COSBY SHOW Cast Member Isn’t Ashamed of Doing Blue-Collar Work
By Tess Farrand, Staff Writer
This week, THE COSBY SHOW alum Geoffrey Owens appeared on GOOD MORNING AMERICA to address some “shamers” that were shocked the actor was working at Trader Joes. Fox News and the Daily Mail published photos of Owens bagging groceries at a New Jersey Trader Joe’s, with many fans stunned to see the star doing regular blue-collar work.
Owens explained his emotions about the debacle. “The period of devastation was so short because so shortly after that, the responses, my wife and I started to read [them] … and fortunately the shame part didn’t last very long.” He continued in his response, “No one should feel sorry for me,” he added. “I’ve had a great life. I’ve had a great career. I’ve had a career that most actors would die for. So, no one has to feel sorry for me. I’m doing fine!”
Owens highlighted in his interview that steady acting jobs are sometimes hard to come by. Because of the wishy-washiness of work, Owens worked at Trader Joe’s for 15 months, while in between acting gigs. Since his run on THE COSBY SHOW, Owens starred in shows like IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILIDELPHIA, LAW AND ORDER: SVU and BLUE BLOODS. Owen’s resume acting resume is quite extensive. Unfortunately, because of all the commotion, Owens quit working at Trader Joe’s but hopes that the people who shamed him will change the way they look down on certain lines of work.
Many other celebrities know how hard it is to make ends-meat in acting. Patricia Heaton tweeted her approval of Owen’s hard work and shared her own experiences doing less than glamorous jobs.
Yay #geoffreyowens! https://t.co/RjQB9yS56n
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) September 4, 2018
Terry Crews also extended his own story in support.
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
— terrycrews (@terrycrews) September 2, 2018
Actor, Director and Entrainment mogul Tyler Perry also tweeted his support by offering a job to Owens.
#GeoffreyOwens I’m about to start shootings OWN’s number one drama next week! Come join us!!! I have so much respect for people who hustle between gigs. The measure of a true artist.
— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) September 4, 2018
It seems that the scoop on Owen’s job actually turned into something positive rather than negative because most people can relate. Owen’s humility is honorable. Even more, the hashtag #ActorsWithDayJobs came about to champion awareness that the road to steady acting jobs isn’t as easy as some make it out to be. At some level, we all must come to grips that we have to pay our bills. Even Jesus speaks highly of those who humbly serve, stating, “For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves (Luke 22:7 ESV).”
Thank you for your great attitude and example Geoffrey!
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