Bill Cosby in advertising

American comedian and actor Bill Cosby was a popular spokesperson for advertising from the 1960s – before his first starring television role – until the early 2000s. He started with White Owl cigars, and later endorsed the Jell-O frosty ice pop treats Pudding Pop, gelatin, Del Monte, Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola (including New Coke), American Red Cross, Texas Instruments, Service Merchandise, E. F. Hutton & Co., Kodak, and the 1990 United States Census. As of 2002^[update], Cosby held the record for being the longest-serving celebrity spokesperson for a product, through his work with Jell-O. In 2011, he won the President's Award for Contributions to Advertising from the Advertising Hall of Fame.

Cosby was one of the first black people to appear in the United States as an advertising spokesperson. He was known for his appeal to white consumers in the second half of the 20th century, in an industry seen as slow to accept diversity.^[1] In spite of making contradictory soft drink pitches and endorsing a disgraced financial company, he continued to be considered effective and believable. In the 1980s, studies found Cosby the "most familiar" and "most persuasive" spokesperson, to the point where Cosby attributed his wealth to these contracts, as opposed to his television series. As of 2002, Cosby's time with Jell-O was considered the longest-standing celebrity endorsement in American advertising history.

Accusations of sexual assault, rape, and other crimes were made in 2014, leading to imprisonment. Some victims noted his public persona as discouraging them from speaking earlier, with one victim calling him "Mr America, Mr Jello." Before the public scrutiny, Cosby was still one of the most trusted celebrities in the United States.