American actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter

Bill Cosby

William Henry Cosby Jr. is an American former comedian, actor, and media personality. Often deemed a trailblazer for African Americans in the entertainment industry, Cosby was well known in the United States for his stand-up comedy routines and television career before achieving global recognition for his portrayal of Cliff Huxtable in the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He was also prolific in advertising for decades and was the recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees throughout his career, many of which were revoked after dozens of allegations of sexual assault were made against him and his 2018 conviction for aggravated indecent assault.

Born

1937

July 12

Died

Living

Era

1930s

Country

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About

Bill, in brief

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Life timeline

Key dates

1937 Born

Also on July 12

What else happened on this day, through history

70 The armies of Titus attack the walls of Jerusalem after a six-month siege. Three days later they breach the walls, which enables the army to destroy the Second Temple.
927 King Constantine II of Scotland, King Hywel Dda of Deheubarth, Ealdred of Bamburgh and King Owain of the Cumbrians accepted the overlordship of King Æthelstan of England, leading to seven years of peace in the north.
1191 Third Crusade: Saladin's garrison surrenders to Philip Augustus, ending the two-year siege of Acre.
1335 Pope Benedict XII issues the papal bull Fulgens sicut stella matutina to reform the Cistercian Order.

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The world in 1937

When Bill arrived

april 1 Aden becomes a British crown colony.
april 1 The Royal New Zealand Air Force is formed as an independent service.
april 12 Sir Frank Whittle ground-tests the first jet engine designed to power an aircraft, at Rugby, England.
april 26 Spanish Civil War: Guernica, Spain, is bombed by the German Condor Legion and the Italian Aviazione Legionaria.

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Same-day contemporaries

Also born on July 12

Amedeo Modigliani 1884–1920 Italian painter and sculptor (born 1884) Anna Friel 1976– English actress Brock Lesnar 1977– American mixed martial artist and wrestler Harley Hotchkiss 1927– Canadian businessman (died 2011) Imero Fiorentino 1928–2013 American lighting designer (died 2013) Irina Bokova 1952– Bulgarian politician, Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs James E. Gunn 1923– American science fiction author (died 2020) Julio César Chávez 1962– Mexican boxer Julius Caesar -100–1636 English judge and politician (born 1557)

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Same-year contemporaries

Also born in 1937

Abner Haynes 1937–2024 American football player (born 1937) Alain Badiou 1937– French philosopher and academic Alice Coltrane 1937–2007 American pianist and composer (died 2007) Barry Switzer 1937– American football player and coach Billy Meier 1937– Swiss author and photographer Birju Maharaj 1937–2022 Indian dancer, composer, singer and exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance (died 2022) Bobby Charlton 1937–2023 English footballer and manager (died 2023) Carlos Lamarca 1937–1971 Brazilian captain (died 1971) Colin Powell 1937–2021 American general and politician, 65th United States Secretary of State (died 2021)

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Keep going

More to explore

Bill's birthday July 12 Bill's zodiac Cancer When Bill arrived 1937