Bill Cosby was born July 12, 1937, Philadelphia, Pa. During his sophomore year, he left college to entertain as a stand-up comedian. Cosby's first acting assignment, in the espionage series I Spy (1965-1968), made him the first black actor to perform in a starring dramatic role on network television. Cosby's most successful work, The Cosby Show, appeared on NBC from 1984 to 1992.