self |
| 1999 | Playboy: Playmate Pajama Party · as Self |
| 1998 | The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts · as Self - Honoree |
| 1998 | The 40th Annual Grammy Awards · as Self |
| 1998 | Essence Awards · as Self |
| 1997 | The Roseanne Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | Behind the Music (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1997 | 4 Little Girls · as Self - Educator |
| 1997 | The 23rd Annual People's Choice Awards · as Self - Winner & Accepting Award For Favorite New Tv Comedy Series |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television · as Self |
| 1996 | The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The 10th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1995 | 25th Anniversary Essence Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1993 | The Unknown Marx Brothers · as Self |
| 1993 | Late Show with David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1993 | 1993 Essence Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1993 | Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America · as Self |
| 1992 | Malcolm X · as Self - End Credits |
| 1992 | The Big Breakfast (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | 1992 Essence Awards · as Self |
| 1991 | The One, the Only... Groucho · as Self |
| 1991 | Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music · as Self |
| 1991 | Maury (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1990 | Comic Relief IV · as Self |
| 1990 | Happy Birthday, Bugs!: 50 Looney Years · as Self |
| 1990 | Outside the Lines (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1990 | Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1990 | |
| 1990 | |
| 1989 | Not the Same Person You Used to Know (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues · as Self |
| 1989 | Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989 · as Himself - Host |
| 1989 | The Arsenio Hall Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1989 | Sky World News (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1987 | Showtime at the Apollo (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Host |
| 1987 | Biography (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | Bill Cosby: 49 · as Himself |
| 1986 | Elayne Boosler: Party of One · as Self |
| 1986 | The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1986 | |
| 1986 | In Remembrance of Martin · as Self |
| 1986 | |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1985 | Larry King Live (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1985 | Motown Returns to the Apollo · as Self - Host |
| 1983 | Reading Rainbow (TV Series) · as Himself - Narrator (voice) |
| 1983 | Bill Cosby: Himself · as Himself |
| 1982 | Late Night With David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | Solid Gold (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | Hour Magazine (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | A Capitol Fourth (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | Nightline (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1978 | The Kennedy Center Honors (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1976 | Live from Lincoln Center (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Doug Henning's World of Magic (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Cher (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1974 | Dinah! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1974 | Tattletales (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1973 | AFI Life Achievement Award (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1972 | The New Bill Cosby Show (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1972 | The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1972 | The Midnight Special (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1971 | Fight of the Century · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1970 | A World of Love · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1970 | The Flip Wilson Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1970 | Dinah's Place (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1969 | King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis · as Self (archive Footage) |
| 1969 | Sesame Street (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1969 | Playboy After Dark (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1968 | The Dick Cavett Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1967 | The Phil Donahue Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1966 | The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1964 | The Celebrity Game (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1964 | The Hollywood Palace (TV Series) · as Self - Comedian |
| 1963 | The Jimmy Dean Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1963 | You Don't Say (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Match Game (TV Series) · as Self - Team Captain |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Host |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1958 | Garry Moore Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | American Bandstand (TV Series) · as Self - Phone Interview |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1950 | The Bob Hope Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1949 | The Emmy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Perry Como Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Self |