Challenges in the Life of Bill Cosby in a Detailed Timeline

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Bill Cosby. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

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.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1965: Beginning of Alleged Assaults

In 1965, allegations started for alleged assaults by Cosby committed against women.

1969: Alleged Assault on Ladd

In 1969, Cindra Ladd alleged that Bill Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her.

1972: Alleged Assault on Motsinger

In 1972, Donna Motsinger alleged that Bill Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her, leading to a civil suit filed in 2023.

1975: Alleged Assault on Judy Huth

In 1975, Bill Cosby allegedly sexually assaulted Judy Huth when she was 16 years old, according to a civil suit filed in 2014.

1986: Johnson's Allegation

In 1986, model Beverly Johnson alleged that she was drugged by Bill Cosby during an audition, and that she knew other women with similar accounts.

1986: Bowman's Alleged Assaults

In early 1986, Barbara Bowman reported two incidents, where she was an eighteen-year-old aspiring model and actress and stated that Bill Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her after becoming her mentor, and Cosby subverted her career.

1998: Kennedy Center Honor

In 1998, Bill Cosby received a Kennedy Center Honor, which was later rescinded in 2018 due to sexual assault allegations.

2004: End of Alleged Assaults

In 2004, accusations of alleged assaults by Cosby against women ended.

February 2005: District Attorney Declines to Prosecute

In February 2005, District Attorney Bruce Castor declined to authorize the filing of criminal charges against Bill Cosby regarding Andrea Constand's allegations, citing insufficient evidence.

2005: Constand's Civil Suit

In 2005, Andrea Constand filed a civil suit against Bill Cosby, which later led to court records being unsealed and his deposition being released in July 2015.

June 9, 2006: Publication of "Dr. Huxtable & Mr. Hyde"

On June 9, 2006, Philadelphia magazine published Robert Huber's article, "Dr. Huxtable & Mr. Hyde", detailing Andrea Constand's allegations and similar stories from other women who accused Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them.

November 1, 2006: Publication of Barbara Bowman's Allegations

On November 1, 2006, Philadelphia magazine published Barbara Bowman's allegations against Bill Cosby, detailing incidents from early 1986 in which she claimed Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her when she was an aspiring model and actress.

2006: Civil Settlement Clarification

In 2006, a joint statement from Bill Cosby and Andrea Constand clarified that Cosby's statement dismissing the allegations did not refer to Constand's case, which was resolved years ago with a civil settlement.

2009: Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

In 2009, Bill Cosby received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which was later rescinded in 2018 due to sexual assault allegations.

2013: Criticism of Republican Politicians and Unsealing of Documents

In a 2013 CNN interview, Bill Cosby criticized conservative Republican politicians' views on socioeconomic and racial issues. His social commentary led to the unsealing of documents in a previous civil suit alleging sexual assault, sparking renewed interest in older allegations.

October 16, 2014: Hannibal Buress's Comedy Routine

On October 16, 2014, Hannibal Buress addressed Cosby's legacy during a comedy routine in Philadelphia, criticizing Cosby's public moralizing by stating "Yeah, but you raped women, Bill Cosby, so that kind of brings you down a couple notches."

November 2014: Cosby's Response to Allegations

In November 2014, Bill Cosby responded to a question about the allegations against him by stating, "I don't talk about it."

November 2014: Increased Accusations Against Cosby

In November 2014, following Hannibal Buress's remarks, several women, including Janice Dickinson, Louisa Moritz, and others, accused Bill Cosby of alleged sexual assaults committed between 1965 and 2004.

2014: Huth's Civil Suit Filed

In 2014, Judy Huth filed a civil suit against Bill Cosby in California, alleging that he had sexually assaulted her in 1975 when she was 16 years old.

January 2015: Cindra Ladd's Allegation

In January 2015, Cindra Ladd alleged that Bill Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1969.

May 2015: Cosby's Statement on the Situation

In May 2015, Bill Cosby said about the allegations, "I have been in this business 52 years and I've never seen anything like this. Reality is a situation and I can't speak."

