Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable is a fictional character and the protagonist of the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show , which aired from 1984 to 1992. He was portrayed by actor and comedian Bill Cosby and appeared in all 201 episodes of the show.
117-402: William Henry Cosby Jr. ( / ˈ k ɒ z b i / KOZ -bee ; born July 12, 1937) is an American retired comedian, actor, and media personality. He performed over a period of decades in film, television, and stand-up comedy, with his longest-running live-action role being that of Cliff Huxtable in the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He also released several stand-up comedy albums and
234-482: A CBS documentary addressing the representation of black people in popular culture. Andy Rooney wrote the Emmy-awarded script for Cosby to read. Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson said it was one of "the rare exceptions when Cosby took off the gloves and blinders, to discuss race in public with candor and discernment". Due to its popularity and controversial nature, it was rebroadcast less than
351-639: A civil claim in March 2005, with thirteen women as potential witnesses if the case went to court. Cosby settled out of court for an undisclosed amount in November 2006. After learning that charges were not pursued in the Constand case, California lawyer Tamara Lucier Green, the only publicly named woman in the prior case, came forward with allegations in February 2005 that Cosby had drugged and assaulted her in
468-494: A laugh track in the show, as he felt viewers had the ability to find humor for themselves when watching a TV show. For the PBS series The Electric Company , Cosby recorded several segments teaching reading skills to young children. Cosby resumed his formal education in 1971; he began graduate work at UMass Amherst . In 1972, he was back in prime time with a variety series, The New Bill Cosby Show . However, this show lasted only
585-923: A magnet school and academically rigorous college prep school , where he ran track and played baseball, football , and basketball. He transferred to Germantown High School but failed the tenth grade. In 1956, Cosby enlisted in the Navy and served as a hospital corpsman at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia ; at Naval Station Argentia in Newfoundland , Canada; and at the National Naval Medical Center in Maryland . He worked in physical therapy with Navy and Marine Corps personnel who were injured during
702-444: A 'massive breach of protocol'. The court reporters' code of ethics prohibits the release of testimony without all parties first being contacted. Cosby also made further accusations that Constand had violated the confidentiality agreement, referring to vague postings on her Twitter account (including one that simply contained the word "YES!"). Troiani filed a response in which she denied that she or Constand had anything to do with
819-479: A Jell-O spokesman through the 1990s. He was present for the lighting of the brand's first billboard in New York's Times Square in 1998. In 1999, Cosby's 25th year as spokesman for Jell-O, was also the final year he appeared in its advertising. The company distributed 120,000 copies of his picture book series, Little Bill , into American public libraries. Despite the transitions of advertising agencies and despite
936-452: A July 2005 Philadelphia Daily News interview, Beth Ferrier, one of the anonymous "Jane Doe" witnesses in the Constand case, alleged that in 1984 Cosby drugged her coffee and she awoke with her clothes askew. After learning that charges were not pursued in the case, California lawyer Tamara Lucier Green, the only publicly named woman in the prior case, came forward with allegations in February 2005 that Cosby had drugged and assaulted her in
1053-420: A November 2014 article published by Salon accusing Cosby of assaulting a friend of hers, with whom she subsequently had lost contact. The following month, in a Vanity Fair article, model Beverly Johnson alleged that she was drugged by Cosby during a 1986 audition , and that she knew other women with similar accounts. Cosby's attorney said Dickinson's account differed from prior accounts she had given of
1170-501: A black spokesperson, sales of the product rose. According to an entry in Ad Age Encyclopedia , the public acceptance of Cosby and Robert Culp appearing as equals on I Spy made it possible for advertisers to show black people and white people together in their commercials. First of all and lastly, I'm good—that's all—I'm good. I don't rewrite their material. I take it and I make it. Cosby attributing his success in
1287-430: A brother, James Theodore Huxtable, who died of rheumatic fever at the age of 7. In his high school and college years, he was an athlete who wrestled , played football , and ran track . He later served in the U.S. Navy before going to medical school. He is an OB/GYN who runs a practice from the office annexed to his home. In the show, most characters outside of family and friends refer to him as "Dr. Huxtable", and he
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#17327657817751404-558: A conversational style. He released numerous standup specials starting with Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right! (1963) and starred in the comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself (1983). Cosby still holds the record for winning the most Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album , with seven wins. His acting career began with a starring role in the NBC secret-agent show I Spy (1965–1968). Cosby broke new ground for African Americans when he made history by winning three Primetime Emmy Awards for
1521-666: A criminal complaint with the police against Cosby and criminal investigation was opened by the Montgomery County Detectives in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania . Constand's mother called Cosby, who apologized and offered to cover therapy costs, plus Constand's education at Temple. However, behind-the-scenes, Cosby was maintaining his innocence by saying that the sexual encounter was consensual. During the investigation, Cosby remarked that "I will not give in to people who exploit me because of my celebrity status." During
1638-561: A deposition, would state that the pills were the over-the-counter antihistamine, Benadryl. They made her semiconscious and unable to move. Then, Cosby allegedly touched her breasts and crotch and put her hand on his penis. She further claimed that she woke up around 4 a.m. to find her clothing all over the room. Constand returned to Ontario in April 2004. However, she continued to have contact with Cosby and took her parents to meet Cosby at an August 2004 show. In January 2005, Constand filed
