Working actors have sprung to the defence of former The Cosby Show series regular Geoffrey Owens after a news piece highlighted the fact he, shock horror, now has a job working at a supermarket.
[jwplayer RfLMYyUD]
Speaking to The Daily Mail, the shopper who spotted Owens bagging groceries at a Trader Joe‘s in New Jersey said “It made me feel really bad. I was like, “Wow, all those years of doing the show and you ended up as a cashier.”
Owens played the role of Dr Elvin Tibideaux, a young medical pro who married into the televised Cosby family. He appeared in the last five seasons of the massively influential show.
In the years since, he earned credits on It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Lucifer. But other actors have defended his grocery store gig, saying that day jobs are an honourable reality in a business which can see actors go long periods without stable employment.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Terry Crews and Better Things‘ Pamela Adlon both defended Owens, and spoke out about their employment outside of the entertainment industry.
I swept floors AFTER the @NFL. If need be, I’d do it again. Good honest work is nothing to be ashamed of. https://t.co/8mseCpaIqz
— Terry Crews (@terrycrews) September 2, 2018
I had been a working actor for years. Jobs stopped, as they do. I worked in retail. At a flower shop. I passed out flyers. It’s about the work. Work gives you pride and purpose. Your visibility as an actor never goes away. But the money sure does. #geoffreyowens pic.twitter.com/BBzZaBrGBx
— Pamela Adlon (@pamelaadlon) September 2, 2018
Everyone Loves Raymond and The Middle regular Patricia Heaton called out those trying to “humiliate” Owens for his employment.
Again, why is this news? When I worked on “Thirtysomething” I was also summarizing depositions to pay my rent. Why are you trying to humiliate this honorable, hardworking actor? Shame on you! #geoffreyowens – many great blessings are coming your way! https://t.co/8tgvW3iixr
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) September 2, 2018
Broadway actor Andrew Kober, whose TV credits also include Boardwalk Empire and House Of Cards, added “the honor is in the hustle.”
After being in the Broadway and West End casts of Hair, after being on Boardwalk Empire, I waited tables. I wouldn’t be surprised if I wait tables again. Life isn’t linear, and bills have got to get paid. The honor is in the hustle. Go to hell, @FoxNews. https://t.co/77FE1Rsb6T
— Andrew Kober (@andrewkober) September 1, 2018
Blair Underwood of Quantico shared similar sentiments.
#NOSHAME in good, honest, hard work. He’s being a man in doing what he needs to do to provide for himself and his family. Much respect to you Sir! https://t.co/rQoNdnj6bd
— Blair Underwood (@BlairUnderwood) September 2, 2018
Even Alec Baldwin had a crack.
Before they discovered he was actually holding down a job, I guess Fox News was hoping Geoffrey Owens was on welfare and carried a fake passport
— AlecBaldwin(HABF) (@AlecBaldwin) September 1, 2018
For what it’s worth, The Cosby Show reruns were pulled from US television earlier this year after its star, Bill Cosby, was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault. Obviously, making an honest living at a supermarket beats being a convicted sex offender.
