| Bill Cosby | |
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| Born | William Henry Cosby Jr. July 12, 1937 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 16, 1997 (aged 59) Los Angeles, California |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wounds |
| Education | Temple University (BS) University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA, EdD) |
| Occupation | Comedian, actor, media personality |
| Years active | 1961-1997 |
| Spouse(s) | Camille Hanks (m. 1964-1997) |
| Children | 5 |
William Henry Cosby Jr. (/ˈkɒzbi/ KOZ-bee; July 12, 1937 – January 16, 1997) was an American comedian, actor, and media personality. He made significant contributions to American and African-American culture, and gained a reputation as "America's Dad" for his portrayal of Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He has received numerous awards and honorary degrees throughout his career.
Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the hungry i nightclub in San Francisco during the 1960s. Throughout the decade, he released several standup comedy records which consecutively earned him the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album from 1965 to 1970. He also had a starring role in the television crime show I Spy (1965–1968) opposite Robert Culp. Cosby made history when he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1966, making him the first African American to earn an Emmy Award for acting. His acting career continued as he starred in the sitcom The Bill Cosby Show, which ran for two seasons from 1969 to 1971.
In 1972, using the Fat Albert character developed during 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. Throughout the 1970s, Cosby starred in various films including Sidney Poitier's Uptown Saturday Night (1974), and Let's Do It Again (1975), and Neil Simon's California Suite (1978) alongside Richard Pryor. He also starred in the original cast of The Electric Company alongside Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman from 1971 to 1973. He was also a popular spokesperson for advertising for decades, for various products including the Jell-O ice pop treats Pudding Pop.
Beginning in the 1980s, Cosby produced and starred in the television sitcom The Cosby Show, which was rated as the number one show in America from 1985 through 1989. The sitcom highlighted the experiences and growth of an affluent African-American family. Cosby produced the spin-off sitcom A Different World, which aired from 1987 to 1993. He also starred in The Cosby Mysteries (1994–1995), and the sitcom Cosby (1996–1997).
Cosby was murdered on January 16, 1997, near Interstate 405 in Los Angeles, California. He was shot in the head by 18-year-old Mikhail Markhasev in a failed robbery attempt. Cosby's death resulted in significant media coverage, public outrage and an outpouring of support for the Cosby family. Seeking the $100,000 reward offered by the National Enquirer, an acquaintance of the shooter provided information that led to Markhasev's arrest in March 1997. Subsequently, Markhasev was tried and convicted of first-degree murder and attempted robbery on July 7, 1998, and was sentenced to life in prison the following month. Markhasev maintained his innocence until 2001, when he admitted to committing the murder and asked that appeals in his case stop.
Ennis Cosby, his only son, decided to follow his father's footsteps and became a stand-up comedian and actor. In 2004, he rebooted Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids into a series of children's books.
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