1755-434: A disgraced financial company, he continued to be considered effective and believable. In the 1980s, studies found Cosby the "most familiar" and "most persuasive" spokesperson, to the point where Cosby attributed his wealth to these contracts primarily, over his television series. Cosby's first advertisement was for White Owl cigars. His agent approached them in 1965, before the debut of I Spy , but after several appearances on
1872-476: A dozen record albums for Warner Bros. Records. He also began to dabble in singing, recording Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings in 1967. In June 1968, Billboard magazine reported that Cosby had turned down a five-year, $ 3.5 million contract renewal offer and would leave the label in August that year to record for his own record label. In July 1968, Cosby narrated Black History: Lost, Stolen, or Strayed ,
1989-556: A full-season show, with Cosby as host, from January 9, 1998, to June 23, 2000. After four seasons, Cosby was canceled. Its last episode aired April 28, 2000. Kids Say the Darndest Things was terminated the same year. A series for preschoolers , Little Bill , created by Cosby as a semi-biographical representation of his childhood growing up in Philadelphia, made its debut on Nickelodeon in 1999. The network renewed
2106-409: A maid, and William Henry Cosby Sr., who served as a mess steward in the U.S. Navy . Cosby was the class president as well as captain of both the baseball and track-and-field teams at Mary Channing Wister Public School in Philadelphia. Teachers noted his propensity for joking around instead of studying, and he described himself as the class clown. Cosby attended Philadelphia's Central High School ,
2223-581: A month later. Tetragrammaton Records , a division of the Campbell, Silver, Cosby (CSC) Corporation—the Los Angeles–based production company founded by Cosby, his manager Roy Silver, and filmmaker Bruce Post Campbell—produced films as well as records, including Cosby's television specials, the Fat Albert cartoon special and series, and several motion pictures. CSC hired Artie Mogull as President of
2340-440: A mostly positive reception from critics, and was named as the "Greatest Television Dad". Cosby's portrayal of Cliff Huxtable caused him to gain a reputation as "America's Dad". He was frequently shown wearing colourful sweaters. Cosby proposed that the couple should both have blue-collar jobs, with the father a limousine driver, who owned his own car, and the mother an electrician but, with advice from his wife, Camille Cosby ,
2457-553: A mostly positive reception from critics. The character also inspired Dr. Hibbert in The Simpsons . Andrea Constand v. Bill Cosby Andrea Constand v. William H. Cosby, Jr. is a civil suit filed in federal court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in March 2005 and resolved with an undisclosed cash settlement (including a confidentiality agreement between its two parties) in November 2006. It
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#17327657817752574-409: A narcissist who didn't realize Constand (who was in a relationship with a woman at the time of the alleged assault) is gay" in a 2015 filing during a defamation lawsuit by Cosby vs. Constand. The preliminary hearing was scheduled for January 14, 2016. In Pennsylvania, the maximum penalty for a conviction on aggravated indecent assault is 10 years in prison and a fine of $ 25,000. Cosby's attorney issued
2691-405: A new job after being downsized and, in the meantime, gets on his wife's nerves. Madeline Kahn co-starred as Rashād's goofy business partner Pauline. Cosby was hired by CBS to be the official spokesman of its Detroit affiliate WWJ-TV during an advertising campaign from 1995 to 1998. Cosby also hosted a CBS special, Kids Say the Darndest Things , on February 6, 1995, which was followed after as
2808-415: A new motion in the case on July 21, 2015, asserting that Constand and Troiani may have orchestrated the release of the deposition. In the deposition, Cosby testified that he had obtained Quaaludes from a gynecologist by the name of Leroy Amar, who knew that Cosby had no intention of taking the drugs himself. Cosby's testimony in the civil case showed a history of casual sex involving use of Quaaludes with
2925-436: A night on the town, as judged by the children. He also plays a monthly game of pinochle against his father and some friends, which sometimes gets very passionate. Unfortunately, Cliff often finds himself on the losing end of most of his bets and games, as, for example, he has never beaten his father-in-law at chess . However, Cliff eventually broke his losing streak at pinochle against his father and his friend Homer Dobson with
3042-423: A person having two starkly distinct " Jekyll and Hyde " personalities. This article also presented Barbara Bowman, who had come forward after having read about Constand's story, saying she could not sit in silence any longer. Details of Bowman's similar drug and sexual assault allegations were published in the magazine's November 1, 2006, issue. Bowman reported two incidents that happened around early 1986, wherein she
3159-471: A physical education teacher at a Los Angeles high school. While only a modest critical success, the show was hit with ratings, finishing eleventh in its first season. Cosby was lauded for using African American performers such as Lillian Randolph , Moms Mabley , and Rex Ingram as characters. According to commentary on the Season 1 DVDs for the show, Cosby was at odds with NBC over his refusal to include
3276-724: A press release that due to insufficient evidence rendering a conviction "unattainable", he "declines to authorize the filing of criminal charges" against Cosby regarding allegations Andrea Constand made against him. Castor said he did so to compel Cosby to testify in a civil lawsuit, brought by Constand, without the right to not incriminate himself as accorded by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution . Cosby testified that he had given Constand Benadryl , and that he had separately provided Quaaludes to women he wanted to have sex with. Cosby settled
3393-476: A reasonable doubt." The case was dropped at that time when the prosecutor decided not to proceed. The original complaint contained a great deal of additional information that became available to the press. Constand filed a civil claim in March 2005, alleging both the rape, and post-rape libel by Cosby's denial of wrongdoing, with 13 women as potential witnesses if the case went to court. Cosby settled out of court for an undisclosed amount in November 2006. In