May 2015: Lili Bernard's Claim

In May 2015, Lili Bernard claimed that Bill Cosby sexually assaulted her in the early 1990s, and that she had been interviewed by police regarding the allegation.

July 2015: Petition to Revoke Medal of Freedom

In July 2015, PAVE launched a WhiteHouse.gov petition calling for President Barack Obama to revoke Bill Cosby's Presidential Medal of Freedom.

July 2015: Unsealing of Court Records

In July 2015, some of the court records from Andrea Constand's 2005 civil suit against Bill Cosby were unsealed and released to the public, including Cosby's deposition where he admitted to casual sex with young women involving methaqualone (Quaalude).

July 27, 2015: New York Magazine Cover Story

On July 27, 2015, New York magazine's cover featured images of 35 women alleging they were assaulted by Bill Cosby, highlighting a culture that wouldn't listen.

September 17, 2015: Cosby: The Women Speak Documentary

On September 17, 2015, A&E broadcast the documentary "Cosby: The Women Speak", featuring interviews with thirteen alleged victims of Bill Cosby.

Loading Video...

2015: Loss of Eyesight

In 2015, Bill Cosby reportedly lost his eyesight, which was later confirmed in an April 2017 interview.

2015: Ebony Magazine Cover Story

In 2015, Ebony magazine released an issue with the allegations against Bill Cosby as the cover story, discussing the importance of "The Cosby Show" and the possibility of separating Bill Cosby from Cliff Huxtable.

Loading Video...

2016: Cosby Reported to be Legally Blind

In 2016, Bill Cosby's attorneys reported that he is now legally blind.

April 26, 2018: Cosby Found Guilty

On April 26, 2018, following a jury trial, Bill Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand.

May 3, 2018: Expulsion from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

On May 3, 2018, Bill Cosby, along with Roman Polanski and Harvey Weinstein, was expelled from the Actors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for breaching the academy's standards of conduct.

September 25, 2018: Cosby Sentenced to Prison

On September 25, 2018, Bill Cosby was sentenced to three to ten years in state prison, a $25,000 fine, and court costs related to both trials; he was moved to SCI Phoenix on the same day.

2018: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" Controversy

In late 2018, amid controversy over allegedly promoting sexual predation, the Christmas song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" was pulled from several radio stations, with Susan Loesser blaming Bill Cosby for backlash against the lyric "say, what's in this drink?".

Loading Video...

December 10, 2019: Verdict Upheld

On December 10, 2019, the Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld the verdict against Bill Cosby on the initial level of appeal.

June 23, 2020: Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Hear Appeal

On June 23, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to hear a further level of appeal of Bill Cosby's sexual assault conviction, based on questions about testimony from a witness being "more prejudicial than probative".

June 30, 2021: Cosby's Conviction Overturned

On June 30, 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Bill Cosby's conviction, citing violations of his due process rights related to a prior agreement with a district attorney.

November 2021: DA Seeks to Overturn Decision

In November 2021, the District Attorney filed papers with the Supreme Court of the United States seeking to have the Court consider whether to overturn the decision of the state supreme court regarding Cosby's overturned conviction.

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.

January 2022: Cosby's Attorney Files Response

In late January 2022, Bill Cosby's attorney filed a response, urging the Supreme Court to decline review of the decision of the Pennsylvania court to overturn his conviction.

March 7, 2022: Supreme Court Declines to Review

On March 7, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to review the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to overturn Bill Cosby's conviction.

2022: Jury Rules in Favor of Huth

In 2022, the jury ruled in favor of Judy Huth in her civil suit against Bill Cosby, and Cosby was ordered to pay $500,000 in compensatory damages.

2023: Motsinger Files Civil Suit

In 2023, Donna Motsinger filed a civil suit alleging that Bill Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1972, with Cosby naming Dr. Leroy Amar as the source of the quaaludes.