Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Bill Cosby
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Bill Cosby made an impact.
Bill Cosby is a retired American comedian, actor, and media personality, notable for his success in stand-up, television (particularly 'The Cosby Show'), and advertising. Initially celebrated as a pioneer for African Americans in entertainment and admired for his 'America's Dad' image, Cosby's career and reputation were destroyed by dozens of sexual assault allegations beginning in 2014. These allegations led to his conviction, imprisonment, and subsequent release after his conviction was vacated, drastically altering his legacy.
1902: Targeting parents for Jell-O
In 1902, the launch of Jell-O saw the product targeting parents rather than to children.
1965: Starred in I Spy
In 1965, Bill Cosby starred in the television show I Spy alongside Robert Culp.
1965: First Advertisement for White Owl Cigars
In 1965, Cosby's first advertisement was for White Owl cigars, before the debut of I Spy. Sales of the product rose despite the stigma around using a black spokesperson.
1966: Emmy Award for I Spy
In 1966, Bill Cosby won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in I Spy, becoming the first African American to earn an Emmy for acting.
1967: Release of "Little Ole Man (Uptight, Everything's Alright)"
In 1967, Bill Cosby released the single "Little Ole Man (Uptight, Everything's Alright)" from his album Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings, which charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
1967: Collection of African-American Art
Since 1967, Bill Cosby and his wife collected more than three hundred works of African-American art.
December 1968: Publication of "The Regular Way" in Playboy
In December 1968, Bill Cosby's story, "The Regular Way", was published in Playboy magazine.
1968: Continued Role in I Spy
In 1968, Bill Cosby continued his starring role in the television show I Spy.
1969: Starred in The Bill Cosby Show
In 1969, Bill Cosby starred in the sitcom The Bill Cosby Show.
1971: Continued Role in The Bill Cosby Show
In 1971, Bill Cosby continued his starring role in the sitcom The Bill Cosby Show.
1971: Starred in Man and Boy
In 1971, Bill Cosby starred in the western film Man and Boy.
1972: Created Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
In 1972, Bill Cosby created, produced, and hosted the animated comedy television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.
1973: Starred in The Electric Company
In 1973, Bill Cosby starred in The Electric Company alongside Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman.
1974: Starred in Uptown Saturday Night
In 1974, Bill Cosby starred in Sidney Poitier's crime comedy Uptown Saturday Night.
1974: Promotion of Jell-O Pudding
In 1974, Cosby began promoting Jell-O pudding for General Foods, leading to sales growth after a long decline. Cosby's Jell-O Pudding commercials were not permitted to be used in child directed television because celebrity endorsements were prohibited in advertising to children.
1975: Starred in Let's Do It Again
In 1975, Bill Cosby starred in Sidney Poitier's crime comedy Let's Do It Again.
1976: Starred in Mother, Jugs & Speed
In 1976, Bill Cosby starred in the comedy Mother, Jugs & Speed.
1977: Starred in A Piece of the Action
In 1977, Bill Cosby starred in Sidney Poitier's crime comedy A Piece of the Action.
1978: Starred in California Suite
In 1978, Bill Cosby starred in Neil Simon's California Suite alongside Richard Pryor.
1979: Hosting the Los Angeles Playboy Jazz Festival
In 1979, Bill Cosby began hosting the Los Angeles Playboy Jazz Festival.
1979: Commercials for Coca-Cola
In 1979, Cosby appeared in commercials for Coca-Cola's "Have a Coke and a Smile" campaign and made a guest appearance at the Great Get-Together.
1979: Introduction of Pudding Pops
In 1979, General Foods introduced Pudding Pops, the company's first frozen dessert product, with Cosby as the spokesperson, selling US$100 million its first year.
1981: "Have a Coke and a Smile" campaign continued
In 1981, Cosby continued to appear in commercials for Coca-Cola's "Have a Coke and a Smile" campaign.
1982: "Coke Is It" campaign
In 1982, Cosby returned as Coca-Cola's spokesperson in its "Coke Is It" campaign, mocking the Pepsi Challenge.
1983: Release of Bill Cosby: Himself
In 1983, Bill Cosby's comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself was released and received positively.
September 1984: Debut of The Cosby Show
In September 1984, The Cosby Show debuted. Cosby co-produced the series, held creative control, and was involved in every aspect of production. The show was an immediate success, remaining near the top of the ratings for most of its eight-season run.
1985: Continued run of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
In 1985, Bill Cosby continued the run of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, which ran until that year.
1985: The Cosby Show becomes #1 in America
In 1985, The Cosby Show became the number-one show in America, a position it held until 1989.
1987: Produced A Different World
In 1987, Bill Cosby produced the spin-off sitcom A Different World.
1987: Attempt to Return to Film with Leonard Part 6
In 1987, Cosby attempted to return to film with the spy spoof Leonard Part 6. Despite being the producer and writer, Cosby denounced the film during production. The film marked the first project for Columbia greenlighted by studio executive David Puttman.
1989: Kraft General Foods Merger
Despite the 1989 merger of General Foods into Kraft, the newly merged company Kraft General Foods let Cosby remain with Jell-O as their spokesperson.
1989: The Cosby Show remains #1 in America
In 1989, The Cosby Show was rated as the number-one show in America, concluding its run at the top.
1990: Endorsement of the United States census
In 1990, Cosby endorsed the United States census.
1990: Starring in Ghost Dad
In 1990, Cosby reunited with Sidney Poitier, starring in Ghost Dad.
1992: Projects After The Cosby Show
In 1992, after The Cosby Show ended, Cosby embarked on several projects, including a revival of You Bet Your Life.
1993: End of A Different World
In 1993, Bill Cosby's spin-off sitcom A Different World ended its run.
