Bill Cosby, born in 1937, broke many color barriers in television. He became the first Black actor in a recurring "non-traditional" role when he co-starred in I Spy. He also became the first Black Actor to win Emmy Awards (in 1966 and 1967) for best actor in a continuing series.
The first Black star in a television series that did not deal directly with racial themes, he would later helm the incredibly successful The Cosby Show in the 1980s, which is credited with resurrecting the family sitcom. He also created the successful children's show The Fat Albert Show, based on characters from his early comedy routines.