‘Cosby Show’ actor thankful for support about grocery store job
TRENTON, N.J. — An actor who was a regular on “The Cosby Show” said he’s thankful for the support he has received since photos of him working at a grocery store showed up on news sites.
Geoffrey Owens said Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he did feel some people were trying to job shame him. But he stressed that “every job is worthwhile and valuable,” adding that what’s important is the honor of the working person and the dignity of the work.
“There is no job that’s better than another,” he said. “It may pay better, it may have better benefits, it may look better on paper. But it’s not better. Every job is worthwhile.”
Owens played Elvin Tibideaux, the husband of Sondra, the eldest daughter of Bill Cosby’s character on the show. Photos showed him working the register at a New Jersey Trader Joe’s, “Geoffrey” on his name tag. He said he no longer works there because of the unwanted attention he received.
Owens said people recognized him in the past and it was never an issue, noting they were “very, very cool about it.” The 57-year-old actor said he hasn’t had an acting job that lasted more than 10 weeks since leaving “The Cosby Show,” but taught acting at Yale and worked other jobs related to entertainment.
“I wanted a job where I could have some flexibility” if auditions or other matters came up, Owen said. “I didn’t advertise it, not because I was ashamed of it, but because I didn’t want the acting community to think that I wasn’t pursuing acting anymore.”