History of Bill Cosby in Timeline
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.
1944: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" Written
In 1944, the song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" was written. In 2018, the Christmas song was pulled from several radio stations amid controversy that its lyrics allegedly promote sexual predation.
January 25, 1964: Marriage to Camille Hanks
On January 25, 1964, Bill Cosby married Camille Hanks. They have five children together.
1965: Starring Role in I Spy
In 1965, Bill Cosby began starring in the television show I Spy alongside Robert Culp.
1965: Birth of Erika Cosby
In 1965, Erika Cosby, Bill Cosby's daughter, was born.
1965: Beginning of Alleged Assaults
In 1965, allegations started for alleged assaults by Cosby committed against women.
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.
1966: Birth of Erinn Cosby
In 1966, Erinn Cosby, Bill Cosby's daughter, was born.
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.
1969: Alleged Assault on Ladd
In 1969, Cindra Ladd alleged that Bill Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her.
1969: Birth of Ennis Cosby
In 1969, Ennis Cosby, Bill Cosby's son, was born.
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.
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.
1973: End of The Electric Company Role
In 1973, Bill Cosby's role in The Electric Company concluded.
1973: Birth of Ensa Cosby
In 1973, Ensa Cosby, Bill Cosby's daughter, was born.
1974: Starring in Uptown Saturday Night
In 1974, Bill Cosby starred in Sidney Poitier's crime comedy Uptown Saturday Night.
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.
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.
1976: Birth of Evin Cosby
In 1976, Evin Cosby, Bill Cosby's daughter, was born.
1977: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 1977, Bill Cosby received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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.
1984: Endorsement of Jesse Jackson
In 1984, Bill Cosby endorsed Reverend Jesse Jackson in his presidential bid.
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.
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.
1987: Production of A Different World
In 1987, Bill Cosby produced the spin-off sitcom A Different World.
1988: Second Endorsement of Jesse Jackson
In 1988, Bill Cosby endorsed Reverend Jesse Jackson in his presidential bid for the second time.
1988: Initiation into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
In 1988, Bill Cosby was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi fraternity's Beta Alpha Alpha graduate chapter in White Plains, New York.
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.
January 16, 1997: Ennis Cosby's Murder
On January 16, 1997, Cosby's son, Ennis Cosby, was murdered while changing a flat tire in Los Angeles.
1998: Hosting Kids Say the Darndest Things
In 1998, Bill Cosby hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things.
1998: Kennedy Center Honor
In 1998, Bill Cosby received a Kennedy Center Honor, which was later rescinded in 2018 due to sexual assault allegations.
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.
July 2002: Cosby Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom
In July 2002, Bill Cosby received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.
2002: Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2002, Bill Cosby received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush.
2003: Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
In 2003, Bill Cosby received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
May 2004: Critical 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 urged African American families to educate their children on American culture and morals.
2004: Involvement with The Jazz Foundation of America
In 2004, Bill Cosby became involved with The Jazz Foundation of America.
2004: End of Alleged Assaults
In 2004, accusations of alleged assaults by Cosby against women ended.
2004: End of Little Bill
In 2004, the animated children's program Little Bill concluded.
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.
2005: Publication of "Is Bill Cosby Right?"
In 2005, Michael Eric Dyson wrote the book, "Is Bill Cosby Right? Or Has the Black Middle Class Lost Its Mind?" critiquing Cosby's views on poverty and crime, suggesting his comments were elitist. Cornel West defended Cosby's remarks as compassionate.
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.
November 2007: Public Impression Towards Barack Obama
In November 2007, Bill Cosby gave the public the impression that he was miffed towards Barack Obama. Despite this, he later expressed strong approval after Obama was elected president.
2008: Comments on Crime and Moral Behavior
In a 2008 interview, Bill Cosby addressed the issue of high crime rates and the disproportionate number of young African American men being murdered and jailed in cities like Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, California, and Springfield, Massachusetts. He maintained that African American parents were failing to instill proper moral standards.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
2014: "Conversations" Art Exhibit
In 2014, the Cosbys' African-American art collection went on display in "Conversations" at the National Museum of African Art. The show was controversial because of sexual assault allegations made against Cosby.
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.
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.
2016: Cosby Reported to be Legally Blind
In 2016, Bill Cosby's attorneys reported that he is now legally blind.
April 2017: Interview with National Newspaper Publishers Association
In April 2017, Bill Cosby agreed to be interviewed by the National Newspaper Publishers Association, due to their perceived focus on 'facts over sensationalism'.
February 23, 2018: Ensa Cosby's Death
On February 23, 2018, Cosby's daughter, Ensa Cosby, died of renal disease while awaiting a kidney transplant.
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?".
January 28, 2019: Cosby Moved to General Population
On January 28, 2019, Bill Cosby was moved from administrative segregation into the general population at SCI Phoenix.
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: 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.
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.
2022: Law & Order Episode Inspired by Cosby
The 2022 premiere of the 21st season of "Law & Order" featured a plot centered around the murder of an entertainer released from prison after his conviction was overturned similarly to Cosby's case.
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.
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