Bill Cosby Biography: ‘I Spy’ To ‘The Cosby Show’
Born July 12th, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, William Henry Cosby Jr. grew up making people laugh. He took his observational and relatable humor across the country, where he earned fans of all kinds. Soon a “Tonight Show” appearance garnered him national exposure, and he began releasing Grammy-winning comedy albums. Then came his acting roles: he was the first African-American to co-star in a dramatic TV series on “I Spy,” and this was followed by a string of self-titles shows that won him even more acclaim. The most impressive of these was “The Cosby Show” that debuted in 1984, and changed the way African-Americans were portrayed on TV. Since then, he has kept a high profile as an actor, author and humanitarian. In this video, http://www.WatchMojo.com learns more about the life and career of comedian Bill Cosby.
William Henry Cosby Jr. was born July 12th, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cosby was a class clown who focused more on sports than studying. After dropping out to work, he joined the Navy and earned his high school equivalency. Cosby eventually left college to develop his talent for making people laugh.
Cosby toured comedy clubs in the early 1960s, and made fans with his informal routines and silly faces. By 1963 he landed on “The Tonight Show,” and helped subtly push civil rights forward with his relatable, observational stories. In fact, Cosby expanded his audience by avoiding controversial or race-driven themes.
Mid-decade, he won a deal with Warner Bros., and began releasing comedy albums that earned him praise and loads of Grammy awards.
Cosby’s big breakthrough came in 1965 when he became the first African-American to co-star in a dramatic TV show. “I Spy” proved the likeable comedian could also act by earning Cosby three successive Emmys before the show’s end in 1968.
Besides his TV role, thriving stand-up career and successful comedy albums, Cosby decided to sing. 1967’s “Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings” was a hit, but Cosby largely returned to comedy for the remainder of his career.
1969’s hit sitcom “The Bill Cosby Show” meant he wasn’t away from TV long. This marked the first time a black entertainer starred in a self-titled comedy series.
Following that success, Cosby returned to school to earn a Masters and a Doctorate. He then nurtured his lifelong desire to teach by actively promoting education as a cast member on 1971’s PBS kids’ show “The Electric Company.” He also recorded “Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs,” which won him a Grammy the following year.
