Geoffrey Owens, best known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on the iconic sitcom *The Cosby Show*, opened up about the ongoing struggles he faces to make ends meet despite his fame. Owens, who found himself in the headlines in 2018 after a photo of him working at a Trader Joe’s grocery store went viral, says that even now, he is still grappling with financial hardship.
In a candid interview on Atlanta’s V-103 radio station on December 18, Owens revealed that his situation has not improved as much as people may think. “Even today, right now, as we speak, I still struggle to make a living,” Owens admitted. “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, who is a Yale graduate and the son of former New York congressman Major Owens, explained that his residuals from *The Cosby Show* were never substantial. He appeared on only a small portion of the show’s episodes, which meant his residual checks were far from the windfall many people imagine for successful actors. “People have a false impression of what the average middle-class actor makes and their ability to make a living in the industry,” he said.
After his acting career slowed down, Owens took a regular job at Trader Joe’s, a decision that initially went unnoticed. However, his privacy was shattered when a customer snapped a photo of him working at the register, which quickly went viral. Owens recalled the uncomfortable experience, explaining, “It wasn’t like I quit knowing I would be making a lot of money soon or anything. I just felt like I wasn’t going to be able to handle that kind of scrutiny and attack on my privacy.” Owens, who values his privacy, was disturbed by the public attention and ultimately left the job, not wanting to work in a store where he couldn’t feel secure from cameras.
While the public shaming at first brought some negative attention, it didn’t take long for an outpouring of support to flood in. Celebrities and fans alike offered encouragement, and rapper Nicki Minaj even sent him a generous $25,000 donation. However, Owens decided to donate the money to charity, saying it “didn’t feel right to keep it” without having worked for it.
Despite the public attention, Owens has continued to work in the entertainment industry. He’s taken on roles in various TV shows, including Tyler Perry’s *The Haves and the Have Nots* and 50 Cent’s *Power* and *Power Book II: Ghost*. Currently, Owens stars on the CBS sitcom *Poppa’s House* alongside Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr.
However, even with these acting gigs, Owens admitted that money remains tight. In fact, after the media frenzy died down, he returned to Trader Joe’s for a brief time, asking for more hours to supplement his income. Owens also pointed to the fall of *The Cosby Show* as a factor in his financial struggles. After Bill Cosby’s sexual assault allegations led to the show being pulled from syndication, Owens saw a direct impact on his residuals, which “disappeared.”
While the scandal surrounding Cosby undeniably impacted Owens’ earnings, he has moved forward with a resilient attitude. He continues to work in television, but it’s clear that even for a former star of one of the most popular shows in television history, the path to financial stability can be much more difficult than many outsiders realize.
Owens’ story is a reminder of the stark realities that many entertainers face, and the personal cost of the privacy invasion that often comes with fame. His honesty and willingness to continue pushing forward despite these challenges paint a picture of resilience, but also of the harsh realities that come with being in the public eye.
