William Henry Cosby Jr. born July 12, 1937 is an American stand-up comedian, comedian, actor, and author. Beginning in the 1980s, Cosby produced and starred in the television sitcom The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992 and was rated as the number one show in America from 1985 through 1989. The sitcom highlighted the experiences and growth of an affluent African-American family.