Born William Henry Cosby Jr. on July 12, 1937, in North Philadelphia, Cosby enlisted in the Navy in 1956. He trained as a hospital corpsman and served aboard ships and at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia, before being sent to Bethesda Naval Hospital. He was assigned to work with Korean War casualties.

Cosby won awards running on the Navy track team, but also experienced racial discrimination, being forced to eat in the kitchen of cafes where the team stopped to eat while on the road. He was honorably discharged after four years of service in 1960.

He went on to Temple University on the GI Bill. He later received an M.A and Ed.D. (Education) at the University of Massachusetts. In recent years, he has contributed generously to educational institutions, including Atlanta's Spelman College.

Cosby is one of the most recognized and successful entertainers in the world of show business. He has recorded numerous comedy records, and starred in the Cosby Show, one of the most popular sitcoms of the eighties. He is also the author of several books, including three "Little Bill" children's books.