In the mid-1960's, playing the role of an undercover agent, he became the first black actor to star in a weekly TV series. Who is he, and what was the name of the TV series?

In 1965, the spy-adventure series "I Spy" premiered, pairing comedian Bill Cosby with actor Robert Culp. The role of Alexander Scott, an intelligent, multilingual Rhodes Scholar working as an undercover CIA agent, made Cosby the first Black actor to have a leading role in a weekly American television drama. His cover was that of a trainer and coach for his partner, Kelly Robinson (Culp), a globe-trotting tennis pro.

The significance of this casting during the height of the Civil Rights Movement cannot be overstated. Rather than focusing on racial tension, the show's creators presented the two men as true equals, whose witty banter and deep friendship formed the heart of the series. This depiction of a sophisticated, professional Black man in a position of authority was a powerful departure from the stereotypical roles often seen on screen at the time and was considered a landmark moment for television.

The show was a critical and commercial success, celebrated for its on-location filming around the world and the genuine chemistry between its two leads. For his groundbreaking performance, Bill Cosby won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for three consecutive years (1966, 1967, and 1968), cementing both his and the show's place in television history.