3510-606: A request for Twitter followers to "Go ahead. Meme me!" The tweet was deleted after a large number of the submitted memes made reference to the accusations against Cosby. After Buress's remarks came to the attention of journalist Joan Tarshis, in November 2014, model Janice Dickinson , actress Louisa Moritz , actor Lou Ferrigno 's wife Carla, Florida nurse Therese Serignese, Playboy Playmates Valentino and Sarita Butterfield, actress Michelle Hurd , and eleven other women also made accusations of alleged assaults by Cosby committed against them between 1965 and 2004. Charlotte Laws wrote
3627-500: A season. More successful was a Saturday-morning cartoon , Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids , hosted by Cosby and based on his own childhood. That series ran from 1972 to 1979, then ran as The New Fat Albert Show in 1979, and finally ran as The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids . Cosby would use his experience producing Fat Albert in his educational endeavors; his dissertation for his Ed. D. at UMass Amherst discussed
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3744-446: A series of young women. Cosby admitted to knowing that, at the time, it was illegal to dispense the drug to other people. Amar would later have his medical license revoked in the states of both California and New York . The judge ruled that releasing the sealed document was justified by Cosby's role as a "public moralist " in contrast to his possible criminal private behavior. On July 18, 2015, The New York Times , having obtained
3861-455: A squalid tenement (albeit with Cliff's full support as he and Clair struggled in the early years of their marriage), or Denise marrying a Navy officer with a child from a prior marriage, and Cliff now acclimating to a blended family . Very playful, Cliff enjoys competition, often making bets with Clair over various things, such as the date a certain jazz song was released, or having a "Smooth Contest" to see which of them looked more elegant for
3978-837: A thorough investigation against Cosby. The local off-year election in a community of 800,000 residents gained international attention. Steele won the election with 89,718 votes to Castor's 72,574. The new focus on Cosby's alleged sexual assaults forced Castor to respond to questions about his decision not to charge Cosby in 2004. He defended his actions by suggesting that Constand's story had been inconsistent, making her an unreliable witness. Because of this, Constand sued Castor for one count of defamation; and one count of false light and invasion of privacy, asking for more than $ 150,000 for each offense. "Instead of correcting his error, [Castor] chose to make plaintiff collateral damage for his political ambitions," Constand said in her complaint. Castor responded, "It's highly suspect that this entire incident
4095-511: A two-year statute of limitations. Several legal experts, including former prosecutors and at least one former deputy Attorney General, have said the case could be reopened and possibly tried in light of this and other additional evidence that had surfaced in the past year. The non-disclosure agreement reached in her 2006 settlement with Cosby would likely not bar Constand from testifying against him. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman would neither confirm nor deny whether her office
4212-576: A victim of a crime should be afraid of him and now he wants her to trust him to be a witness for him?" Bruce Castor , the District Attorney in charge of investigating Constand's original claim, decided to run for the position again after leaving office in 2008. Running against him was Democrat Kevin Steele, the current Assistant District Attorney. Steele used the controversy in a campaign ad that criticized Castor for "not even trying" to perform
4329-540: Is an alumnus of Temple and maintained a close relationship with the college. Constand attended dinner parties and private dinners at Cosby's home in Elkins Park , a suburb of Philadelphia. In January 2004, Constand went to Cosby's house in Elkins Park , Pennsylvania , after a night out with friends. Constand stated that Cosby listened to her complaints about stress. According to Constand, Cosby gave her three blue pills he claimed would help her relax. Cosby later, in
4446-409: Is being brought out right before an election." Constand's attorney went on saying Castor was treating her as "political collateral" and suggesting that if Castor were elected, Constand would not cooperate in the re-opened criminal investigation against Cosby. In an open letter she issued in response to his comments, she said she believes he had "no intention of arresting Dr. Huxtable" in 2005 because he
4563-561: Is impossible to disconnect the performer from the man, scrubbing his name from the annals of stand-up would be impossible." Cosby performed his first TV stand-up special in 30 years, Bill Cosby: Far from Finished , on Comedy Central on November 23, 2013. His last show of the "Far from Finished" tour was performed at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta , Georgia on May 2, 2015. In 2014, Cosby
4680-466: Is the Huxtable family patriarch who is very goofy and silly to most people around him, especially his family. At his core, he is a very kind and gentle man and an extremely dedicated father with a strong sense of humor. Although he and his wife fostered a tight-knit, loving family, a running gag throughout the series is his thwarted attempts to get the grown children to leave the house. The character had
4797-490: Is very eccentric and silly to most people around him, especially his family. At his core, he is a very kind and gentle man and an extremely dedicated father with a strong sense of humor. Although he and his wife fostered a tight-knit, loving family, a running gag throughout the series is his thwarted attempts to get the grown children to leave the house. Even when he succeeded at this, more issues would come, such as Sondra finally leaving to marry her husband Elvin, only to move into
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4914-511: Is well-respected in the community. Cliff is married to Clair Huxtable. Both Cliff and Clair attended the fictional historically black college Hillman College. Together, they have five children: Sondra, Denise, Theodore (Theo), Vanessa, and Rudith (Rudy). Cliff enjoys live jazz, has an extensive collection of albums, and tries to eat junk food whenever he can get away with it. He attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. Cliff
5031-671: The Durham Regional Police Service near Constand's home in Pickering, Ontario , on January 13, 2005; the report was subsequently forwarded to the authorities in Pennsylvania. The warrant alleges that blue pills, said to be Benadryl by Cosby, were given to Constand who had also been drinking wine during the January 2004 incident. Cosby appeared in court during the afternoon of December 30, 2015, to face
