Fellow actors and fans have taken to Twitter and social media to defend Geoffrey Owens decision to take a job at Trader Joes.
Owens is best known to most as Caribbean American medical school student and husband to Sandra Huxtable from the Cosby Show, Elvin Tibideaux. Remember when he and Sandra decided that they would take their Princeton educations and open a wilderness store in Brooklyn instead of going to medical school and law school? Not exactly life imitating art since Owens has been in several movies and TV shows since the Cosby show, and is clearly STILL an actor, but still.
Fun Fact: Dennis Scott was the actor who played Elvin’s father on the show. The Jamaican icon was not only an actor, but he also a poet and a professor at UWI and Yale. True, his side gig wasn’t a job as a cashier, but he still had a regular job outside of being an actor.
Geoffrey Owens, a cum laude graduate of his Ivy League institution where his fictional father taught (in real life, Dennis Scott taught in the Yale drama department until his death), teaches acting. You can find his impressive resume and information on his classes here – https://www.geoffreyowens.com
So how does a regular on a popular 80’s sitcom end up bagging groceries? I mean, people change jobs and switch careers all the time… AND actors are known for taking other jobs to support themselves between projects.
So, 26 years after one TV job, this guy looks differently (shock) and is earning an honest living at a Trader Joe’s. The people taking his picture and passing judgment are trash. https://t.co/OUbOORk6jW
— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) September 1, 2018
When I look at this picture of Geoffrey Owens, the only things that come to my mind are courage, humility and dedication. Very few artists, especially actors, can fully support themselves in their craft. Taking honest, hard work to offset those dry periods is honorable. pic.twitter.com/tql80NegJt
— Aharon Rabinowitz (@ABAOProductions) September 2, 2018
Geoffrey Owens is a great actor who I saw play Puck in William Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Joseph Papp theater. He killed it. If you see him working anywhere get his autograph and wish him well.
— Jeremy Newberger (@jeremynewberger) September 1, 2018
This is so gross. At its simplest, this is a man working a job. The idea that it’s somehow sad or embarrassing says more about the onlooker than Geoffrey Owens. Acting as a business is brutal, and the vast majority of actors have other jobs. Get your damn groceries and shut up. https://t.co/aaeC5A8r03
— Emerson Collins (@ActuallyEmerson) September 1, 2018
Each day in our Facebook group, I welcome new members and tell everyone a little bit about myself. In this welcome video, I share a bit about my employment journey and what it means to be a child of immigrants when you choose a job.
You are invited to join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/659027141150308/
Side Note: No matter what success I have, YOU MAY SEE ME AS A CASHIER AT HOME DEPOT. I love Home Depot and Lowe’s for real, so at this age and stage, let me do what I want, get my discount, and be my best Pinterest self, right?
What did you think about the Geoffrey Owens story (or non-story)? How did it make you feel? Do we have an obligation to keep up a certain level of employment or to make our parents proud?
I don’t knock his hustle at all. Entertainment is a fickle industry. Meanwhile Trader Joe’s offers good wages, health insurance, and retirement benefits. The only hard part is being recognizable.
I’m so happy he was able to get an acting job from all of this. I hate that someone tried to make him feel bad about having a legal job. His interview on Good Morning America was great.
I feel sad for humanity when people act like this. It makes me sad that society feels the need to be so judgmental and so critical of each other.
We are all just trying to make it. I think it is awesome he got a job and provides for himself. I also think it is sad he needed to be defended.
I am all for doing whatever makes you happy. Why are people so worried about his life choices LOL, let him live his life.
I love MimiCuteLips dot com and it was afforded me some amazing opportunities. However it does not pay my bills. Yes, you will see me on TV, and interviewing Denzel Washington and traveling and livings my best life with Babe and out kids. However I have a 9 to 5 that I have zero plans on leaving. I am not ashamed either, I would totally work at Target so I can get more than 5% off for my many purchases. He is a man first and he is providing for his family and “aint no shame in that.”
It’s crazy how we can pass judgement on people. Especially those who used to be in the limelight. I’m so glad he spoke out and he did so with pride and dignity.
I love how so many people came to his defense. In this economy with student loans and housing costs skyrocketing, I think a lot of folks saw themselves in Geoffrey Owens, knowing just one late payment or mistake could land them at Trader Joe’s or any other retail job.
Did you see the latest? Tyler Perry hired him. “Won’t He do it? Said he would!”
I don’t even get what the problem is. People really don’t understand the importance of a job no matter the person’s background. I don’t get it. Further more, Trader Joe’s like so many other companies like it take good care of their employees. Better than some Fortune 500 companies. I understand that Geoffrey Owens is amazing in live performances. I hope he gets some major acting gigs and keeps his Tjs job.
The story definitely brings to light that people need to mind their business and stop passing judgement. But as it goes, this all may have been a blessing in disguise for him.
I hate that this was a national story. But I’m so happy people are standing with him.
I say let that man live and do what he wants or has to do. I’ve taken jobs other than my norm to support my family and can careless about judgement. Kudos to him for not whining but taking the initiative to still be about his family and craft!
People can be so cruel! I mean why is this even news, we have all been there before where we need to make ends meet and that’s exactly what he was doing. I respect him as a person and a man for doing what he needs to do!
The person who thought they were exposing him must feel like a fool now. This is a good story about staying humble and doing your thing because he had good intentions everyone knows how hard the acting industry can be and I am happy this “outing” gave him the exposure to get some gigs finally!
Well he has the last laugh. He is now booked with gigs and it just goes to show you stay humble and keep your heart in the right place and the universe will turn it around. I bet the person who exposed him really feels crazy.