About
William Henry Cosby Jr. ( KOZ-bee; born July 12, 1937) is a retired American comedian, actor, and media personality. Often cited as a trailblazer for African Americans in the entertainment industry, Cosby was a film, television, and stand-up comedy star, 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 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". However, starting in 2014, dozens of allegations of sexual assault have been made against him, which ended his career and sharply diminished his status as a pop culture icon.