5148-495: The Korean War . He served until 1960 and became a petty officer 3rd class. Cosby earned his high school equivalency diploma through correspondence courses and was awarded a track-and-field scholarship to Temple University in 1961. At Temple, he studied physical education while he ran track and played fullback on the college's football team. Cosby began bartending at a Philadelphia club, where he earned bigger tips by making
5265-490: The New York County District Attorney 's Special Victims Bureau , Lachele Covington, who was 20 years old at the time, filed a criminal complaint against Cosby alleging that on January 28, 2000, at his Manhattan townhouse, he had tried to put her hands down his pants and then exposed himself . Covington also alleged that Cosby grabbed her breasts and tried to put his hands down her pants. Cosby
5382-575: The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania due to violations of his due process rights . Andrea Erminia Constand was born on April 11, 1973, in Toronto , and played basketball at Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute in the city. After high school, Constand earned a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Arizona . Constand averaged 10 points per game in her senior season and helped
5499-673: The 1970s, claimed in the National Enquirer that Cosby drugged and raped her the last time the two were together sexually. Brown is the mother of Autumn Jackson , who claims to be Cosby's illegitimate daughter. Jackson was convicted in 1997 of extortion after she threatened to make the claims public in the Globe tabloid. In 2015, Brown went into more detail with her renewed allegations in an interview. On June 9, 2006, Philadelphia magazine published an article by Robert Huber which gave graphic detail about Constand's allegations, and
5616-438: The 1970s. Cosby's lawyer said Cosby did not know her and the events did not happen. On July 8, 2015, Andrea Constand and her attorney Dolores Troiani filed a motion to negate the confidentiality agreement in the 2005 case against Cosby, claiming that Cosby had already engaged in "total abandonment of the confidentiality portions of the agreement" by way of the recent, sweeping denials of all allegations against him. The motion
5733-423: The 1970s. Cosby's lawyer said Cosby did not know her and that the events did not happen. In a July 2005 Philadelphia Daily News interview, Beth Ferrier, one of the anonymous "Jane Doe" witnesses in the Constand case, alleged that in 1984 Cosby had drugged her coffee and she awoke with her clothes partially removed. In 2005, Shawn Upshaw Brown, a woman with whom Cosby admitted to having an extramarital affair in
5850-459: The 1972 animated film Journey Back to Oz ; it subsequently aired in syndication. Cosby was also a regular on children's public television programs starting in the 1970s, hosting the " Picture Pages " segments that lasted into the early 1980s. Cosby's greatest television success came in September 1984 with the debut of The Cosby Show . Cosby, an advocate for family-oriented humor, co-produced
5967-546: The 1989 merger of General Foods into Kraft , the then-newly merged company Kraft General Foods let Cosby remain with Jell-O as their spokesperson. He appeared at the Utah State Senate in 2001 to designate Jell-O the official state snack , and made a promotional visit to the Jell-O Gallery in 2004. In 2010, Cosby returned to Jell-O as executive producer for the company's "Hello Jell-O" campaign. In return,
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#17327657817756084-689: The Action (1977), Leonard Part 6 (1987), and Ghost Dad (1990). He produced and starred in The Cosby Show (1984–1992) as well as its the spin-off A Different World (1987–1993) and acted in The Cosby Mysteries (1994–1995), Cosby (1996–2000) and hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things (1998–2000). During his prolific career he advertised numerous products including the Jell-O ice pop treats Pudding Pop . Cosby has been
6201-426: The Action with Poitier; and California Suite , a compilation of four Neil Simon plays. He also hosted Cos in 1976. In addition, he produced an hour-long variety show featuring puppets, sketches, and musical numbers. It was during this season that ABC decided to take advantage of this phase of Cosby's career, by joining with Filmation producers of Fat Albert to create live-action segments starring Cosby, for
6318-473: The Andrea Constand Case. Constand's lawyer said she would cooperate in the new investigation if asked. "She's a very strong lady," lawyer Dolores Troiani said Tuesday. "She'll do whatever they request of her." On October 27, 2015, it was confirmed, from reliable sources, that an open criminal sexual assault investigation into the Constand case had been re-opened shortly after Cosby's deposition
6435-721: The Cosby Kids , he earned his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree. His dissertation was titled An Integration of the Visual Media Via 'Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids' into the Elementary School Curriculum as a Teaching Aid and Vehicle to Achieve Increased Learning . Cosby lined up stand-up jobs at clubs in Philadelphia and then in New York City, where he appeared at The Gaslight Cafe beginning in 1961. He booked dates in cities such as Chicago, Las Vegas , San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. In
6552-474: The October performance spread rapidly after being posted on Philadelphia magazine's website. Media coverage intensified, with numerous publications tackling the question of how Cosby had managed to maintain, as Buress called it in his routine, a "teflon image" despite more than a decade of public sexual abuse accusations. Shortly afterward, USA Today reported that either Cosby or his representative posted
6669-467: The Tamara Green, et al. defamation suit, may be allowed by judges to use the contents of the transcript as evidence now that it is in the public domain. The case was held in abeyance , pending further action in the ongoing defamation case from Tamara Green, et al., since that lawsuit was also seeking access to formerly confidential documents in the 2005 Constand case. On September 11, 2015, it
6786-616: The Wildcats win the NIT , and later pursued a career as a professional basketball player in Europe. She also played for Canada at the 1997 Summer Universiade . While back in southern Ontario , Temple University's then-new women's basketball coach, three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley , asked Constand to join her at Temple as director of operations for the women's team . In 2002, Cosby and Constand became friends in her new role; Cosby
