Geoffrey Owens: Bill Cosby scandal is why he worked at Trader Joe’s
The Cosby Show actor Geoffrey Owens speaks out about how he ended up working as a cashier at Trader Joes.
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While no longer playing the role of Trader Joe's most famous cashier, former Cosby Show actor Geoffrey Owens' has spoken up about why he was found working at the supermarket chain. As it turns out, the Bill Cosby scandal is to blame.
In an interview with People magazine, Owens discusses how his bank account suffered when The Cosby Show reruns were pulled from syndication during Cosby's legal battle that led to his sexual assault conviction in a Montgomery County courtroom. After Cosby's conviction, the show was dropped from syndication by various channels, but is still available to stream on Amazon Prime.
"Yes, it impacted me financially," Owens said to People. "At the time that the show was pulled, that did make a difference in our income."
Owens, 57, played Cosby's son-in-law Elvin Tibideaux on the The Cosby Show from 1985 to 1992.
>> READ MORE: Shaming of ex-'Cosby Show' actor over job at Trader Joe's is a blessing in disguise
"That was one of the elements that led to my getting to the place where I said to myself, 'I have to do something' and I was thinking, 'What can I do?' and the answer ended up being Trader Joe's, which is actually a wonderful situation for me in many ways," he said.
Owens worked at a Trader Joe's in New Jersey for 15 months before a customer spotted him and captured a quick phone photo. A wave of media attention followed, as well as numerous job offers.
This week, Owens is set to begin his newest adventure after accepting a 10-episode acting gig offered by Tyler Perry. Owens will play a role on Perry's hit OWN drama, The Haves and the Have Nots, currently in its sixth season.
Owens, however, recognizes that there may be another day where a job outside of acting becomes part of his future.
"I'm going to keep pursuing it," he said. "I'm going to persevere. And even if that means, that eventually when all this hoopla dies down, I might need to take another job outside of the business. I'm still willing to do that."