William “Bill” Henry Cosby, Jr. (b.1937) is an American comedian, actor, and writer. Recognized as one of the most prominent and gifted comics of his time, Cosby eased racial barriers on television from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Cosby initially gained prominence as a funny man in the 1960s. He started with telling jokes in Philadelphia’s nightspots and progressed to the pinnacle of the nightclub circuit, and then to television. He was the first African American to head the cast of a weekly television drama (I Spy, 1965–68.)
Cosby earned worldwide fame for the landmark success of The Cosby Show (1984–92,) one of the most popular programs in television history. The show converged almost wholly on the often unobserved, yet recognizable everyday happenings of an average, unbroken, upper-middle-class African American household.
Cosby also made more than 20 comedy albums, appeared in films, published many humorous books, and produced great educational programs for children.
Since 2014, accusations of sexual assault by more than 50 women have tarnished Cosby’s standing. In 2018, he was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison after a Pennsylvania jury convicted him of sexual assault.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Bill Cosby
There’s no labor a man can do that’s undignified, if he does it right.
—Bill Cosby
Nothing separates the generations more than music. By the time a child is eight or nine, he has developed a passion for his own music that is even stronger than his passions for procrastination and weird clothes.
—Bill Cosby
Topics: Music
Women don’t want to hear what you think. Women want to hear what they think — in a deeper voice.
—Bill Cosby
Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.
—Bill Cosby
Topics: Desire
Even though your kids will consistently do the exact opposite of what you’re telling them to do, you have to keep loving them just as much.
—Bill Cosby
Topics: Children
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