6903-406: The actor's public moralizing by saying: "Yeah, but you raped women, Bill Cosby, so that kind of brings you down a couple notches." The audience appeared to respond to Buress's accusation as an incredulous joke, then he encouraged everyone to search "Bill Cosby rape" on Google when they got home. Buress had been using the same Cosby routine for the previous six months with little response, but word of
7020-800: The air in 1992, Cosby embarked on a number of other projects, which included a revival of the classic Groucho Marx game show You Bet Your Life (1992–93), the TV-movie I Spy Returns (1994), and The Cosby Mysteries (1994). In the mid-1990s, he appeared as a detective in black-and-white film noir -themed commercials for Turner Classic Movies . During this time, he reunited with Sidney Poitier starring in Ghost Dad (1990) and appeared in minor roles in Robert Townsend 's superhero comedy The Meteor Man (1993), and Francis Ford Coppola 's coming of age film Jack (1996). In addition, he
7137-413: The allegations made against him. Despite receiving numerous awards and honorary degrees , several of them were revoked following the allegations. Reruns of The Cosby Show and other programs featuring Cosby were pulled from syndication. In 2018, Cosby was convicted of aggravated sexual assault against Andrea Constand, who had previously filed against Cosby in a 2005 lawsuit . He was imprisoned until
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#17327657817757254-482: The beginning of January 2016. Based on the very detailed arrest warrant filed on December 15, 2015, the alleged sexual assault on Constand is presumed to have occurred at Cosby's home in Cheltenham Township, PA, on an unspecified date between mid-January and mid-February 2004. (The news media coverage refers to the date of the incident as "January 2004"). The accusation against Cosby was first made to
7371-676: The brand sponsored his weekly web show OBKB , a children's interview series similar to Kids Say the Darndest Things . As of 2002, Cosby's time with Jell-O was considered the longest-standing celebrity endorsement in American advertising history. The earliest allegation against Cosby dates back to December 1965: in 2005, Kristina Ruehli came forward as Jane Doe #12 in the Andrea Constand case and alleged that Cosby had drugged and assaulted her at that time in his Beverly Hills home. Further, Ruehli said she had told her boyfriend about
7488-559: The company departed in 2001. Cosby's early commercials were created at the Young & Rubicam advertising agency by Curvin O'Reilly. 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. Sales immediately responded to the Cosby advertising with growth after what had been a long decline. In 1979, General Foods introduced Pudding Pops ,
7605-473: The company's first frozen dessert product. With Cosby as spokesperson, it sold US$ 100 million its first year. After introducing Gelatin Pops and frozen Fruit Bars, the company's frozen desserts sales reached $ 300 million. Cosby was engaged to promote the flagging Jell-O gelatin product line in the mid-1980s, when General Foods introduced a holdable Jell-O product called "Jigglers". Sales increased seven percent during
7722-421: The complete deposition from a court reporting service (hired by Constand) which had released the document to the public domain, published a summary and excerpts. In a court filing condemning the release of the deposition, Cosby's attorneys stressed that none of the testimony so far unsealed by a judge stated that he engaged in non-consensual sex or gave anyone Quaaludes without their knowledge or consent: "Reading
7839-527: The concept was changed so that the family was well-off financially , with the mother a lawyer and the father a doctor . Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable is known for his comical antics, playful admonishments, and relentless teasing humor. He lives in Brooklyn Heights, New York . He was born in October 1937 in Philadelphia , making him 47 years old at the beginning of the series. Cliff had
7956-467: The conviction was vacated in June 2021 by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on the basis of Cosby's 5th Amendment and 14th Amendment due process rights having been violated. In 2022, Cosby was found civilly liable for having sexually assaulted Judy Huth when she was 16. William Henry Cosby Jr. was born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania. He is one of four sons of Anna Pearl (née Hite),
8073-447: The customers laugh. He then began performing on stage and left his university studies to pursue a career in comedy. Cosby resumed his formal education in 1971. Temple University granted him his bachelor's degree on the basis of what it referred to as life experience. He then began graduate work at UMass Amherst , receiving his Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1972. He returned to UMass Amherst, and in 1976, while producing Fat Albert and
8190-416: The district attorney who brought the charges, told reporters that the prosecution was seeking a retrial. "We will evaluate and review our case. We will take a hard look at everything involved and then we will retry it. As I said in court, our plan is to move this case forward as soon as possible." Cosby, who faced at least four separate civil lawsuits, refused to testify at the trial. On April 26, 2018, Cosby
8307-415: The field, 1984 In 1974, Cosby began promoting Jell-O pudding for General Foods . Cosby said comedian Jack Benny , whose program the brand sponsored, was the only previous spokesman for Jell-O, but Kate Smith , Lucille Ball , and Andy Griffith have also pitched the brand. In previous campaigns since the brand's launch in 1902, it was targeted towards parents rather than to children, a practice from which
8424-463: The first weekly dramatic television series to feature an African American in a starring role. At first, Cosby and NBC executives were concerned that some affiliates might be unwilling to carry the series. At the beginning of the 1965 season, four stations declined the show; they were in Georgia , Florida, and Alabama . Viewers were taken with the show's exotic locales and the authentic chemistry between
8541-545: The first year of the promotion. Cosby appeared in commercials for Coca-Cola's 1979 campaign, "Have a Coke and a Smile," and made a guest appearance at the Great Get-Together, a major bottlers' convention held that year. This campaign continued into 1981. Cosby returned as Coca-Cola's spokesperson in its 1982 "Coke Is It" campaign, a series of commercials mocking the Pepsi Challenge . Cosby continued to be
