Cosby Show actor who was forced to work at Trader Joe's says he's still struggling to make ends meet
A beloved 'Cosby Show' actor opened up having to work at Trader Joe's and the financial struggles he continues to endure.
Geoffrey Owens, 63, widely recognized for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on the iconic TV series, made headlines in 2018 when a photo of him bagging groceries at Trader Joe's went viral.
While some on social media mocked him for taking a 'regular' job, an outpouring of support soon countered the negativity.
'At first, there was some negative stuff about basically the job-shaming. A "where is he now" kinda thing,' he told the Atlanta's V-103 radio station.
'But then, very soon after that, there was all this support and encouragement from all over the world.'
Owens revealed that he had to quit Trader Joe's after the news broke.
'It wasn't like I quit knowing I would be making a lot of money soon or anything,' he explained.
'I just felt like I wasn't going to be able to handle that kind of scrutiny and attack on my privacy.'
Geoffrey Owens, the beloved 'Cosby Show' actor, opened up about the backlash he faced after working at Trader Joe's and the financial struggles he continues to endure
In a recent interview, Owens revealed that he had quit Trader Joe's before the news broke
He spoke highly of the grocery chain and revealed that he had even requested additional hours at the store.
Owens emphasized that despite his successful acting career, he still faces financial hardship, a fact that surprised many.
'Even today, right now, as we speak, I still struggle to make a living,' he said.
'I struggle every day to make my ends meet.
'And people can't get their heads around that because they see me in movies.'
Owens explained that his Cosby Show residuals were not substantial, and that the show's removal from syndication significantly impacted his income.
He said that the residuals were 'never particularly wonderful for me, I was here and there. I did maybe twenty percent of the shows.'
The viral attention in 2018 led to a surge of acting opportunities for Owens.
Owens explained that his 'Cosby Show' residuals were not substantial, and the show's removal from syndication significantly impacted his income
Tyler Perry cast him in The Haves and the Have Nots, and he landed roles in Power, Power Book II: Ghost, NCIS: New Orleans, Billions, and All Rise.
He currently appears in Damon Wayans' sitcom Poppa's House and recently starred in the family film Mr. Santa: A Christmas Extravaganza.
Reflecting on his time at Trader Joe's, Owens told People in 2018 that the experience came from necessity after The Cosby Show reruns were pulled.
He said: 'That was one of the elements that led to my getting to the place where I said to myself, 'I have to do something' and I was thinking, 'What can I do?' and the answer ended up being Trader Joe's, which is actually a wonderful situation for me in many ways.'
