Bill Cosby

Home > ... > Literature and the Arts > Performing Arts > Film and Television: Biographies > ...

Essential
reading

Compare
side-by-side

World Encyclopedia

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Bill Cosby

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Bill Cosby (William Henry Cosby, Jr.) , 1937-, American actor, b. Philadelphia. He became known as a comedian and was subsequently the first African-American actor to star in a dramatic series on television ( I Spy, 1965-68). He has since starred in several television series, most notably the situation comedy The Cosby Show (1984-92), the most popular program on American television during the late 1980s. Cosby has won numerous Emmy awards and written several books, including Fatherhood (1986). He was inducted (1992) into the Television Hall of Fame, and six years later he was awarded a presidential medal.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Cosby-Bi" title="Facts and informations about Bill Cosby">Bill Cosby</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Bill Cosby." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Jul. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Bill Cosby." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (July 9, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Cosby-Bi.html

"Bill Cosby." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved July 09, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Cosby-Bi.html

Learn more about citation styles

Cosby, Bill

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Cosby, Bill (1937– ) US comedian, actor and writer. The first leading black man in a television series (I Spy, 1965–68), he established one of the most successful situation comedies in television history, The Cosby Show (1984–92, 1996– ), and appeared in several films. His best-selling books include Fatherhood (1986), Time Flies (1987) and Love and Marriage (1989).

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-CosbyBill" title="Facts and informations about Bill Cosby">Bill Cosby</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Cosby, Bill." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Jul. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Cosby, Bill." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (July 9, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-CosbyBill.html

"Cosby, Bill." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved July 09, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-CosbyBill.html

Learn more about citation styles

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Bill Cosby continues with award-winning TV show. ('Cosby')(Cover Story)
Magazine article from: Jet; 2/3/1997; 528 words ; Bill Cosby still reigns atop the television...to be a major misconception. Cosby's series have earned hundreds...advertising revenue for the networks. Cosby's other series included The Cosby Mysteries the syndicated You Bet Your Life and The Bill Cosby Show. Cosby always ... Read more
Life after the Cosby show: activist-actor celebrates 30 years of wedded bliss, continues fight against black stereotypes on TV. (Bill Cosby)
Magazine article from: Ebony; 5/1/1994; ; 700+ words ; For Bill Cosby, 1994 started off with a joyous...people. Should have but, as Cosby himself concedes, didn't...courage to say those things, Cosby recalls. That's what they...prominently among the reasons Cosby tried to buy NBC last year...turn NBC into the Network of Bill Cosby. ... Read more
Bill and Camille Cosby: first family of philanthropy; $20 million gift to Spelman is largest ever in history of Black institutions. (Spelman College)
Magazine article from: Ebony; 5/1/1989; ; 700+ words ; Bill And Camille Cosby: FIRST FAMILY OF PHILANTHROPY $20 million...institutions TELEVISION'S No. 1 star Bill Cosby had just split the pages of the history...seconds, he said, `I understand.' What Bill and Camille Cosby really want people to understand is... Read more
Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad back together in new TV comedy 'Cosby.'(Cover Story)
Magazine article from: Jet; 9/9/1996; 700+ words ; From 1984-92 Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad were Cliff and Claire...television's most popular program, The Cosby Show. And now they're back! The two are...British comedy One Foot In The Grave. Cosby is cast as 60-year-old Hilton Lucas, an... Read more
Bill Cosby begins TV season with new mystery series co-starring Lynn Whitfield. (Cover Story)
Magazine article from: Jet; 9/26/1994; ; 674 words ; Bill Cosby is back! Instead of returning...things special and unique about Bill Cosby is his feeling and appreciation...some comedy because wherever Cosby walks there is laughter. She...because it would be wonderful if Bill could realize his visions of... Read more
Camille Cosby stands by husband, Bill, who admitted he had a 'rendezvous' years ago. (extramarital affair)
Magazine article from: Jet; 2/17/1997; 311 words ; Camille Cosby is standing by her husband, Bill Cosby, after the entertainer...in Los Angeles. Mrs. Cosby said in a press statement...negative issues between Bill and me were resolved...us find the murderer. Bill Cosby had previously denied... Read more
Police probe shooting death of Bill Cosby's son, Ennis, on Los Angeles freeway.
Magazine article from: Jet; 2/3/1997; 700+ words ; ...of his disabled car. Ennis Cosby was the only son of legendary performer Bill Cosby. The private services were...that she was acquainted with Cosby. McBride said Cosby made at least one phone call...to whom the call was made. Bill Cosby, reached in New York City... Read more
Autumn Jackson found guilty in Bill Cosby extortion trial.
Magazine article from: Jet; 8/11/1997; 502 words ; ...threatening to tell the tabloids she was Bill Cosby's out-of-wedlock daughter unless...statement released by their attorney, Bill and Camille Cosby called it a just verdict. The Cosbys...insisted she is his secret love child. Cosby admitted that he had an affair... Read more
The return of the conscience of comedy.(Entertainment)(Bill Cosby, in the news lately for remarks on racial responsibility, plans two stand-up shows at the Hult)
Newspaper article from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR); 2/8/2008; 700+ words ; ...the conscience of black America? Bill Cosby became famous because he is funny...starred on TV in both I Spy and The Bill Cosby Show. He also created the popular...says on his 1969 album, The Best of Bill Cosby. We used to use him to get the football... Read more
Anecdote reveals Bill Cosby: himself; Cosby thinking ahead to Worcester visit.(ETC.)
Newspaper article from: Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, MA); 12/21/2008; 700+ words ; Byline: Richard Duckett When Bill Cosby went to vote in the recent...the interview indicated that Cosby thinks ahead. Cosby, 71, will be performing two...well coming out of the box, Cosby said. So rather than punish...financially. `Coming February 21 Bill Cosby.' `Oh yeah, but I ... Read more
Click to see an enlarged picture
Bill Cosby. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: