Who Is Bill Cosby's Wife?
Now that Bill Cosby is a free man, attention is turning back to his family. One such person who has all eyes on her is Cosby's wife, Camille, who has been with the comedian since 1964. Though she's remained out of the public eye, Camille Cosby has been one of the sole constants in Bill Cosby's life, remaining by his side throughout his multiple affairs and even through the sexual assault charges.
In fact, as her husband was standing trial, she told CNN that while he was an unfaithful husband, he wasn't a rapist. "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 ... and a wonderful husband, father, and friend," she said.
But what else do we know about Camille Cosby? Keep reading to find out more about Bill Cosby's wife.
Bill Cosby credits Camille Cosby with being a savvy businesswoman
Even though she has spent most of her career in education — earning a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1992 — Bill Cosby credits Camille Cosby with being a "shrewd businesswoman" who has helped him with his career. "People would rather deal with me than with Camille. She's rough to deal with when it comes to my business," he said to Ebony Magazine in 1988.
Born Camille Hanks in Washington, D.C., in 1944, she met Bill Cosby when the two of them were at the University of Maryland. They were married in 1964 and have five children: Erika, Evin, Erinn, Ennis, and Ensa. Camille was thrust into the spotlight after her son, Ennis, was murdered in 1997 at the age of 27. At that time, she wrote a USA Today essay citing racism as the reason her son was murdered, per The Buffalo News. Additionally, the Cosbys' daughter Ensa died in 2018 of renal failure while she was awaiting a kidney transplant, according to CNN.
More recently, Camille has been in the spotlight for defending her husband from the sexual assault charges against him. "In the case of Bill Cosby, unproven accusations evolved into lynch mobs," Camille said in a written public statement in 2018, per NPR.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).