Geoffrey Owens
Geoffrey Owens | |
|---|---|
| Born | Geoffrey Louis Owens March 18, 1961 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse |
Josette (m. 1995) |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Major Owens |
Geoffrey Louis Owens (born March 18, 1961) is an American actor known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on The Cosby Show (1985–1992). He is the son of the United States Congressman Major Owens.
Early life and education
[edit]Owens was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Ethel (née Werfel), a music and literature teacher, and Major Owens, a librarian who later went on to serve in the New York State Senate and the United States House of Representatives.[1][2] He has two brothers and two half-siblings from his father's second marriage.[1] Owens attended the High School of Performing Arts for a year and graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1983.[3][4]
Career
[edit]One of Owens's earliest roles was in an Arcata High School theater performance where he played the title role in a performance of Peter Pan. This initial outing was what galvanized him to become an actor later in life.[5]
In 1985, Owens made his television debut on the second season of the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show as Sondra Huxtable's boyfriend Elvin Tibideaux. Tibideaux married Sondra and became a regular character in 1987 and appeared on the series until it ended in 1992.[1][6]
He has appeared as a lawyer on season 6 episode 1 of Elementary. He has appeared as himself on the FX sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In the season 3 episode "The Gang Gets Invincible" he appears at the Philadelphia Eagles' public tryouts as an actor pretending to be Donovan McNabb doing a plug for McDonald's but the gang recognize him as "that guy from The Cosby Show" who played "Sondra's husband ... Alvin [sic]". In the season 7 episode "Frank's Pretty Woman" he plays the same character, this time pretending to be Tiger Woods.[7] Dee, however, recognizes him and calls him out as the guy who pretended to be McNabb at the Eagles' tryouts. He then admits he is not Tiger Woods but then claims to be actor Don Cheadle. In the second episode of Season 15, "The Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 7", he appears as the same character, but is given the role to play as Roger Murtaugh in the gang’s Lethal Weapon 7 movie.
In 2007, Owens guest-starred as Eddie's father in the That's So Raven episode "The Way We Were". He also appeared on the season premiere of NBC's Las Vegas.[citation needed]
In 2008, he appeared alongside Paul Campbell, Andy Griffith, Doris Roberts, Liz Sheridan, Marla Sokoloff and Juliette Jeffers in the romantic comedy Play The Game.[8]
In 2010, he appeared on ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager as a court-appointed mediator. He also appeared on the ABC show FlashForward in the episode "The Garden of Forking Paths", playing a researcher.[9]
In 2011, Owens portrayed the role of Casca at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in its Free-For-All production of Julius Caesar.[citation needed]
In 2015, he portrayed an obstetrician on the NBC drama series The Slap, in an episode entitled "Ritchie".[citation needed]
In 2017, he portrayed an assistant dean on the FOX drama series Lucifer, in an episode entitled "Deceptive Little Parasite".[10]
In 2018, photos of Owens working in a Trader Joe's were published by The Daily Mail, which many characterized as "job shaming."[11][12] Owens agreed with the "job shaming" characterization, eventually quitting due to the unwanted attention.[13] The story led producer Tyler Perry to offer Owens a ten-episode role in The Haves and the Have Nots.[14][15] Owens also booked a guest-starring role on NCIS: New Orleans and supporting roles in the films Fatale and Hide and Seek.[16][17][18] In 2024, Owens revealed ongoing career and financial challenges.[19] [20]
In 2020, he starred in the film Impossible Monsters, where he played a police detective. "I’m usually cast as dads, lawyers, doctors, teachers, and so to play a detective it was really fun," he said.[21] He played a supporting role in Power Book II: Ghost.
Teaching
[edit]Owens is the founder and artistic director of The Brooklyn Shakespeare Company. He has taught acting and Shakespeare at Columbia University, Yale, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, the Adult School of Montclair and Pace University. In addition to developing his own private Shakespeare workshop, he has been a guest teacher at universities, theaters, studios, and middle and high schools in the New York metropolitan area. He has also served as a judge for the National Shakespeare Competition semi-finals at Lincoln Center for at least 25 years.[22]
Personal life
[edit]In 1995, Owens married his wife, Josette. Together they have one son.[3]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Paper | Lou | |
| 1995 | The Amistad Revolt: All We Want Is Make Us Free | Joseph Cinqué (voice) | Short |
| 1999 | Stonebrook | Marty | |
| Forgiven | Stan | Short | |
| 2001 | The Cross | Featured Apostle | |
| 2009 | Play the Game | Rob Marcus | |
| 2010 | Sami's Cock | - | Short |
| 2011 | Wilde Salomé | Tigellinus | |
| 2013 | Dreams | Mr. Welch | |
| 2014 | Romeo and Juliet | Prince Escalus | |
| 2016 | Youth in Oregon | Dr. Roma | |
| 2019 | Impossible Monsters | Jacobs | |
| klutz. | Harold | Short | |
| 2020 | Hibiscus | Tad | |
| Victor in Paradise | Simon | Short | |
| Fizzle | Man Who Sneezes | Short | |
| Fatale | Bill Cranepool | ||
| 2021 | Hide and Seek | Lyle | |
| 2022 | Somewhere in Queens | Scotty | |
| Susie Searches | President Andrews | ||
| 2023 | Ezra | Robert Segal | |
| 2024 | Taxon | Ray | Short |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–92 | The Cosby Show | Elvin Tibideaux | Recurring Cast: Season 2-3, Main Cast: Season 4-8 |
| 1990 | ABC Afterschool Special | Mr. Singer | Episode: "Stood Up!" |
| 1997 | Built to Last | Robert Watkins | Main Cast |
