Rape claims haunt 'America's Dad'

He was the father every child in America wished was theirs, and his weekly appearances as the irascible but lovable star of The Cosby Show were so popular that he is credited with singlehandedly reviving the entire sitcom genre.

But now Bill Cosby, whose role as Cliff Huxtable in the 1980s show earned him the nickname "America's Dad", has seen his reputation destroyed after decades-old rumours about his behaviour with young women came back to haunt him.

An excruciating radio interview on the respectedNPR network, in which he refused to answer questions about the reports, was followed by the cancellation of a high-profile television appearance to promote an exhibition featuring his collection of African art.

The questions around Cosby's behaviour escalated last week, when one of the dozen or more women who have accused him of rape over 30 years wrote an editorial in the Washington Post about her experiences.

Barbara Bowman accused Cosby of drugging and assaulting her in 1985, after being introduced to him when she was a struggling actress.

"Cosby won my trust as a 17-year-old in 1985, brainwashed me and then assaulted me multiple times," she said.

His alleged victims claim he was held with such adulation in the industry that they were discouraged from contacting the police.

Cosby has always denied the allegations, although he made an out-of-court settlement in 2006 over an incident of sexual assault.