1993: Appearance in The Meteor Man
In 1993, Cosby appeared in a minor role in Robert Townsend's superhero comedy, The Meteor Man.
1994: Starred in The Cosby Mysteries
In 1994, Bill Cosby starred in The Cosby Mysteries.
February 6, 1995: Hosting a CBS special, Kids Say the Darndest Things
On February 6, 1995, Cosby hosted a CBS special, Kids Say the Darndest Things.
1995: End of The Cosby Mysteries
In 1995, Bill Cosby's show, The Cosby Mysteries, ended its run.
1996: Appearance in Jack
In 1996, Cosby appeared in a minor role in Francis Ford Coppola's coming of age film, Jack.
1996: New Show Cosby for CBS
In 1996, Cosby started a new show for CBS, titled Cosby, co-starring Phylicia Rashād. The show, which Cosby co-produced, centered on him as Hilton Lucas.
January 9, 1998: Kids Say the Darndest Things full-season show
From January 9, 1998, Cosby hosted a full-season show of Kids Say the Darndest Things.
1998: Hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things
In 1998, Bill Cosby hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things.
1998: Lighting of Jell-O Billboard in Times Square
In 1998, Cosby was present for the lighting of the Jell-O brand's first billboard in New York's Times Square.
1999: Created Little Bill
In 1999, Bill Cosby created and produced the animated children's program Little Bill.
1999: 25th Year as Jell-O Spokesman and Distribution of Little Bill Books
In 1999, Cosby's 25th year as spokesman for Jell-O, the company distributed 120,000 copies of his picture book series, Little Bill, into American public libraries.
1999: Debut of Little Bill on Nickelodeon
In 1999, Little Bill, a series for preschoolers created by Cosby, debuted on Nickelodeon.
April 28, 2000: Last Episode of Cosby
On April 28, 2000, the last episode of Cosby aired.
June 23, 2000: End of Kids Say the Darndest Things
Kids Say the Darndest Things ended on June 23, 2000.
November 2000: Renewal of Little Bill
In November 2000, Nickelodeon renewed the popular program Little Bill.
2000: End of Cosby and Kids Say the Darndest Things
In 2000, both the sitcom Cosby and the show Kids Say the Darndest Things, which Cosby hosted, ended their runs.
2001: Promotion of Jell-O as State Snack
In 2001, Cosby appeared at the Utah State Senate to designate Jell-O the official state snack.
2001: Publication of New Book and Commencement Addresses
In 2001, Cosby's agenda included the publication of a new book and delivering commencement addresses at multiple colleges.
2001: Change in Jell-O Advertising Target
In 2001, Jell-O departed from its traditional targeting of parents and began targeting children.
2002: Longest-Serving Celebrity Spokesperson
As of 2002, Cosby held the record for being the longest-serving celebrity spokesperson for a product, through his work with Jell-O.
2002: Longest-standing celebrity endorsement
As of 2002, Cosby's time with Jell-O was considered the longest-standing celebrity endorsement in American advertising history.
2003: Appearance in Baadasssss!
In 2003, Cosby made an appearance in Mario Van Peebles' film Baadasssss!.
May 2004: Public Remarks on African American Priorities
In May 2004, Bill Cosby made public remarks critical of African Americans who prioritized sports, fashion, and "acting hard" over education, self-respect, and self-improvement. He also delivered the Pound Cake speech, advocating for better morals education for children.
December 2004: Release of Fat Albert Film
In December 2004, the live-action feature film Fat Albert, co-written and executive produced by Cosby, was released in theaters, with Cosby making an appearance as himself.
2004: Involvement with The Jazz Foundation of America
In 2004, Bill Cosby became involved with The Jazz Foundation of America, hosting its annual benefit, A Great Night in Harlem.
2004: Promotional Visit to Jell-O Gallery
In 2004, Cosby made a promotional visit to the Jell-O Gallery.
2004: End of Little Bill
In 2004, the animated children's program Little Bill, created and produced by Bill Cosby, ended its run.
May 2007: Commencement Speech at High Point University
In May 2007, Cosby spoke at the commencement of High Point University.
2008: Comments on Crime and African American Youth
In a 2008 interview, Bill Cosby discussed high crime rates and the disproportionate number of young African American men being murdered and jailed in cities like Philadelphia and Chicago. Following Barack Obama's election, Cosby expressed skepticism about its impact on onscreen diversity.
2009: Hosting Comedy Gala at Just for Laughs
In the summer of 2009, Cosby hosted a comedy gala at Montreal's Just for Laughs festival.
2010: Return to Jell-O as Executive Producer
In 2010, Cosby returned to Jell-O as executive producer for the company's "Hello Jell-O" campaign, with the brand sponsoring his web show OBKB.
2012: End of Hosting the Los Angeles Playboy Jazz Festival
In 2012, Bill Cosby's tenure as the host of the Los Angeles Playboy Jazz Festival came to an end.
2014: Younger comics credit Cosby as an innovator
Before the 2014 allegations surfaced, well-established comics like Jerry Seinfeld had credited Bill Cosby as an innovator in stand-up comedy and for paving the way for comics in sitcom television.
2014: End of Advertising Roles Due to Allegations
In 2014, Cosby ceased appearing in advertising roles following widespread publicity of sexual assault allegations against him.
2021: Attempted Post-Prison Comeback
Following his release from prison in 2021, Bill Cosby attempted to make a comeback, with plans for a comedy tour, a five-part docuseries, and a book release, but later put them on hold due to ongoing legal problems.
2022: Release of "We Need to Talk About Cosby" Documentary
In 2022, W. Kamau Bell released the Showtime documentary "We Need to Talk About Cosby," which explores Cosby's life, career, and sexual assault cases. Cosby's representative denied the allegations, highlighting Cosby's history of supporting the excluded and disenfranchised.
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