Born William Henry Cosby Jr., Bill Cosby is a renowned former comedian, actor, and media personality. Bill became a household name in the 1980s and the early 1990s for his portrayal of Cliff Huxtable in the sitcom The Cosby Show.
Bill Cosby’s real life once seemed to mirror that of his iconic TV character, Dr. Cliff Huxtable—a devoted husband and father admired across America. However, that wholesome image unraveled as numerous sexual assault allegations and a high-profile conviction shattered the public’s perception of the man once dubbed ‘America’s Dad.’
Bill has been married to Camille Hanks since 1964, with whom he has five children. Camille, being the most loyal wife that she is, defended her husband against all the accusations he faced. In fact, she released a statement in 2014 saying that her husband was the victim of unvetted accusations.
So, let’s learn about Bill and Camille’s relationship in today’s piece.
Bill and Camille Met on a Blind Date
Bill met his wife Camille on a blind date when she was a sophomore at the University of Maryland. The pair hit it off and started dating. Shortly after, the pair got engaged and on January 25, 1964, Bill and Camille got married.
Camille was just 19 years old when she got married while Bill was 26 at the time. After marrying Bill, Camille dropped out of school, however, she decided to pursue her education again after giving birth to five children with her husband. She not only completed her graduation but also got a doctoral degree.
In a conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Camille said: “Education helped me to come out of myself, to come out of the home, because I had been raising my children. Not that that is bad thing; it is the most difficult job I have ever had. But that was just one part of my womanness.”
Bill’s career catapulted with his work on I Spy that came right after their marriage and he became one of the most famous African American men in the USA. However, his fame never let her feel overshadowed. Instead, she always looked up to him. Camille regarded Bill as a mature man and she always revered him for his wisdom and his knowledge.
Bill and Camille Had Five Kids – Two of Them Have Deceased
Bill and his wife gave birth to five kids after their marriage. They welcomed four daughters: Erika (born 1965), Erinn (born 1966), Ensa (born 1973), and Evin (born 1976), and one son, Ennis (born 1969).
Their only son, Ennis was murdered at the age of 27 on January 16, 1997. He was shot in the head by 18-year-old Mikhail Markhasev near Interstate 405 in LA while changing a flat tire. The murderer was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted robbery on July 7, 1998, and was sentenced to life in prison in August.
Their daughter Ensa died of kidney failure on February 23, 2018, while awaiting a kidney transplant. She was 44.
Are The Cosbys Still Together?
Yes! Very much. Bill and Camille Cosby continue to live together as husband and wife after over six decades of marriage. Many people speculated their marriage would eventually fall apart after Bill was accused of sexual assault by over five dozen women. However, Camille has always stayed by her husband’s side. Bill served more than three years in prison after being convicted in April 2018 on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of his former friend Andrea Constand in 2004.
But these incidents didn’t waver her support and love for her long-time husband. In fact, in 2014, when the accusations mounted against her spouse, Camille released a statement saying:
“The man I met, and fell in love with, and whom I continue to love, is the man you all knew through his work. He is a kind man, a generous man, a funny man, and a wonderful husband, father, and friend. he is the man you thought you knew.”
She further said,
“A different man has been portrayed in the media … It is the portrait of a man I do not know. It is also a portrait painted by organizations painted by individuals and organizations whom many in the media has given a pass. There appears to be no vetting of my husband’s accusers before stories are published or aired.”
Bill was released from prison in June 2021, after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his sexual assault conviction.
Camille Cosby’s Family Background and Early Life
Camille was born Camille Olivia Hanks on March 20, 1944, in Washington D.C. as the oldest of four children of Guy A. Hanks Sr. and Catherine C. Hanks. Her Father, Hanks Sr., was a chemist at Walter Reed General Hospital while her mom worked at a nursery. Both her parents were college graduates.
Camille studied psychology at the University of Maryland and later obtained an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Later on, she completed her master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1990 followed by an Ed. D. in 1992.
