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Bill Cosby is, by any standards, one of the most influential stars in
America today. Whether it be through concert appearances or
recordings, television or films, commercials or education, Bill
Cosby has the ability to touch people's lives. His humor often
centers on the basic cornerstones of our existence, seeking to provide
an insight into our roles as parents, children, family members, and
men and women. Without resorting to gimmickry or low-brow humor, Bill
Cosby's comedy has a point of reference and respect for the
trappings and traditions of the great American humorists such as
Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, W.C. Fields and Groucho Marx.
 The 1984-92 run of "The Cosby Show"
and his books "Fatherhood" and "Time Flies"
established new benchmarks on how success is measured. His status at
the top of the TVQ survey year after year continues to confirm his
appeal as one of the most popular personalities in America. Cosby's
believability and humor makes him most effective as the spokesman for
Jell-O.
Cosby's initial immediate success began with "Bill Cosby Is A Very Funny Fellow, Right?" And continued with many
other comedy albums. He also has released a number of jazz recordings,
including "Hello,
Friend - to Ennis With Love" (released in
1997). Cosby has earned five Grammy Awards for the best comedy
album.
Bill Cosby represents the voice of a vast,
ordinary world. Everyone seems to easily identify with his characters
and the situations they find themselves in. He gives the twist of the
ridiculous to everyday faults, foibles and successes and makes them a
recognizable slice of life. Bill Cosby points out the humor in
our lives, and in doing so, he touches our hearts. Because of this,
his appeal is not restricted to any specific group. His qualities have
endeared him to people from all walks of life.
It is the fusion of these qualities that has
resulted in television's biggest and most influential hit of the
modern era, "The Cosby Show." The show was credited
by many for single-handedly resurrecting the sitcom genre. Cosby's
return to television after eight years was promoted by what he
perceived as a lack of relevance and an abundance of superficiality in
TV comedy programming. Week after week of #1 ratings and the almost
unanimous critical acclaim only confirms that others agree with his
opinion.
Life Magazine wrote: "Cosby's success may have
changed the game as well as the scores. Before his show hit the air,
many viewers had rejected prime time television as an electronic
wasteland of crime, slime, glitz and glands…What Cosby offered
instead was a gentle, whimsical, warm-hearted sitcom about family life
that found humor in the little things that happen in every home and
everlasting value in the love and trust that exist between parents and
children… Nobody actually says this family represents the whole
human family, but the delicious ordinariness of its pleasures and
tribulations has given millions a fresh, laughter-splashed perspective
on their own domestic lives."
Exercising his deep concern with projecting positive
images of African Americans, Bill Cosby together with partners, Tom Werner
and Marcy Carsey, produced "A Different World" on NBC for
seven seasons. In his partnership, they also put on the air "Here
and Now" (starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner) for NBC and the revival
of the classic Groucho Marx show, "You Bet Your Life," for
first run syndication.
During 1994, Cosby also starred in "The Cosby
Mysteries," a series on NBC, broadcast during the 1994-5 season,
and the CBS television movie "I Spy Returns," co-starring
his original partner Robert Culp.
With over thirty years in comedy, Bill Cosby
is, for many young comedians, the man who wrote the textbook. What Cosby
teaches is to approach the monologue as a screenwriter looks at real
life, bringing to each story the structure and body of a complete
work. The Cosby student will also learn that one does not have to use
offensive language or risque topics to obtain laughs. According to
Cosby, "Anyone should be able to say on stage what they want.
But those who have knowledge, do understand that certain things on
stage can be abused and misused. And if such topics are used just for
laughter, the humor will not stand the test of time."
Cosby is, without a doubt, the best-selling comedian
of all time on records. During the mid-sixties, Cosby had as many as
six albums on the charts at one time. Eight of the albums have been
certified Gold Records by the Recording Industry Association of
America (RIAA).
In addition, Bill Cosby has filmed numerous television
specials, starred in NBC-TV's "Children's Theater" and
PBS-TV's "The Electric Company" (the latter created by the
Sesame Street Children's Television Workshop) and has written,
directed and produced two educational TV shows ("Concern,"
dealing with his concern for school children and "Prejudice,"
an irreverent spoof of prejudiced hang-ups). His production company
also turned out two animated specials featuring his lovable gallery of
childhood pals.
In the early 80's, Cosby hosted "Picture Pages"
on Captain Kangaroo's "Wake Up" program on CBS. Today, the
Instruction Cosby leads, which is designed to develop readiness skills
in pre-school children, is available on home video by Disney. The
series was awarded the Gold Award at the 1981 International Film
& TV Festival in new York as "Outstanding Children's
Program."
To support himself during his college days, Cosby
tended bar at night, where he found a ready-made audience for his
brand of home-grown humor. The enthusiasm of his customers convinced
him that he might have a chance as a comedian.
His first stage appearance (for $5 a night) was at a
night spot called "The Underground" in a small room named
"The Cellar." It didn't have a stage, so Cosby did his act
on a table with a chair propped on it. He not only had to climb over
the bar to get to the "stage," but he couldn't stand up
because of his height. He was probably the world's first
"sit-down" comedian.
In addition, Cosby earned a Master Degree in
Education (M. Ed.) in 1972 and his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in
1977 from the University of Massachusetts. His doctoral thesis was
titled "The Integration of Visual Media Via Fat Albert and the
Cosby Kids Into the Elementary Schools Culminating as a Teacher Aid to
Achieve Increased Learning."
The legacy of Cosby's comedic genius continues to make sure
that those echoes will continue to be heard around the world.
Film credits include ---
- Jack (1996)
- I Spy Returns (1994)
- The Meteor Man (1993)
- Story Porch With Bill Cosby (1993)
- Ghost Dad (1990)
- Bill Cosby - 49 (1987)
- Leonard Part 6 (1987)
- Aesop's Fables (1986)
- Aesop's Fables - The Tortoise and The Hare (1986)
- Bill Cosby's Picturepages - "All About Animals" (1985)
- Bill Cosby's Picturepages - "Clear Thinking" (1985)
- Bill Cosby's Picturepages - "Numbers" (1985)
- Bill Cosby's Picturepages - "Shapes and Colors" (1985)
- Bill Cosby's Picturepages - "Sights and Sounds" (1985)
- Bill Cosby's Picturepages - "Words and Letters" (1985)
- Reading Rainbow - Arthur's Eyes (1983)
- Bill Cosby Himself (1982)
- The Devil and Max Devlin (1981)
- Hungry I Reunion (1980)
- California Suite (1978)
- Top Secret (1978)
- A Piece of the Action (1977)
- Mother, Jugs and Speed (1976)
- Let's Do It Again (1975)
- Uptown Saturday Night (1974)
- Man and Boy (1972)
- To All My Friends on Shore (1971)
- John Wilson - Animation Wonderland
- I Spy V. 1
- I Spy V. 2
- I Spy, The Best Of
- Chocolate Princess and Other Children's Stories
- The Tortoise and The Hare
- Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed
Bill Cosby may be available for your next special event!
For booking information, click
HERE!
Rating:
DG
For ratings guide, click here.
Born: ..in Pennsylvania
..in Philadelphia
Jul 12, 1937 Based:
..in Massachusetts |