Who is Bill Cosby?
Bill Cosby is an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, television producer, and activist. He is popularly known for his sitcom “The Cosby Show” which ran for 8 seasons on NBC from 1984 to 1992. Cosby is also a well-known entertainer and comedian in Hollywood. He is fondly referred to as “American dad”. Cosby was at the centre of media attention in 2017 following his highly publicized sexual assault charges and conviction.
Bill Cosby’s full name is William Henry Cosby Jr. He was born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He is 85 years old as of September 2022.
About Bill Cosby’s parents
Bill Cosby was born to his parents: Anna Pearl Cosby – née Hite (mother) and William Henry Cosby Sr (father). His mother was a maid while his father served as a mess steward in the United States Navy. Cosby grew up alongside his three younger brothers. Sadly, one of his brothers died of rheumatic fever at the age of 6. As a result of this, Cosby’s father left the family to serve in the Navy. Shortly after, his parents got divorced leaving Cosby as the man of the household.
About Bill Cosby’s mother- Anna Pearl Cosby
Bill Cosby’s mother Anna Pearl Cosby (née Hite) was born on October 14, 1912, in Brunswick County, Virginia, United States. She passed away on August 7, 1991, in Fayetteville, Fayette Country, Georgia at the age of 78. Her parents were William Sidney Hite (father) and Martha Alice (Rice) Hite (mother). She got married to her husband William Henry Cosby in 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. They have four children together – Bill Cosby and his three siblings.
About Bill Cosby’s father-William Henry Cosby Sr
Bill Cosby’s father, Willaim Cosby Sr was born on March 9, 1913, in Schuyler, Nelson, Virginia, the United States to Samuel Cosby (father) and Gertrude Cosby – née Thornhill (mother). He passed away on November 28, 1974, in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts at the age of 61. Before his death, he served as a sailor in the United States Navy.
About Bill Cosby’s siblings
Bill Cosby was born to his parents as the oldest of four brothers. Bill Cosby’s brothers are James Cosby, Russell Cosby, and Robert Cosby.
a. James Roosevelt Cosby
Bill Cosby’s younger brother James Roosevelt Cosby was born on March 8, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He died of rheumatic fever on May 18, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, aged just 6. He was buried at Fairview Cemetery, Willow Groove, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States.
b. Russell Cosby
Cosby’s younger brother Russell Cosby is an American actor popularly known for his work in the movies “Fat Albert” (2004) and “Ennis’ Gift” (2000). Information about Russell Cosby’s birth date and personal life is currently unknown. According to information gathered by DNB Stories Africa, Russell inspired Bill Cosby’s 1968 comedy album “To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With”. He also inspired a character named Russell (voiced by Jan Crawford) in Bill’s animated series “Fat Albert” and the “Cosby Kids”.
c. Robert Cosby
Cosby’s younger brother Robert Cosby was born in 1947 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He is as of September 2022. Information about his career and personal life is currently unknown.
Bill Cosby’s marriage and wedding
As of the time of publishing this article, veteran American comedian Bill Cosby is happily married to his wife Camille Olivia Cosby. The couple has been married for 58 years (since 1964) and they share five children together. Their children include Ennis William Cosby, Evin Harrah Cosby, Erinn Chalene Cosby, Erika Ranee, and Ensa Cosby-McLean.
About Bill Cosby’s wife – Camille Olivia Cosby
Camille Olivia Cosby (née Hanks) is the wife of Bill Cosby. She is an American television producer and philanthropist. She was born on March 20, 1944, in Washington, D.C, United States. She is 78 years old as of September 2022. Camille Cosby was born to her parents Guy Hanks (father) and Catherine Hanks (mother) as the eldest of four children. After completing secondary school, Camille Cosby enrolled at the University of Maryland as a psychology major. Camille Cosby is her husband’s business manager and oversees all his financial, philanthropic, and staffing matters.
She is also the president of COC Productions, a film production company based in the United States. Adding to that, Camille is the president of C&J Productions, a stage production company, and a board member at Essence Communications. Furthermore, Camille Cosby has always been an advocate for education and a continued supporter of the United States Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Together with her husband, Camille donated $20 million in 1988 to Spelman College – a historically black liberal arts college for women located in Atlanta, Georgia.
How Bill Cosby met his wife – Camille Olivia Cosby
Cosby and Camille first met in 1963 while on a blind date at a bowling alley. Cosby was in the District of Columbia for a gig at the Shadows, a small club in the Georgetown neighbourhood, while Camille was a student at the University of Maryland. After their first meeting, they soon began a long-distance relationship after Cosby left for New York. They tied the knot in January 1964 in a large multipurpose hall at a Catholic church in Olney, Maryland, United States. After the wedding, Camille followed her husband to Los Angeles where his career took off. It was during this time that Cosby landed his first big television role in the 1965 NBC TV series ” I spy”.
He later went on to create his own show “The Cosby Show” which mimicked Camille and Cosby’s real life together with their children. The show was a success, and money and fame kept rolling in. Cosby was later accused (many years later) of sexual abuse by several women including Linda Traitz, Tamara Green, Victoria Valentino, and many others. Tragedy struck in Cosby’s household in 1997 when their only son Ennis Cosby was murdered on the roadside in Los Angeles at the age of 27. The couple managed to cope with the shocking loss and finally came through it together as a family.
Bill and Camille Cosby’s divorce rumours
In 2021, rumours of Bill Cosby’s divorce from Camille surfaced in the media after Camille Cosby was spotted on an outing without her wedding ring. However, Cosby’s representative was quick to shut down the speculation, stating that the couple is still together.
