Bill Cosby
| Bill Cosby | |
|---|---|
| Born: | July 12, 1937 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Charges: | |
| Sentence: | 3 to 10 years in state prison (served approximately 3 years) |
| Facility: | State Correctional Institution Phoenix (Pennsylvania State) |
| Status: | Released (June 2021) - Conviction overturned by Pennsylvania Supreme Court |
William Henry Cosby Jr. is an American comedian, actor, and convicted sex offender who was once known as "America's Dad" for his portrayal of Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984-1992).[1] Once one of the most beloved entertainers in American history, Cosby's legacy has been destroyed by accusations from over 60 women who allege he drugged and sexually assaulted them over a span of decades.[2] In 2018, Cosby was convicted of aggravated indecent assault and sentenced to 3-10 years in state prison. In 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his conviction on due process grounds, leading to his release after serving approximately three years.[3] Despite the overturned conviction, Cosby continues to face civil lawsuits from accusers.
Early Life and Career
William Henry Cosby Jr. was born on July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in public housing and served in the U.S. Navy before pursuing a career in comedy. He dropped out of Temple University to pursue stand-up comedy full-time, though he later completed his education and earned a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1977.[4]
Rise to Fame
Cosby broke barriers as a Black performer in the 1960s, becoming the first African American to star in a network television drama with I Spy (1965-1968), for which he won three consecutive Emmy Awards.[5] He went on to create and star in the animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972-1985) and performed hugely successful stand-up comedy specials.
The Cosby Show
Cosby achieved his greatest success with The Cosby Show (1984-1992), which he created and starred in as Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, an obstetrician living in Brooklyn with his lawyer wife and five children. The show was groundbreaking in its portrayal of an upper-middle-class African American family and became one of the most-watched programs of the 1980s.[1]
The Cosby Show was credited with reviving NBC's fortunes and reshaping American television. Cosby was celebrated as a wholesome, family-friendly entertainer and moral voice, earning him the moniker "America's Dad."
Sexual Assault Allegations
Early Accusations
Although Cosby's criminal case centered on events from 2004, allegations of sexual misconduct had followed him for decades. In 2005, Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee, filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Cosby had drugged and sexually assaulted her at his home in 2004.[6]
During the civil litigation, Cosby gave a deposition in which he admitted to obtaining Quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with. The deposition was sealed at the time but would later prove crucial.[7]
The civil suit was settled in 2006 for $3.38 million, with Cosby admitting no wrongdoing.
The 2014 Watershed
In 2014, comedian Hannibal Buress performed a stand-up routine in which he called Cosby a rapist, referencing the longstanding allegations. The routine went viral, leading dozens of women to come forward with accusations against Cosby.[8]
Over 60 women eventually accused Cosby of sexual misconduct spanning from the 1960s to 2008, including rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, and child sexual abuse.[2] Many accusers described a similar pattern: Cosby allegedly offered them pills or drinks, after which they became incapacitated and were sexually assaulted.
Criminal Case
The Charges
In December 2015, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania prosecutors charged Cosby with three counts of aggravated indecent assault related to Andrea Constand's allegations. The charges were filed just days before the statute of limitations would have expired.[6]
Prosecutors alleged that Cosby gave Constand pills that incapacitated her and then sexually assaulted her at his Cheltenham, Pennsylvania home in January 2004.
First Trial (2017)
Cosby's first criminal trial ended in a hung jury in June 2017 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict following 52 hours of deliberation over six days.[9]
Second Trial and Conviction (2018)
At the retrial in April 2018, the judge allowed testimony from five additional accusers who described similar experiences with Cosby. The prosecution also introduced Cosby's 2005 civil deposition in which he admitted to obtaining sedatives to give to women.[7]
On April 26, 2018, the jury found Cosby guilty on all three counts of aggravated indecent assault.[1]
Sentencing
On September 25, 2018, Judge Steven O'Neill sentenced Cosby to 3 to 10 years in state prison and ordered him to pay a $25,000 fine plus prosecution costs of $43,611. Cosby was also designated a "sexually violent predator," requiring lifetime sex offender registration.[1]
Cosby was 81 years old at sentencing and was taken into custody immediately.
Incarceration
Cosby served his sentence at State Correctional Institution Phoenix in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. His lawyers pursued multiple appeals while he was incarcerated.[6]
In May 2021, Cosby's petition for parole was denied because he refused to participate in a treatment program for sexually violent predators—a decision that would have required him to acknowledge guilt.
Conviction Overturned
On June 30, 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Cosby's conviction and ordered his release. The court ruled that Cosby's due process rights had been violated.[10]
The decision centered on an agreement made by former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor in 2005. Castor had declined to prosecute Cosby criminally, allegedly promising that no charges would be filed. This promise was intended to remove Cosby's Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, compelling his testimony in Constand's civil suit.[6]
The Supreme Court found that Cosby had relied on this promise when he testified in the civil case, and that a subsequent prosecutor was obligated to honor the non-prosecution agreement. Using Cosby's civil deposition testimony against him at trial, the court ruled, violated his constitutional rights.[10]
The decision was 4-3, with justices sharply divided. The ruling prevented Cosby from being retried on the same charges.
Cosby was released from prison on June 30, 2021, after serving approximately three years.[6]
Civil Lawsuits
Despite the overturned criminal conviction, Cosby continues to face civil liability:
- Judy Huth lawsuit (2022): In 2014, Judy Huth filed a civil suit alleging Cosby sexually assaulted her in 1975 when she was 16 years old. In 2022, a jury found in Huth's favor and awarded her $500,000 in compensatory damages.[11]
- Nevada lawsuit (2023): Nine women filed a lawsuit against Cosby in Nevada, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting them.
- New Jersey lawsuit: Actress Lili Bernard filed a lawsuit under New Jersey's two-year lookback window for sexual assault claims.
Legacy
Cosby's fall from "America's Dad" to convicted sex offender represents one of the most dramatic reversals in entertainment history. His case became a landmark in the #MeToo movement, demonstrating how powerful men could face accountability for decades-old allegations.[2]
However, the overturning of his conviction on procedural grounds, rather than an exoneration of the underlying conduct, left many of his accusers feeling that justice was not fully served. The case highlighted the complexity of prosecuting sexual assault cases, particularly when significant time has passed.
Cosby's honorary degrees have been rescinded by numerous universities, his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been the subject of removal debates, and his television legacy has been largely erased from syndication and streaming platforms.[12]
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Bill Cosby Is Sentenced to 3 to 10 Years for Sexual Assault". The New York Times. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Bill Cosby: A 60-Year Timeline of Accusations andடeny". New York Magazine. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Supreme Court denies certiorari in Cosby case". Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Bill Cosby Biography". Biography.com. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Bill Cosby - Emmy Award Winner". Television Academy. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Bill Cosby's conviction overturned by Pennsylvania Supreme Court". Associated Press. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Bill Cosby admitted getting Quaaludes to give to women". The Washington Post. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Hannibal Buress's Cosby Bit Goes Viral". Vulture. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Bill Cosby trial ends in mistrial". CNN. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Commonwealth v. Cosby". Pennsylvania Courts. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Bill Cosby found liable for 1975 sexual assault". NBC News. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "'Cosby Show' Reruns Pulled From Multiple Networks". Variety. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.