8658-417: The following statement after the arraignment: "The charge ... came as no surprise, filed 12 years after the alleged incident and coming on the heels of a hotly contested election for this county's DA during which this case was made the focal point. ... We intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law." On January 15, 2016, it
8775-435: The help of Dr. Foster (portrayed by Roscoe Lee Browne ), an expert pinochle player who also happened to be his and Clair's literary professor at Hillman College. In the first episode, Cliff's first name was Clifford, but later was changed to Heathcliff. However, in one episode, the show tries to resolve the discrepancy by having Clair call him "Heathclifford" as his full first name. Bill Cosby's role as Cliff Huxtable has had
8892-437: The incident and released a statement that said in part: "Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment." A follow-up statement dismissed the allegations as "unsubstantiated" and an example of "media vilification". A joint statement from Cosby and Constand, who had received a civil settlement in 2006, clarified the statement released a few days prior by stating that it did not refer to Constand's case, which
9009-435: The incident, and had told her daughter in the 1980s. In the early 1980s, Joan Tarshis told freelance reporter John Milward about an alleged sexual assault by Cosby. Milward did not write about the allegations. In 1996, Playboy Playmate Victoria Valentino gave a videotaped interview in which she made sexual assault allegations against Cosby. The interview was conducted for an exposé on the lives of Playboy models, which
9126-458: The investigation, police interviewed Cosby and Constand, calling them, "very cooperative." They also went to Cosby's home in Pennsylvania, only to find little or no evidence of a sexual interaction from a year prior. On February 22, 2005, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor issued a press release stating that he "finds insufficient, credible and admissible evidence exists upon which any charge against Mr. Cosby could be sustained beyond
9243-406: The label. Tetragrammaton was fairly active during 1968–69 but ceased trading during the 1970s. Throughout the 1960s Cosby pursued a variety of additional television projects and appeared as a regular guest host on The Tonight Show and as the star of an annual special for NBC. In 1969, he returned with another series, The Bill Cosby Show , a situation comedy that ran for two seasons. Cosby played
9360-409: The late-night talk program The Tonight Show , a signifier of success in American comedy. He told agent Norman Brokaw of William Morris Agency that he liked their tagline, "We're going to get you." Cosby later said there were no commercials "with a black person holding something, buying a product, so the absence of pictures, in retrospect, said a lot". Despite the stigma among advertisers around using
9477-536: The media accounts, one would conclude that the Defendant has admitted to rape," the document said. "And yet the Defendant admitted to nothing more than being one of the many people who introduced Quaaludes into their consensual sex life in the 1970s". Cosby's lawyers further contended that a court reporting service hired by Constand had released the 2005 court transcript to the New York Times , days earlier, in
9594-640: The performance, Cosby was seated center-stage, only getting up to emphasize a joke. Nearly all of Cosby's routine in the film concerned the trials and tribulations of parenting, frequently illustrated with anecdotes involving his own family. Many of the comedic routines presented in the film were precursors to Cosby's most popular sitcom, The Cosby Show . The film was well regarded by comedians and critics, with some calling it "the greatest stand up concert movie ever." Rolling Stone placed Cosby's concert film Bill Cosby: Himself as number 8 on its list of "The 25 Best Stand-Up Specials of All Time", acknowledging
9711-476: The popular program in November 2000. In 2001, Cosby's agenda included the publication of a new book, as well as delivering the commencement addresses at Morris Brown College , Ohio State University , and at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute . Also that year, he signed a deal with 20th Century Fox to develop a live-action feature film centering on the popular Fat Albert character from his 1970s cartoon series. Co-written and executive produced by Cosby, Fat Albert
9828-710: The record for being the longest-serving celebrity spokesperson for a product, through his work with Jell-O. In 2011, he won the President's Award for Contributions to Advertising from the Advertising Hall of Fame . Cosby was one of the first black people to appear in the United States as an advertising spokesperson. He was known for his appeal to white consumers in the second half of the 20th century, in an industry seen as slow to accept diversity. In spite of making contradictory soft drink pitches and endorsing
9945-402: The role of an obstetrician . Much of the material from the pilot and first season of The Cosby Show was taken from his video Bill Cosby: Himself , released in 1983. The series was an immediate success, debuting near the top of the ratings and staying there for most of its eight-season run. In 1987, Cosby attempted to return to film with the spy spoof Leonard Part 6 . Although Cosby himself
10062-533: The role. He then starred in the sitcom The Bill Cosby Show (1969–1971) and used the Fat Albert character developed during his stand-up routines, and adapted it into the animated CBS series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–1985). Cosby made his film debut starring in Man and Boy (1971) followed by Hickey & Boggs (1972), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Let's Do It Again (1975), A Piece of
10179-417: The series, held creative control and involved himself in every aspect of production. Plots were often based on ideas that Cosby suggested while in meetings with the writing staff. The show had parallels to Cosby's actual family life: like the characters Cliff and Clair Huxtable , Cosby and his wife Camille were college-educated and financially successful, and they had five children. On the show, Cosby played
10296-500: The significance of the film while still saying: "Yes, it's damned near impossible to watch anything the tainted comedian has done and not think of the headlines, the heckling, the revelations and what is, by any definition, monstrous behavior." They also placed Cosby at number 8 on their list of "The Best Stand-up Comics of All Time", saying: "Bill Cosby is not likely to perform again; listening to his records will never have that gentle, sweet sense of nostalgia for anyone; and while it
