Ben Ali

When I first met Ben Ali, neither one of us knew we were going to become famous. It was 1958, and he had just opened Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, where he sold hot dogs, burgers and half-smokes. I didn't know what he put in those sausages, but I knew they were good. Back then there were quite a few black-owned restaurants, but Ben, who died Oct. 7 at 82, knew how to make his customers feel comfortable. During the riots in 1968, there were only two places in Washington that didn't get touched: the Lincoln Theatre and Ben's, right next door.

Since then, every time I visited D.C.--even after I started going to tuxedo galas and $200-a-plate dinners--I'd go get three half-smokes with mustard and raw onions, thank you very much. One day, my driver returned with the same amount of money I had given him. He told me Ben and his wife Virginia (below) had refused to let him pay. They told him, "Bill Cosby eats for free." I tried again the next time I was in town, but Virginia recognized my order and again refused to take my money. After Barack Obama visited earlier this year, a sign went up: BILL COSBY AND PRESIDENT OBAMA ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO EAT HERE FOR FREE. I joked with Ben that Obama hadn't earned the right. Soon after the President's visit, Ben added to the sign: BUT HE PAID.

The last time I saw Ben was at a celebration of the 50th anniversary of his restaurant. Celebrities and politicians were there, along with people of all backgrounds. Regardless of race, creed or culture, Ben made everyone feel at home. His sons and daughter, who now run the family business, do too. For Ben, that was the key word: family.

Cosby proposed to his wife at Ben's Chili Bowl and held a press conference at the restaurant in 1985 after his sitcom hit No. 1