William Henry Cosby Jr., known as Bill Cosby, was born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is an American former comedian, actor, author, producer, musician, and activist. Cosby gained a reputation as "America's Dad" for his portrayal of Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984–1992).

Bill Cosby was born to Anna Pearl, a maid, and William Henry Cosby Sr., a U.S. Navy sailor. He has been married to Camille Hanks since 1964 and they have five children: Erika, Erinn, Ennis, Ensa, and Evin.

He left high school without earning his diploma and joined the U.S. Navy in 1956. While enlisted, he passed a high-school equivalency exam, and after his discharge, he received an athletic scholarship to Temple University in Philadelphia in 1961.

During his sophomore year, he left Temple to entertain at the Gaslight Cafe in Greenwich Village, New York City, where he began to establish a trademark comedic style characterized by a friendly and accessible stage persona and a relaxed, carefully timed delivery.

Bill Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the hungry i nightclub in San Francisco during the 1960s. 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 secret-agent show I Spy (1965–1968) opposite Robert Culp. He 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, Bill Cosby created, produced, and hosted the animated comedy television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids which ran until 1985.

His lifestyle has been marked by simplicity and a love for people, God, his family, and close friends. However, his lifestyle has been marred by numerous allegations of sexual assault.

Throughout the entire process of his legal battles, he remained married to his wife Camille. In fact, she has been adamant about his innocence and has displayed support time and again towards her husband.

Some of his best movies include "Ghost Dad", "Leonard Part 6", "Man and Boy", "Mother, Jugs & Speed", "The Devil and Max Devlin", "Let's Do It Again", "Uptown Saturday Night", "Hickey & Boggs", "A Piece of the Action", and "California Suite" among others.

Bill Cosby has received numerous awards and honorary degrees throughout his career, including the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album from 1965 to 1970, the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1966, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002.

However, many of these awards were revoked following sexual assault allegations made against him in 2014.