10413-493: The similar stories told by Green and Ferrer about how they stated that they too were drugged and sexually assaulted. With these severe allegations against Cosby, Huber wrote: "His lawyers have gotten it pushed to the back burner, down to a simmer, and maybe it will amount to nothing, yet there is also the possibility that it will bubble up to destroy him." The article was titled Dr. Huxtable & Mr. Hyde , in allusion to both Cosby's character Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show and to
10530-466: The stars. It became one of the ratings hits of the season. I Spy finished among the twenty most-watched shows that year, and Cosby was honored with three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series . When accepting his third Emmy for the show, Cosby told the audience: "Let the message be known to bigots and racists that they don't count!" During the series' run, Cosby continued to do stand-up comedy performances and recorded half
10647-729: The statute of limitations on the Constand case. On September 22, 2015, lawyer Edwin Jacobs said that Cosby's agents had contacted him in the past few days about a pending criminal investigation in Montgomery County. Jacobs, who had represented Cosby in a review of Lili Bernard's complaint in New Jersey, said he referred Cosby's agents to another high-profile Philadelphia-area lawyer who declined to comment. Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman again still remained silent when asked if an investigation had been re-opened in
10764-463: The subject of numerous sexual assault allegations, having been accused by over 60 women of rape , drug-facilitated sexual assault , sexual battery , child sexual abuse and sexual harassment . Those allegations became highly publicized in 2014 after fellow comedian Hannibal Buress brought them back into the public spotlight during a stand-up routine; thereafter, many additional claims were made. Cosby has maintained his innocence and repeatedly denied
10881-578: The summer of 1963, he received national exposure on NBC 's The Tonight Show . This led to a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records which, in 1964, released his debut LP, Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right! , the first of a series of comedy albums. His album To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With was number one on Spin magazine 's list of "The 40 Greatest Comedy Albums of All Time", calling it "stand-up comedy's masterpiece". Cosby's comedy genres included observational comedy , satire, surreal humor and deadpan . While many comics of
10998-478: The three second degree felony counts of aggravated indecent assault without entering a plea, arrange for bail, and be formally charged. Testimony from the Constand's civil suit had been reviewed by that time and the file was said to contain new information. Cosby had testified that the sexual contact was consensual. However, according to an article in People , Constand's lawyer, Dolores Troiani, referred to Cosby "as
11115-436: The time were using the growing freedom of that decade to explore controversial and sometimes risqué material, Cosby was making his reputation with humorous recollections of his childhood. Many Americans wondered about the absence of race as a topic in Cosby's stories. As Cosby's success grew, he had to defend his choice of material regularly; as he argued, "A white person listens to my act and he laughs and he thinks, 'Yeah, that's
11232-432: The unsealing of Cosby's deposition, and continued to emphasize that it was Cosby, not Constand, who first violated the confidentiality agreement. She also referred to Cosby as a "narcissist" for assuming Constand's tweets were about him. Troiani sought reimbursement of legal fees from Cosby. The significance of the availability of Cosby's deposition from the Constand case is that plaintiffs in other cases vs. Cosby, such as
11349-488: The use of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids as a teaching tool in elementary schools. During the 1970s, Cosby and other African-American actors, including Sidney Poitier , joined forces to make successful comedy films to counter the violent " blaxploitation " films of the era, such as Uptown Saturday Night in 1974; Let's Do It Again in 1975; and in 1976, Mother, Jugs & Speed , co-starring Raquel Welch and Harvey Keitel . In 1976, Cosby starred in A Piece of
11466-447: The way I see it too.' Okay. He's white. I'm Negro. And we both see things the same way. That must mean that we are alike. Right? So I figure this way I'm doing as much for good race relations as the next guy." In 1983, Cosby released the live comedy performance film Bill Cosby: Himself , in which he gave his views ranging from marriage to parenthood. The film also showcased Cosby's conversational style of stand-up comedy; for most of
11583-578: Was a popular spokesperson in advertising for decades . Cosby was well known in the United States for his fatherly image and gained a reputation as "America's Dad". Since 2014, dozens of allegations of sexual assault have been made against him, which has effectively ended his career and tarnished his legacy. Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the Hungry I nightclub in San Francisco in 1961, and primarily performed observational comedy in
11700-450: Was a popular spokesperson for advertising from the 1960s – before his first starring television role – until the early 2000s. He started with White Owl cigars, and later endorsed Jell-O pudding and gelatin, Del Monte , Ford Motor Company , Coca-Cola (including New Coke ), American Red Cross , Texas Instruments , E. F. Hutton & Co. , Kodak , and the 1990 United States Census . As of 2002, Cosby held
11817-531: Was charged with three second-degree felony counts of aggravated indecent assault as a result of the accusations made by Constand about the January 2004 incident, including revelations in Cosby's 2005 deposition in the case which came to public and investigators' attention when they were unsealed by a judge in 2015. In 2018, Cosby was found guilty of all three counts against Constand. He was subsequently sentenced to 3–10 years in state prison. On June 30, 2021, however, Cosby's convictions and sentences were vacated by
11934-470: Was eighteen years old and working as an aspiring model and actress after her agent had introduced her to Cosby and he had become her good friend and mentor, saying that she escaped his attacks, returned home to Denver and Cosby thereafter subverted her career. On October 16, 2014, as part of a comedy routine in Philadelphia, Hannibal Buress addressed Cosby's legacy of "talk[ing] down" to young black men about their mode of dress and lifestyle. Buress criticized
