Geoffrey Owens, best known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on The Cosby Show, has opened up about the challenges of making a living as a “middle-class actor.”
The 63-year-old actor, who made headlines in 2018 for working at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey, shared his experiences during an interview with Atlanta radio station V-103 earlier this month.
Owens, currently promoting his new film Mr. Santa: A Christmas Extravaganza, described the financial struggles many actors face. “I struggle every day to make my ends meet,” he said. “People have a false impression of what the average, what I call ‘middle-class actor,’ makes and their ability to sustain a living in the industry.”
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While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average actor’s salary as approximately $62,000 in 2023, this figure includes performers across theater, television, radio, video, and film. Owens did not disclose his own earnings.
In Mr. Santa: A Christmas Extravaganza, directed by Noel Calloway, Owens shares the screen with Tommy Davidson in a family-friendly story about a substitute teacher, known as Mr. Santa, stepping in just days before a high school’s Christmas show.
Owens’ journey to national attention began in 2018 when a shopper photographed him working at Trader Joe’s. The image sparked widespread discussion, with some outlets accused of job-shaming, while others praised Owens for his honest work. Support poured in from celebrities like Terry Crews, and rapper Nicki Minaj even gifted Owens $25,000, which he reportedly donated to the Entertainment Community Fund in honor of his Cosby Show co-star, Earle Hyman.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Owens revealed he left his Trader Joe’s job shortly after the photos were taken. “It wasn’t like I quit because I knew I was going to be making a lot of money soon or anything,” he said. “I just felt like I wasn’t going to be able to handle that kind of scrutiny, that kind of attack on my privacy.”
Despite being best remembered for his Cosby Show role, appearing in 128 episodes between 1985 and 1992, Owens has a diverse acting portfolio. His credits include Lou in the 1994 comedy-drama The Paper and Rob Marcus in the 2009 romantic comedy Play the Game. Recently, he appeared as J.J. in the CBS sitcom Poppa’s House.
Owens has also made guest appearances in popular series such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, NCIS: New Orleans, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and That’s So Raven.
