Comedian, actor, author Bill Cosby to give commencement address at Bradley

Peoria, Illinois . . . May 7, 2003 . . . Comedian, actor, and author Bill Cosby will give the commencement address during Bradley University's Spring Commencement ceremony on May 17.

Bradley will award nearly 1100 degrees during the ceremony that begins at 10 a.m. in the Peoria Civic Center's Carver Arena. Tickets are required for admission to the Commencement ceremony.

Bill Cosby first gained prominence as a comedian in the early 1960s, when he vaulted from telling jokes in Philadelphia night-spots to the top of the nightclub circuit and then to television. He became the first African American to star in a television drama when he appeared on I Spy in 1965. He starred in and produced The Bill Cosby Show, The Cosby Show, The Cosby Mysteries and Cosby. He created the childrenÕs animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids and The New Fat Albert Show and hosted You Bet Your Life.

Cosby also has starred in numerous movies and is the creator of more than 23 comedy and musical albums and author of 13 books, including the series of Little Bill childrenÕs books. He has been awarded eight Grammy Awards for best comedy album; four Emmy Awards, the NAACP Image Award, the Golden Globe Award, and four PeopleÕs Choice Awards. He is an Academy of Television Arts and Science Hall of Fame inductee and Kennedy Center Awards honoree.

Cosby and his wife, Camille, are active in Operation PUSH, NAACP, United Negro College Fund and Sickle Cell Foundation.