He said;
I know many people who don’t wear rings and they haven’t worn them in 30 years. It is hilarious because Mr. & Mrs. Cosby have been happily married for 57 years and still counting.
Bill Cosby’s children
Altogether, Bill Cosby and his wife Camille have five children together – four daughters and one son. Sadly, two of Cosby’s children are now late, leaving just three.
List of Bill Cosby’s children
- Erika Ranee Cosby
- Erinn Cosby
- Ensa Cosby (late)
- Evin Cosby
- Ennis William Cosby (late)
| Name | Age | Gender |
| Erika Ranee Cosby | 57 | Female |
| Erinn Charlene Cosby | 56 | Female |
| Ennis William Cosby (Deceased) | 27 (Age at the time of death) | Male |
| Ensa Cosby-McLean (Deceased) | 41 (Age at the time of death) | Female |
| Evin Harrah Cosby | 46 | Female |
About Bill Cosby’s children
a. Erika Ranee Cosby
Erika Ranee Cosby is the oldest child of Bill Cosby and his wife Camille. She is an American painter, author, and adjunct art professor at New York University. She was born on April 8, 1965, in Los Angeles, California, United States. She is 57 years old as of September 2022. Erika Cosby attended Wesleyan University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987. She later attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1989. As a painter, Erika Cosby was the recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in painting. She was also awarded a studio grant from The Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation in 2011. According to information gathered by DNB Stories Africa, Erika Cosby is married to her husband Wilson but has not revealed any information about him.
b. Erinn Charlene Cosby
Erinn Charlene Cosby is the second child of Bill Cosby and Camille. She is a professional photographer and artist. She was born on July 23, 1966, in Los Angeles, Califonia, United States. She is 56 years old as of September 2022. Erinn finished high school at a boarding school in Pennsylvania. She dropped out of Spelman College during her sophomore year and later earned her Bachelor’s degree in photography and imaging from New York University. She later enrolled at Fordham University where she earned her Master’s degree. According to reports, Erinn Cosby had a strained relationship with her father after she fell into drug use and addiction. However, they rekindled their relationship after Ennis’ death in 1997.
c. Ennis William Cosby
Ennis William Cosby is the only son of Bill Cosby and his wife Camille. He was born on April 15, 1969, in Los Angeles, California, United States. Sadly, he passed away on January 16, 1997, in Los Angles, California, United States. Ennis Cosby was 27 years old at the time of his death. Ennis was a graduate student in special education at Columbia University Teachers College and an inspiration for the character of “Theo Huxtable” on “The Cosby Show” which aired from 1984 to 1992. Three days after his death, Ennis Cosby was buried at the Cosby Family Cemetery, Shelburne, Massachusetts, United States. Ennis was tragically murdered after he stopped to fix a flat tire along California’s Interstate 405 in Los Angeles. Reports claim that an Ukranian-born teenager, Mikhail Markhasev, and two other friends were at a nearby park-and-ride lot using the phone. Markhasev was reportedly high on drugs and approached Cosby to rob him but when Cosby took too long to hand over the money, he was shot and killed.
d. Ensa Cosby-McLean
Ensa Cosby-McLean is the third child of Bill Cosby. She was born on April 8, 1973, in Los Angeles, California, United States. Sadly, she passed away on February 23, 2018, in Massachusetts, United States as a result of kidney disease. She was 41 years old at the time of her death. While alive, Ensa Cosby was a yoga instructor and actress, popularly known for appearing in “The Cosby Show”. She was also an outspoken supporter of her father during his sexual assault trial in 2017. Ensa Cosby was married to Martin McLean and they had a child together. They got married in 2013 at Trinity Church, Shelburne Falls, United States.
e. Evin Harrah Cosby
Evin Harrah Cosby is the youngest child of Bill Cosby. She was born on August 27, 1976, in Los Angeles, California, United States. She is 46 years old as of September 2022. Evin Cosby owns a luxury boutique named “PB & Caviar ” and was also an inspiration for the character “Rudy Huxtable” on “The Cosby Show”. Evin Cosby had her early school at Banks Street Elementary School, a private school in New York. She completed her high school at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School. It is uncertain if Evin Cosby is married or not at this time as she is known for keeping details of her private life off the media.
Bill Cosby’s grandchildren
According to reports, Bill Cosby is a grandfather of three. However, information regarding the names and personal details of Bill Cosby’s grandchildren is very scarce in the media.
Bill Cosby’s sexual assault allegations
In 2017, Bill Cosby was the subject of several sexual assault allegations and was later convicted of indecent assault. The comedian was accused by over 60 women of rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual abuse, and sexual misconduct.
The above incidents took place in the early 1960s but they garnered more media attention in 2014 after comedian Hannibal Buress called out Cosby for being a “rapist” during a stand-up routine.
Though Buress has refused to accept credit for playing a key role in Cosby’s sexual assault charges and conviction, his performance that night led to the allegations gaining more media attention with many other women speaking up and making additional claims. The allegations eventually sent Cosby from a celebrated entertainer to a disgraced one.
Following the allegations, several organizations which Cosby worked with revoked honours and titles awarded to him. Additionally, over 25 colleges and universities revoked his honorary degrees. However, after the full transcript of his disposition was released, Cosby later admitted to casual sex with several young women involving the use of a sedative-hypnotic substance.
He also acknowledged the fact that his act of dispensing the prescription drug was illegal. In September 2018, Cosby was sentenced to ten years in state prison and was fined $25000 plus the cost of the prosecution $43,611. After spending three years in prison, Cosby was released in June 2021 when the Philadelphia Supreme Court allowed Cosby’s appeal and overturned the conviction for a number of reasons.
