American former comedian, actor, author, director, and producer Bill Cosby performed over a period of decades in film, television, and stand-up comedy. His longest-running live-action role was that of Cliff Huxtable in the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992).
Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the hungry i nightclub in San Francisco in 1961. Throughout the 1960s, Cosby released several standup comedy albums which consecutively earned him the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album from 1965 to 1970. He also had a starring role in the television secret-agent show I Spy (1965–1968) opposite Robert Culp, and made history when Cosby 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. Cosby's 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. From the 1970s to the 2000s, Cosby was a popular spokesperson in advertising, for various products including the Jell-O ice pop treats Pudding Pop.
Beginning in the 1980s, Cosby produced and starred in 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, and Cosby gained a reputation as "America's Dad" for his portrayal of Cliff Huxtable on the sitcom. Cosby produced the spin-off sitcom A Different World, which aired from 1987 to 1993. His 1983 comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself was well regarded by comedians and critics, with some calling it the greatest stand up concert movie ever. Cosby also starred in The Cosby Mysteries (1994–1995), the sitcom Cosby (1996–2000) and hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things (1998–2000). He then created and produced the animated children's program Little Bill (1999–2004).
Filmography Film
Year Title Role Notes 1968 Black History: Lost, Stolen, or Strayed Himself Documentary 1969 Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice Patron at Nightclub Uncredited wordless cameo. Cosby is seen very briefly (in red shirt and floppy hat) literally bumping into Robert Culp's character in a nightclub, then moving on. Cosby's screentime lasts under two seconds 1971 Man and Boy Caleb Revers 1972 Hickey & Boggs Al Hickey 1974 Uptown Saturday Night Wardell Franklin 1975 Let's Do It Again Billy Foster 1976 Mother, Jugs & Speed 'Mother' Tucker 1977 A Piece of the Action Dave Anderson 1978 California Suite Dr. Willis Panama 1981 The Devil and Max Devlin Barney Satin 1983 Bill Cosby: Himself Himself Concert film of Cosby's stand-up act; written and directed by Cosby 1987 Leonard Part 6 Leonard Parker Also producer and story writer 1990 Ghost Dad Elliot Hopper 1993 The Meteor Man Marvin 1996 Jack Lawrence Woodruff 2002 Comedian Himself Documentary 2003 Baadasssss! 2004 Fat Albert Also executive producer and writer
Sources: Turner Classic Movies and Internet Movie Database
Television Year Title Role Notes 1965–1968 I Spy Alexander Scott Main role (82 episodes) 1969 Hey, Hey, Hey, It's Fat Albert Bill/Fat Albert/Dumb Donald/Mushmouth Voice; Movie; also writer 1969–1971 The Bill Cosby Show Chet Kincaid Lead role (52 episodes); also executive producer 1970–1972 Sesame Street Himself 11 episodes 1971–1973 The Electric Company Hank 260 episodes 1971 The Fourth Bill Cosby Special, Or?https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39185651/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/548191285/ Himself 1971 Aesop's Fables Aesop30-minute animated special 1972 The New Bill Cosby Show Himself/host 1972–1985 Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Bill/"Fat" Albert Jackson/Mushmouth/Brown Hornet Himself/host Voice; Main role (34 episodes); also the creator 1972 To All My Friends on Shore Blue Movie 1974 Journey Back to Oz The Wizard of Oz TV version 1975 Cher Doctor Accompanied by sweetums 1976 Cos Himself/host Series 1977–1990 Pinwheel Himself Host of the Picture Pages segment 1978 Top Secret Aaron Strickland Movie 1984–1992 The Cosby Show Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable Main role (197 episodes); also creator and theme music composer 1987 A Different World 3 episodes; also creator and theme music composer 1987 Bill Cosby: 49 HimselfConcert film of his then current stand-up act; also writer 1989 Sesame Street... 20 Years & Still Counting Himself/hostTV special 1992–1993 You Bet Your Life Game show; also theme music composer 1994–1995 The Cosby Mysteries Guy Hanks Lead role (18 episodes) 1994 I Spy Returns Alexander Scott Movie 1996–2000 Cosby Hilton Lucas Main role (95 episodes); also exec. producer and theme music composer 1998–2000 Kids Say the Darndest Things Himself/host 1999–2004 Little Bill Himself/Captain Brainstorm (voice) Also exec. producer, writer and theme music composer 2004 Sesame Street Himself Episode: 4071 2010–2012 OBKB 33 episodes; also executive producer2013Far From Finished2014Bill Cosby: 77Release cancelled
Sources: Internet Movie Database
References
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