Bill Cosby Returns to Asheville’s Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Bill Cosby has the ability to touch people’s lives.

Staff Reports

By any standards Bill Cosby is one of the most influential stars in America today. Through recordings, television, films, and commercials, concert appearances, and his education projects,  Cosby touches people’s lives. His humor often centers on the basic cornerstones of our existence, seeking to provide an insight into our roles as parents, children, brothers and sisters.

Without resorting to gimmickry or lowbrow humor, Cosby’s comedy characteristically has a point of reference and respect for the trappings and traditions of such great American humorists as Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, W.C. Fields, and Groucho Marx.

The 1984-92 run of The Cosby Show on NBC and his books Fatherhood and
Time Flies established new benchmarks on how success is measured. His
status at the top of the TVQ survey (recognition plus popularity) year
after year continues to confirm his appeal as one of the most popular
personalities in America. His lifelong contributions to American culture
were recognized in 1998 with a Kennedy Center Honor and, in July 2002,
America’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Cosby will make a live appearance in Asheville January 23 at
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium as part of his current tour. In recent years he
has touched the hearts of a new generation of young children with his
Emmy Award-winning Little Bill animated series, which aired daily on
Nickelodeon and Saturday mornings on CBS and was based on Cosby’s
popular children’s books.

His interest in young people also spawned his best-selling book,
Congratulations! Now What?, published by Hyperion, offering his amusing
yet wise take on college life and what lies ahead for the new graduate
in the real world.

The Cosby Show – The 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition,
released by First Look Studios and Carsey-Werner, is the complete
collection available of one of the most popular programs in the history
of television.

In addition to propelling NBC to first place in the ratings for
nearly a decade, the series earned 29 Emmy® nominations and won six,
garnered six Golden Globe® nominations with three wins, and gained ten
People’s Choice Awards.

“The Cosby Show is a message for all time: the family and raising
your children matters most,” says Cosby. “Many people approach me and
say that the show made them aware that there could be a better life out
there for them. At the same time they say that the show still makes them
laugh.”

Cosby has been a crusader throughout his career for a better
world and for better understanding between people. Besides his
involvement with a host of charity organizations, he is an active
trustee of his alma mater, Temple University of Philadelphia. As
philanthropists, he and his wife Camille have made substantial gifts in
support of education (most notably to predominantly African American
colleges) and to various social service and civil rights organizations.

In addition, Cosby earned a Masters Degree in Education (M. Ed.)
in 1972 and his Doctorate in Education (Ed. D.) in 1977 from the
University of Massachusetts. His doctoral thesis was titled “The
Integration of Visual Media Via Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Into the
Elementary Schools Culminating as a Teacher Aid to Achieve Increased
Learning.”

Cosby’s been busy raising a family, too. He married the former
Camille Hanks on January 25, 1964, while she was still a student at the
University of Maryland. They raised four daughters (Erika, Erinn, Ensa
and Evin) and one son (Ennis Cosby) and now have three grandchildren.
The family resides in New England.

When speaking of Camille, Cosby has urged an amendment to the
saying, “Behind every good man there’s a good woman.” He suggests that
“behind” should be substituted by “Three miles ahead.” Camille has not
only raised five children, but has also been totally involved in her
husband’s career. She produced his last album and has taped several
concerts over the years. She has received her doctorate in education and
plays an active role in a number of important national organizations.

Camille enjoyed great success adapting the best-selling book
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years. First she produced
the property as a Broadway play and then as a television movie. The play
was nominated for three Tony Awards and the television film won a
Peabody Award. Camille also produced a one-hour sociological documentary
film No Dreams Deferred, which aired on over 150 public television
stations.

When Oprah Winfrey debuted her new magazine in April 2000, she
chose Camille Cosby as her very first interview. The box set also
includes an exclusive, all-new, never-before-seen interview with Bill
Cosby, a 25th anniversary hard cover commemorative book, a tribute photo
and personal letter from Bill Cosby, a photo gallery slide show, an
interview with director Jay Sandrich, a blooper reel and “A Look Back
Special.” Also, as an added bonus, with each purchase, fans can redeem
two free music downloads and Cosby ringtones.

Come On, People! On the Path from Victims to Victors, written by
Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D., professor of psychiatry at
Harvard Medical School and civil rights veteran, lays out their message
of hope and empowerment. This New York Times best seller, published by
Thomas Nelson, provides real-life examples of the problems plaguing
communities throughout America and the time-tested solutions that can
help turn things around. The audiobook is available online at
www.billcosby.com and is read by accomplished actress CCH Pounder,
currently in the critically acclaimed FX series The Shield.

Bill Cosby Presents The Cosnarati: State of Emergency — this rap
album was made as a companion to Come On, People! All song story
concepts are by Cosby. The album was assembled by his longtime musical
collaborator Bill “Spaceman” Patterson, with guest rappers providing the
rhymes about the value of an education, respecting one’s self and …
giving (listeners) a chance to raise their self-esteem and confidence.
Sold exclusively online at www.billcosby.com.

Friends of a Feather: One of Life’s Little Fables, a
HarperEntertainment book released in 2003, is a collaboration with his
daughter, Erika, who did the illustrations. It is a beautiful story that
explores the theme of being true to yourself.

I Am What I Ate … and I’m frightened!!!, published by
HarperCollins was released on September 21, 2004, and was also on the
New York Times Best Seller List. It offers a hip, humorous, hard-earned
wisdom on the healthy lifestyle and the behavior behind it.

Bill and Camille Cosby produced a live action/animated Fat Albert
motion picture in 2004. A box office success, the movie introduced a
new generation to the loveable character and his friends initially
famous through the unforgettable Cosby comedy routines about them. The
Fat Albert television show and feature is now available on DVD.

Cosby often neglected his studies for athletics and, after
repeating the tenth grade, he left school to join the Navy. He finished
high school via a correspondence course while still in the service. When
he was discharged, he enrolled at Temple University with an athletic
scholarship and earned academic honors. His goal was to become a
physical education teacher. He probably could have made it as a
professional football player, but the world is richer in laughter
because he decided on show business.