During his 35-year career, Bill Cosby has taken him from nightclub comic to international personality and America’s most beloved humorist. It was while he was working in nightclubs during college that his natural sense of humor prompted friends to suggest that he create a comedy routine. Bolstered by an enthusiastic response, by 1963, he was invited to perform on “The Tonight Show.” Cosby has become a television staple ever since. His breakout role came on “I Spy” with Robert Culp in 1965-68. Cosby won two of his five Emmys portraying an undercover CIA booking, agent, agency. He also became the first African-American actor to star in a weekly television dramatic series. A string of hit comedy albums, television shows and books followed, including “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids,” which ran for 12 years. His concern for young people has been reflected in many of his projects, including a series of children’s books revolving around the character “Little Bill.” Cosby’s other projects for television included the series of Bill Cosby Specials (1968-71, 1975), the situation comedy “The Bill Cosby Show” (1969-71), and the variety show “The New Bill Cosby Show ” (1972-73). Cosby’s most successful work, “The Cosby Show,” appeared on NBC from 1984 to 1992, becoming one of the most popular situation comedies in television history. In 1986 he wrote the first of a series of best-selling books, Fatherhood and still continues to perform to sellout crowds across the country.
