Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby's life, from 'Cosby Show' to lawsuits, prison release
Updated March 23, 2026, 6:59 p.m. ET
Bill Cosby, once known as "America's dad," has largely stayed out of the spotlight since dozens of accusers leveled allegations of sexual misconduct against "The Cosby Show" star during the #MeToo movement. In the near-decade since, he spent more than two years serving a prison sentence for allegedly drugging and molesting a Temple University employee in 2004 — a conviction which was thrown out by the state's highest court in 2021 over a procedural matter.
The disgraced comedian, who has categorically denied all allegations of misconduct, has been found liable in civil court for allegedly assaulting women in incidents that date back five decades.
Scroll through for photos that span the height of his career through his misconduct allegations and legal troubles. Here, he leaves his home alongside spokesperson Andrew Wyatt, right, on July 1, 2021, in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
JOE LAMBERTI, USA TODAY NETWORKThe disgraced comedian, who has categorically denied all allegations of misconduct, has been found liable in civil court for allegedly assaulting women in incidents that date back five decades.
Scroll through for photos that span the height of his career through his misconduct allegations and legal troubles. Here, he leaves his home alongside spokesperson Andrew Wyatt, right, on July 1, 2021, in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
Bill Cosby walks out after his guilty verdict was announced at the Montgomery County Courthouse April 26, 2018, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Cosby was found guilty on all counts after a former Temple University employee alleged the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 60 women have accused the entertainer of sexual assault.
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Bill Cosby arrives for the start of jury deliberations in the retrial of his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 25, 2018.
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Bill Cosby arrives for the 10th day of his sexual assault retrial on April 20, 2018.
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Bill Cosby watches a protester get tackled by sheriff's officers as he arrives for the first day of his second sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 9, 2018.
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Bill Cosby arrives to the first day of jury selection for his sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 2, 2018.
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Actor and comedian Bill Cosby boards the elevator after a pretrial hearing for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on March 30, 2018.
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Actor and comedian Bill Cosby returns to the courtroom for a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on March 30, 2018.
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Bill Cosby, left, leaves the courtroom with his local attorney Lane Vines during a recess of a pretrial hearing for his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on March 29, 2018.
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Bill Cosby departs the Montgomery County Courthouse on March 6, 2018. Cosby's lawyers and prosecutors argued over the number of his accusers who were allowed to testify at his sexual assault retrial.
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Bill Cosby leaves the Montgomery County Courthouse on June 17, 2017, after a mistrial was declared in his sexual assault case, 11 days after the trial began and following 52 hours of deliberations.
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Several of Cosby's accusers attended his trial in June 2017, including Lili Bernard, left, who says Cosby drugged and raped her in a Las Vegas hotel around 1975, and Victoria Valentino, who says Cosby drugged and raped her in 1970.
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Cosby grips the arm of an assistant as he walks into the courthouse on June 5, 2017.
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Bill Cosby arrives at the Montgomery County Courthouse for another hearing on the aggravated indecent assault charges against him on Sept. 6, 2016.
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Bill Cosby walks inside the Montgomery County Courthouse as he arrives for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 6, 2016.
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Bill Cosby grasps the arm of a bodyguard as he arrives for his preliminary hearing at Montgomery County Courthouse on May 24, 2016.
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On Dec. 30, 2015, he was officially charged in Norristown, Pennsylvania, for an alleged assault in 2004.
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Cosby arrives on Dec. 30, 2015, at the courthouse in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, to face charges of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby was arraigned for an incident that allegedly took place in 2004 — the first criminal charge against the actor after dozens of women claimed abuse.
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Bill Cosby leaves after a 10-minute arraignment on charges of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby pleaded not guilty, posted $1 million bail and turned over his passport as a condition for his release.
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Cosby hosted the show "Kids Say the Darndest Things" in the late '90s.
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Cosby continued performing after the height of his TV success. Here, he performs at SXSW in March 2014.
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Cosby performs at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in September 2014.
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Entertainer Bill Cosby photographed at his agent's office in Los Angeles ***AK CHOICE**** --- DATE TAKEN: 11/23/98 By Amy Etra NoCredit , Source: For USA TODAY New York NY Pay - Pay at USAT space rate ORG XMIT: UT85465
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The cast of "The Cosby Show," from top left: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad and Tempestt Bledsoe.
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From top left, Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Theo Huxtable, Phylicia Rashad as Clair Hanks Huxtable, Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux, Geoffrey Owens as Elvin Tibideaux, Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable, Bill Cosby as Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable and Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy Huxtable on "The Cosby Show."
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Bill Cosby as Dr. Heathcliff "Clif" Huxtable on Season 6 of "The Cosby Show."
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From left, Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Theo Huxtable, Bill Cosby as Cliff Huxtable, Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy Huxtable, Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable on Season 4, Episode 10, of "The Cosby Show."
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