| 1999 | Law & Order | Langer | Episode: "Refuge: Part 2" |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Constantino | Episode: "Dolls" |
| 2007 | That's So Raven | Michael Thomas | Episode: "The Way They Were" |
| The Wedding Bells | Dr. Harris | Episode: "The Most Beautiful Girl" | |
| Boston Legal | Dr. Mitch Morris | Episode: "Beauty and the Beast" | |
| Las Vegas | Dr. Eric Haber | Episode: "Shrink Rap" | |
| The Journeyman | Matthew Tarbell | Episode: "The Year of the Rabbit" | |
| 2007–21 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Various Roles | Guest Cast: Season 3 & 7 & 15 |
| 2008 | Medium | Unemployment Evaluator | Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant | Hospital Staff | Episode: "Special #1" | |
| Without a Trace | Jay Costas | Episode: "Live to Regret" | |
| 2010 | FlashForward | Dr. Julian Ebbing | Episode: "The Garden of Forking Paths" |
| 2010–11 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Mediator/Judge | Guest Cast: Season 2-3 |
| 2014 | The Leftovers | Kind Man | Episode: "The Prodigal Son Returns" |
| The Affair | Victor | Episode: "Episode #1.10" | |
| 2015 | The Slap | Dr. Fletcher | Episode: "Richie" |
| Deadbeat | Arthur | Episode: "Table for Sue" | |
| 2016 | Divorce | Gerald | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2017 | Blue Bloods | Sergeant Weller | Episode: "Love Lost" |
| Lucifer | Assistant Dean | Episode: "Deceptive Little Parasite" | |
| The Blacklist | Dresner | Episode: "The Endling (No. 44)" | |
| 2018 | Elementary | Vernon Fisk | Episode: "An Infinite Capacity for Taking Pains" |
| NCIS: New Orleans | Commander Calvin Atkins | Episode: "Pound of Flesh" | |
| 2019 | Billions | Abington | Episode: "Maximum Recreational Depth" |
| On Becoming a God in Central Florida | Pastor Steve | Recurring Cast | |
| 2020 | Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet | Tom | Episode: "A Dark Quiet Death" |
| Power | Daniel Warren | Recurring Cast: Season 6 | |
| Bless This Mess | Pastor Paul | Recurring Cast: Season 2 | |
| 2020–21 | The Haves and the Have Nots | Conley | Recurring Cast: Season 7-8 |
| 2020–22 | Power Book II: Ghost | Daniel Warren | Guest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 2021 | That Damn Michael Che | Thurgood Carver | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| The Good Fight | Daniel | Recurring Cast: Season 5 | |
| 2022 | New Amsterdam | Chris/Santa | Episode: "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" |
| The Rookie | Graham Scott | Episode: "Coding" | |
| Bull | Judge Westlake | Episode: "Opening Up" | |
| 2022–23 | All Rise | Carl Brewer | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| 2024 | Ghosts | Gene | Episode: “The Polterguest” |
| Poppa's House | J. J. | Recurring Cast |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Baker, Kathryn (October 22, 1987). "For newest 'Cosby' actor, love was in the script". Akron Beacon Journal. p. C6. Retrieved September 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bernstein, Adam (October 22, 2013). "Major R. Owens, former congressman, dies at 77". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ a b Filichia, Peter (October 29, 2010). "'Opus' preview: 'Cosby Show' veteran to perform in Red Bank". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ Thompson, Dana (October 16, 2014). "Former Cosby Show star Geoffrey Owens to present Masterclasses at Shorter". Shorter University. Archived from the original on September 2, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ "Geoffrey Owens Talks About Growing Up, The Cosby Show, and Life Now". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
- ^ "More 'Cosby' regulars". The Republic. August 18, 1987. p. A2. Retrieved September 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Yoshida, Emily (September 15, 2011). "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: "Frank's Pretty Woman"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ "Cast Bios". Play the Game. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ "Geoffrey Owens". TV Guide. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ "Scoop: LUCIFER on FOX - Monday, May 8, 2017". BroadwayWorld.com. May 8, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ Germain, Tabie (December 27, 2024). "Geoffrey Owens on Life After Trader Joe's Spotting: 'I Still Struggle to Make Ends Meet'". BET.
- ^ Dekoupil, Tony (September 3, 2018). "Stars defend "Cosby Show" actor from "job-shaming" after photos of him bagging groceries go viral". CBS News.
- ^ Associated Press. "'Cosby' actor thankful for support about grocery store job - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
- ^ Capatides, Christina (September 4, 2018). "Tyler Perry just offered former "Cosby Show" star Geoffrey Owens a job". CBS News.
- ^ Geoffrey Owens: 'Job-shamed' Cosby Show star lands TV role BBC News. September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ "Geoffrey Owens Books 'NCIS: New Orleans' Guest Role". The Hollywood Reporter. September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ^ "Geoffrey Owens to Join Michael Ealy in Noir Thriller 'Fatale' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ^ ‘Hide And Seek’: Former ‘Cosby Show’ Star Geoffrey Owens Joins CJ Entertainment Horror Remake
- ^ Zee, Michaela (December 27, 2024). "'The Cosby Show' Actor Geoffrey Owens Says He Still Struggles 'Every Day to Make My Ends Meet' After Quitting Trader Joe's Job". Variety. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ^ Cross, Greta. "'The Cosby Show' actor Geoffrey Owens 'struggling' to make living as 'middle-class actor'". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ^ "Interview: Geoffrey Owens on Auditions, the Trader Joe's Aftermath and His New Film, 'Impossible Monsters'". Daily Actor. May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ "Actor/Director/Teacher Geoffrey Owens". Actor/Director/Teacher Geoffrey Owens. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Geoffrey Owens at IMDb
- Geoffrey Owens at the Internet Broadway Database
- Geoffrey Owens at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
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