Camille Cosby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Camille Cosby
Cosby in 1998
Born	Camille Olivia Hanks (1944-03-20) March 20, 1944 (age 81) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma mater	University of Maryland (BA, MA) University of Massachusetts Amherst (Ed.D.)
Occupation	Television producer author philanthropist
Years active	1986–present
Known for	Philanthropy
Spouse(s)	Bill Cosby ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	5, including Erika and Ennis
Awards	Candace Award (1992)

Camille Olivia Cosby (born March 20, 1944) is an American television producer and a generous supporter of many causes (a philanthropist). She is married to comedian Bill Cosby. The famous character Clair Huxtable from The Cosby Show was actually based on her.

Camille Cosby usually stays out of the public eye. However, she has been very active in managing her husband's work. She has also spent time on her education and writing. She earned a master's degree in 1990 and a doctorate in education in 1992.

Early Life and Education

Camille Olivia Hanks was born on March 20, 1944. Her birthplace was Washington D.C., in the United States. She grew up in Norbeck, Maryland, which is just outside Washington. Camille is the oldest of four children.

Her father, Guy A. Hanks Sr., was a chemist. Her mother, Catherine C. Hanks, worked at a nursery. Both of her parents had gone to college. Her father earned a graduate degree, and her mother earned a bachelor's degree.

Camille Cosby attended private Catholic schools. She first went to St. Cyprian's, then St. Cecilia's Academy. She said that the Oblate Sisters of Providence were her first formal teachers. They helped her see many possibilities in life. More importantly, they made every student feel valuable.

After high school, Cosby studied psychology at the University of Maryland. This is where she met her future husband, Bill Cosby. In June 1987, she received an honorary doctoral degree. This special degree was given to her by Howard University.

In 1990, Cosby earned a master's degree. She then earned a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in 1992. She shared in a 2014 interview with Oprah Winfrey:

"I really started to understand myself in my mid-thirties. I went through a big change. I decided to go back to school. I had left college when I was 19 to marry Bill. I had five children, and I decided to return. I didn't feel complete with my education. So I went back, and when I did, my confidence grew. I got my master's, then decided to get my doctoral degree. Education helped me become more confident."

Career and Contributions

Judith James (left) and Cosby (right) at the 59th Annual Peabody Awards (2000)

Camille Cosby generally avoids being in the public spotlight. She worked as a manager for her husband. She was known as a very smart businesswoman. Bill Cosby once said that people found her tough to deal with when it came to his business.

She also helped develop ideas for her husband's work. For example, she suggested that the Huxtable family on The Cosby Show should be middle-class. This was instead of working-class. The character of Clair Huxtable from The Cosby Show was based on her.

Cosby strongly supports African-American literature. She has written introductions for several books. In 1993, she wrote for Thelma Williams' Our Family Table. In 2009, she wrote for Dear Success Seeker by Michele R. Wright. In 2014, she wrote for The Man from Essence by Edward Lewis.

In 1994, Cosby released her own book. It was called Television's Imageable Influences: The Self-Perception of Young African-Americans. This book showed how negative images of African Americans in media can be harmful. The book was originally planned as her doctoral thesis.

Cosby worked with David C. Driskell on his book. It was titled The Other Side of Color. This book focused on the Cosbys' art collection. In 2004, Cosby and Renee Poussaint edited A Wealth of Wisdom. This book shared stories from important African American elders.

In 2001, Cosby helped start the National Visionary Leadership Project. This group aims to help new leaders. They do this by recording and sharing stories from amazing older African Americans.

Cosby was also a co-producer for a Broadway play. It was called Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years. This play was based on a book about two sisters, Sarah and A. Elizabeth Delany. After the play's success, Cosby got the rights for film and TV. She later became an executive producer for the 1999 television movie of the same name.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Camille Cosby has a long history of giving to good causes. She has donated to schools and educational groups. She is a member of several charitable organizations. These include Operation PUSH and The United Negro College Fund.

Starting in the 1980s, Cosby and her husband gave money to Central State University (CSU). This is a historically black university in Ohio. They gave $100,000 first, then another $325,000 in 1987. In 1989, CSU held a football event to honor their help.

In 1987, the Cosbys donated $1.3 million to Fisk University. In 1988, they gave $20 million to Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Spelman is a top Historically Black women's college. This was the largest donation ever to a Black college at that time. Spelman College named a large academic building after her. They also have a "Camille Cosby Day."

A few months later, the Cosbys donated more money. They gave $800,000 to Meharry Medical College. They also gave $750,000 to Bethune-Cookman University.

In 1992, Cosby received the Candace Award. This award recognizes minority women who have made important contributions to their communities. In 2005, Cosby donated $2 million to St. Frances Academy. This is a Black Catholic high school in Baltimore. Her donation helped the school create 16 scholarships in her name.

Personal Life

Camille Cosby met Bill Cosby on a blind date. This happened during her sophomore year at the University of Maryland. They got engaged soon after they started dating. They married on January 25, 1964.

Camille and Bill Cosby have five children. Their names are Erika (born 1965), Erinn (born 1966), Ennis (1969–1997), Ensa (1973–2018), and Evin (born 1976).

Their son, Ennis, was sadly murdered on January 16, 1997. He was 27 years old. After his death, Camille Cosby wrote a letter to USA Today. In the letter, she expressed her feelings about the tragedy.

Their daughter, Ensa, passed away on February 23, 2018. She was 44 years old. She died from kidney disease while waiting for a kidney transplant.

In 1982, Cosby joined a group to meet Pope John Paul II. This meeting took place at the Vatican. The group included Reverend Jesse Jackson and his wife Jacqueline Jackson.

Camille Cosby and Bill Cosby were on the cover of Ebony magazine in 1966. In 1996, Ebony also named her one of the "15 most beautiful Black women."

Art Collection

Cosby loves collecting art. Her collection includes quilts made by African Americans. She owns several works by the artist Ellis Ruley. The artist Simmie Knox has painted many portraits of her. In 1981, Cosby bought a painting called The Thankful Poor by Henry Ossawa Tanner. She gave it to her husband as a Christmas gift.

Filmography