Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Bill Cosby
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Bill Cosby made an impact.
Bill Cosby was a highly successful American comedian, actor, and television star, particularly known for 'The Cosby Show' and his stand-up comedy. He cultivated a fatherly image and was once celebrated as 'America's Dad'. Beginning in 2014, numerous allegations of sexual assault surfaced against him, leading to his conviction and imprisonment in 2018. These allegations and subsequent conviction effectively ended his career and drastically altered his public perception.
1965: Starring Role in I Spy
In 1965, Bill Cosby began starring in the television show I Spy alongside Robert Culp.
1966: Primetime 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: Start of African-American Art Collection
In 1967, Bill Cosby and his wife began collecting African-American art.
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, charting on the Billboard Hot 100.
December 1968: Publication in Playboy
In December 1968, Bill Cosby's story, "The Regular Way", was featured in Playboy magazine.
1968: End of I Spy Role
In 1968, Bill Cosby's role in the television show I Spy concluded.
1969: Starring Role in The Bill Cosby Show
In 1969, Bill Cosby started in the sitcom The Bill Cosby Show.
1971: Role in Man and Boy and The Electric Company
In 1971, Bill Cosby starred in the film Man and Boy and joined the original cast of The Electric Company.
1972: Creation of 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: End of The Electric Company Role
In 1973, Bill Cosby's role in The Electric Company concluded.
1974: Starring in Uptown Saturday Night
In 1974, Bill Cosby starred in Sidney Poitier's crime comedy Uptown Saturday Night.
1975: Starring in Let's Do It Again
In 1975, Bill Cosby starred in Sidney Poitier's crime comedy Let's Do It Again.
1976: Starring in Mother, Jugs & Speed
In 1976, Bill Cosby starred in the comedy Mother, Jugs & Speed.
1977: Starring in A Piece of the Action
In 1977, Bill Cosby starred in Sidney Poitier's crime comedy A Piece of the Action.
1978: Starring 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.
1983: Release of Bill Cosby: Himself
In 1983, Bill Cosby's comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself was released and well-received.
1985: The Cosby Show Rated Number One
In 1985, The Cosby Show was rated as the number-one show in America, a position it held until 1989.
1985: End of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
In 1985, the animated comedy television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids concluded.
1987: Production of A Different World
In 1987, Bill Cosby produced the spin-off sitcom A Different World.
1989: The Cosby Show ends its run as number-one show
In 1989, The Cosby Show ended its run as the number-one show in America.
1993: End of A Different World
In 1993, the sitcom A Different World concluded.
1994: Starring in The Cosby Mysteries
In 1994, Bill Cosby starred in The Cosby Mysteries.
1998: Hosting Kids Say the Darndest Things
In 1998, Bill Cosby hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things.
1999: Creation of Little Bill
In 1999, Bill Cosby created and produced the animated children's program Little Bill.
2000: End of Cosby and Kids Say the Darndest Things
In 2000, the sitcom Cosby and the show Kids Say the Darndest Things concluded.
2004: Involvement with The Jazz Foundation of America
In 2004, Bill Cosby became involved with The Jazz Foundation of America.
2004: End of Little Bill
In 2004, the animated children's program Little Bill concluded.
2012: End of Playboy Jazz Festival Hosting
In 2012, Bill Cosby stopped hosting the Los Angeles Playboy Jazz Festival, which he had been hosting since 1979.
2014: Before Allegations: Cosby as Innovator
Before the 2014 allegations surfaced, younger, well-established comics like Jerry Seinfeld credited Bill Cosby as an innovator in stand-up comedy and for paving the way for comics to break into sitcom television.
2021: Reported Comeback Plans After Prison Release
Following his release from prison in 2021, it was reported that Bill Cosby was planning a comeback, including a comedy tour, a docuseries, and a book. However, these plans were later put 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," exploring Cosby's life, career, and sexual assault cases through conversations with comedians, journalists, and survivors. Cosby's representative denied all allegations.
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