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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (99069)	3/21/2005 3:45:55 PM
From: Augustus Gloop	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

I'm sure he saw prejudice - he opted to overcome it with education The Life of Bill Cosby By Meredith A. Hill Since the 1960s, Bill Cosby has been a positive role model for all Americans through his impressive work as a stand-up comedian, publisher, producer, composer, educator, and most notably as an actor in both movies and television. Born William Henry Cosby, Jr., in Philadelphia, PA, on July 12, 1937, Cosby is the oldest of four sons born to Anna and William Cosby, Sr. While growing up, he often assumed the role of “head of the household” as his father was actively involved in the U.S. Navy. It was during his childhood years when he would be watching his younger brothers that he developed his vibrant sense of humor and positivity, which would later help launch his memorable career in the entertainment industry. Following is a brief, but significant, explanation of his journey to stardom. Following in his father’s footsteps, Cosby dropped out of high school to join the Navy in 1956. Through correspondence courses offered by the Navy he was able to finish his studies and pass the high school equivalency exam. After his discharge in 1961, he next attended Philadelphia’s Temple University on an athletic scholarship with plans to become a physical education teacher. Money was tight so he was forced to work as a bartender in various clubs to support himself. It was here that Cosby began to be recognized as a talented comedian. His success in the clubs allowed him to gain a following, and he was encouraged to pursue a career in standup-comedy. During his sophomore year he left school and moved to New York City to perform in Greenwich Village nightclubs. While here, Cosby perfected and secured his trademark comedic style, which is indicative of a charismatic and approachable stage persona augmented with a relaxed and carefully timed delivery. In addition, his witty humor concerning childhood and everyday situations was a fresh look at life, which was unique for the time. While others were focusing on racial issues, he lampooned the everyday aspects of life and this caused him to stand out among the other comedians from that period. In 1963 Cosby got the break of his life when he was asked to appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” His performance was overwhelmingly impressive, and from then on he was a national star. From 1965-68 he starred in the espionage series “I Spy” in which he played a black secret agent. This starring role earned him three Emmy Awards and helped to advance the status of African-Americans on television, as well as cement his career. After “I Spy,” Cosby devoted his life to various projects. He wrote several books, produced various shows, performed on comedy albums, and starred in several films and television series. Cosby’s greatest success was the television series simply titled “The Cosby Show,” which ran an impressive 8 years (1984-92). It portrayed a stable and prosperous African-American family, in which Cosby was a doctor and his wife was a lawyer. Reasons for creating the show were straightforward: Cosby wanted a show that was suitable for children as well as adults—he did not want to depict any violence or superficiality, and he wanted to avoid all racial stereotypes. With these proposals in mind, the show was able to achieve huge success and have broad cross-cultural appeal. While Cosby is still presently involved in many projects, he will probably be most remembered for this performance on “The Cosby Show.” In addition, even though the show was canceled in 1992, one can still enjoy old episodes on Nickelodeon almost every night of the week. I chose to write about Bill Cosby because I feel he is an exemplary person. He has exhibited a love for life and for education. In between his different projects, Cosby was able to finish his undergraduate studies at Temple. He even earned his master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts in 1972, and five years later he earned his Ph.D. in Education. For each project that he is working on, Cosby manages to incorporate his knowledge and commitment to education. He is also a family man. He has been married to Camille Hanks since 1964 and is even the proud father to 5 children whom all have names that start with the letter “E,” which Cosby claims stands for “Excellence;” even though he has suffered heartbreak with the tragic loss of his son, he still remains positive and committed to education about violence. Bill Cosby is an amazing person who will remain in America’s hearts forever. He has earned over 30 awards during his life so far, and will probably win several more. Through hardwork, honesty, and love, he has achieved success in life. Hopefully we will all learn something from this marvelous man. Sources Cosby, Bill. Available: search.eb.com Encyclopaedia Britannica Online (2003). Available: search.eb.com E! Online-Fact Sheet-Bill Cosby (2003). Available: e1.eonline.com Nick at Nite: The Cosby Show (2002). Available: tvland.com