Geoffrey Owens did what he needed to do to support his wife and two children. But that didn't stop Fox News and other media outlets from ridiculing him for working at New Jersey Trader Joe's between acting gigs.
Owens said the job not only allowed him to have a steady paycheck, but gave him the flexibility to audition, The Grio reported.
He told "Good Morning America" Tuesday that he'd been working there for 15 months and that people did recognize him.
The spotlight cast by the news outlets backfired, with other actors supporting Owens, who played Elvin on “The Cosby Show,” by sharing the side jobs they had to take to make ends meet, even while working on a hit television show.
Patricia Heaton, who starred on “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle,” said she was summarizing depositions to pay rent while she was on “Thirtysomething.”
Terry Crews, who left an NFL career, swept floors.
Luis Guzman shared was a social worker on the Lower East Side in New York City.
Chris Rankin, who played Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter series of films, said he worked in a kitchen after the films ended.
Still others shared what they do between acting jobs.
Tyler Perry, after the story started trending, offered Owens a new job on a show for OWN, The Grio reported.
Trader Joe's job isn't the only one Owens has held since his days on "The Cosby Show" ended. He also worked at Yale, teaching acting classes, according to The Grio, as well as, being featured on recent shows of "Elementary," "The Blacklist" and "Lucifer."
Owens appeared on "Good Morning America" to talk about the story and how so many people reached out, saying that it has been overwhelming.
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