Cosby

Cosby is an English-language surname derived from Cosby, a village in Leicestershire, and it also appears as a place name in various locations. The name is carried by several public figures, the most widely known being Bill Cosby (born 1937), an American comedian, actor, and author.

Bill Cosby rose to prominence as a stand-up comedian in the 1960s and later starred in television programs and films. He is best known for The Cosby Show, which aired on NBC from 1984 to 1992. The series centers on the Huxtable family, a middle‑class Black family in Brooklyn, and became one of the most watched and influential sitcoms of its era. Cosby’s career also included later stand-up tours, as well as books and other media projects. His work extended beyond entertainment into public discussions on parenting and education.

Cosby’s public career has been marked by significant legal and ethical controversy. Beginning in the mid-2000s, numerous women accused him of sexual assault; in 2018, he was convicted in Pennsylvania on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for an incident involving Andrea Constand in 2004. In 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacated the conviction and discharged Cosby, ruling that due process had been compromised by a prior agreement with a former prosecutor. No retrial occurred, and Cosby was released from prison after serving about three years.

Beyond the individual, Cosby also appears as a toponym in several places and remains a surname associated with various people and cultural references.