Biography
Bill Cobbs was born and raised in Cleveland where hi mother was a cleaning lady and his father a construction worker. Prior to pursuing his passion of acting, he was an Air Force radar technician, worked in office products at IBM and sold cars.
In 1970, at age of 36, Cobbs left Ohio for New York to seek work as an actor. He supported himself by driving cabs, repairing office equipment, selling toys and performing odd jobs. His first professional acting role was in Ride A Black Horse at the Negro Ensemble Company. From there, he appeared in small theater productions, eventually performing at the Eugene O‘Neill Theater.
His first television credit was in Vegetable Soup, a New York PBS educational series, and then he landed a role in The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three. Cobbs has since gone on to appear in numerous films, including The Hudsucker Proxy, Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead, New Jack City, That Thing That You Do!, Ghosts Of Mississippi, A Mighty Wind and the blockbuster Night At The Museum, to mention a few.
Sony Pictures Classics
Actor
Documentaries | |
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2006 |
Queen of Swing - narrator |
Short | |
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2017 |
My Christmas Grandpa |
2009 |
My Summer Friend |
2008 |
This Man's Life |
1995 |
Tuesday Morning Ride |