Born: July 12, 1937, Philadelphia, PA

Education: Temple University, 1961–62, B.A., 1971; University of Massachusetts, M. Ed., 1972, Ed. D., 1976

Cosby rose from humble conditions, joined the navy, and found a niche in comedy. His talent, egalitarian vision, and business savvy catapulted him to fame.

The Cosby Show, which attracted and retained a racially diverse audience, was an important contribution. It portrayed Cliff Huxtable, a physician; Mrs. Huxtable, an attorney; and their five intelligent children. Dialogue involved humor but dealt with normal familial relations and crises. Critics applauded the show's positive images of the black family. Some said it idealized middle-class blacks while ignoring the poor.

As the show thrived, Cosby battled racial bias in television. He demanded and won major input into production, from hiring writers and directors to selecting performers and professionals for guest appearances. A black psychiatrist advised the cast and Cosby displayed black art on the set. This, plus Cosby's educational programs for inner-city children and philanthropy, made him an icon. But his criticisms of low-income blacks in comments marking the fiftieth anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education clearly backfired. Challenging them to embrace Brown's legacy of learning, he criticized “their spending habits, speech patterns, and parenting.” Public opinion divided over whether he was unfair.

Also divided is public response to Cosby's 2005–2006 court-released deposition, excerpted by The New York Times (July 20, 2015), in which he admitted to drugging and having sex with a number of women without their knowledge and consent.