Bill Crosby was born July 12, 1937 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He, like Bell, was in the military and gave it up to act and make people laugh. He was the first black actor to play a dramatic role on network television. He helped break down racial barriers on television in the 1960's. He won eight Grammys in his career and his show "The Cosby Show" changed many people's perspectives about black families. White families, like mine, would watch it every night and relate to the family drama and appreciate Bill's jokes.
Eddie Murphy was born April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn New York. At 19 years old, he was hired to play a minor character on Saturday Night Live. However, unlike Bell, he was quickly made a huge star after only a year. He didn't grow up with money. He worked hard to make a career as an actor, and then branched off into music and writing as well. He's played in over forty movies, and is perhaps the funniest man alive.
So what do Eddie Murphy and Bill Crosby have in common with Spencer Bell? Yes, they all three play in movies, they are black, and they are comedic. But it's more than that. Eddie Murphy and Bill Crosby got to be big, way bigger than Bell, not because they are more talented, but because Spencer and others like him fought hard so that they could be big.
So what do Eddie Murphy and Bill Crosby have in common with Spencer Bell? Yes, they all three play in movies, they are black, and they are comedic. But it's more than that. Eddie Murphy and Bill Crosby got to be big, way bigger than Bell, not because they are more talented, but because Spencer and others like him fought hard so that they could be big.