12051-466: Was filed in part with the hopes of being able to release the full transcript of Cosby's previously sealed deposition. Cosby's attorneys responded that Constand had already violated the confidentiality agreement by giving an interview to the Toronto Sun , which was published the same day as Constand's filing. The entire deposition from 2005 was released 10 days later, causing Cosby's lawyers to file
12168-483: Was found guilty of all three counts against Constand. On September 25, 2018, he was sentenced to 3 – 10 years in state prison. Cosby and his lawyers appealed. On June 30, 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby's conviction, citing violations of his due process rights . The following situation was cited: previously in February 2005, District Attorney Bruce Castor declared in
12285-601: Was interviewed in Spike Lee 's HBO project 4 Little Girls (1997), a documentary about the 1963 racist bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama which injured 22 people, killing four girls. Also in 1996, he started up a new show for CBS, Cosby , again co-starring Phylicia Rashād , his onscreen wife on The Cosby Show . Cosby co-produced the show for Carsey-Werner Productions . It centered on Cosby as Hilton Lucas, an iconoclastic senior citizen who tries to find
12402-492: Was later revealed that the amount paid to Constand was $ 3.38 million. The case was filed by Andrea Constand , a former college and Canadian national team basketball player , against comedian and entertainer Bill Cosby , concerning a sexual assault that occurred in Cosby's home in January 2004 while Constand was working for Temple University women's basketball team in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . At that time, no criminal charges were filed. On December 30, 2015, however, Cosby
12519-502: Was never published. After the allegations resurfaced in 2014, Wendy Williams recalled that during her radio show in 1990, she referred to sexual assault allegations against Cosby that had been published in the National Enquirer tabloid. Williams said Cosby called her boss in the middle of the broadcast demanding that Williams be fired. On February 1, 2000, according to a statement provided by Detective Jose McCallion of
12636-464: Was questioned and insisted "it was not true". The New York City Police Department (NYPD) referred her complaint to the D.A., but they declined to prosecute. In January 2004, Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, accused Cosby of drugging and fondling her; however, in February 2005, Montgomery County , Pennsylvania's District Attorney said there would be no charges due to insufficient credible and admissible evidence. Constand then filed
12753-434: Was reconsidering the case that her predecessor closed a decade ago. However, she said: "I believe prosecutors have a responsibility to review past conclusions, whether their own or a predecessor's, when current information might lead to a different decision." Some speculated that Ferman would not try the case due to the risk of losing, and that the outcome may risk her chances of a Judgeship when her tenure runs out shortly after
12870-524: Was released in theaters in December 2004. Cosby makes an appearance in the film as himself. In May 2007, Cosby spoke at the commencement of High Point University . In the summer of 2009, Cosby hosted a comedy gala at Montreal 's Just for Laughs , the largest comedy festival in the world. During this time he also made an appearance in Mario Van Peebles film Baadasssss! in 2003. Cosby
12987-472: Was released to the press during the summer. And that investigators had re-interviewed Constand as well as other alleged victims and witnesses. Constand has stated that she would stop cooperating if the original Prosecutor Bruce Castor, whom she is suing for defamation, is re-elected and assigned to the case."The logical consequence of his actions is she has lost confidence in him," Troiani says. "He just doesn't seem to understand words have consequences. He's saying
13104-635: Was reported that former D.A. Bruce Castor had written a 2015 email to his successor, Risa Fermin, that acknowledged a verbal agreement that Cosby's testimony in the civil suit would not be used for a criminal trial. On June 17, 2017, a US judge declared a mistrial in the Bill Cosby sex assault case after the jury remained deadlocked for days. The seven men and five women were unable to reach a unanimous decision after some 53 hours of deliberations in Norristown, Pennsylvania. District Attorney Kevin Steele,
13221-409: Was reported that the Constand case may be reopened. Cosby admitted in the unsealed civil deposition that he digitally penetrated Constand which, if non-consensual, would be grounds for a felony charge such as aggravated indecent assault. The statute of limitations on such a charge would not run out until January 2016. Constand's original complaint only referenced misdemeanor -level offenses, which have
13338-638: Was resolved years ago. In January 2015, Cindra Ladd alleged that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 1969. In May 2015, Lili Bernard claimed that Cosby sexually assaulted her in the early 1990s, and that she had been interviewed by police in Atlantic City , New Jersey , regarding the allegation. Because the state of New Jersey has no statute of limitations for rape, Bernard hoped charges would be brought, but media reports noted that "it wasn't clear ...if what [Bernard] says happened to her happened in New Jersey." Cliff Huxtable Cliff
13455-408: Was running for governor. Recently elected District Attorney Steele announced in late 2015, days before he officially took office (still acting as Assistant District Attorney), that a felony charge would be laid against Cosby on December 30 as a result of the accusations made by Andrea Constand. There was some urgency since the criminal statute of limitations in the case would expire after 12 years, at
13572-480: Was set to release his new standup special Bill Cosby 77 on Netflix . The release of the film was canceled due to allegations of sexual assault against Cosby . His last known standup performance prior to his conviction was held at the LaRose Jazz Club in Philadelphia on January 23, 2018. In 1965, Cosby was cast alongside Robert Culp in the I Spy espionage adventure series on NBC . I Spy became
13689-504: Was the producer and wrote the story, he realized during production that the film was not going to be what he wanted and publicly denounced it, warning audiences to stay away. The film was however marked the first project for Columbia to be greenlighted by studio executive David Puttman. Later in the 1980s, Cosby served as an advisor to the Los Angeles Student Film Institute . After The Cosby Show went off
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