‘Cosby Show’ Alum Met With Support After Photos of Modest New Career Leak

Geoffrey Owens’ acting colleagues rushed to Twitter to show their support for the former Cosby Show star after photos of him working at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey surfaced on The Daily Mail and Fox News.

On Friday, Fox News tweeted a link to its aggregated report on the photos, which were first published on The Daily Mail. A shopper took the photos of the actor, who was working behind a cash register.

Fox News was met with a backlash from many who felt the outlet was trying to shame the 57-year-old Owens for having a normal job. Many actors, who have also held regular jobs between gigs, rushed to Owens support.

“After doing Girlfriends & a few commercials, while doing Drake And Josh & right before I did Community, I worked as an office temp in various offices to pay my bills. And I will be right back there (or on fries at McDonald’s) if acting work dries up,” Yvette Nicole Brown wrote, alongside the hashtag #TheresNoShameInHavingAJob.

“Just a few day jobs I’ve had as an actor: Gym janitor, secretary, telemarketer, temp, envelope stuffer, usher, street sign holder, dresser, parade balloon seller, barmitzvah mannequin, audition accompanist, Christmas Tree…& GRATEFUL 4 all [because] they PAID MY GD RENT,” Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Donna Lynn Champlin wrote.

“After being in the Broadway and West End casts of Hair, after being on Boardwalk Empire, I waited tables,” stage actor Andrew Kober tweeted. “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, [Fox News].”

“If Geoffrey Owens wants to do TV again, I hope he gets the job of his dreams. And that it inspires people to stand up to bullies like [Fox News],” Chase Masterson wrote.

“#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,” Blair Underwood wrote.

“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,” Pamela Adlon tweeted.

Even James Woods chimed in, noting that Owens is making more money than Bill Cosby, who was convicted of sexual assault earlier this year.

Owens played Elvin Tibideaux, the husband of Sabraina La Beauf’s Sondra Huxtable, during the final five seasons of The Cosby Show.

Since then, he has been working regularly as an actor, appearing in episodes of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, That’s So Raven, Divorce and The Slap. Last year, he appeared in episodes of Blue Bloods, Lucifer and The Blacklist. He also appeared in the sixth season premiere of Elementary in April.

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