Geoffrey Owens facts for kids

Geoffrey Louis Owens (born March 18, 1961) is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on the hit TV show The Cosby Show from 1985 to 1992. He is the son of Major Owens, who was a member of the U.S. Congress.

Early Life and Schooling

Owens was born in Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Ethel, was a teacher of music and literature. His father, Major Owens, was a librarian who later became a politician. He served in the New York State Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

Geoffrey attended the High School of Performing Arts for one year. In 1983, he graduated with honors from the famous Yale University. Graduating with honors, or cum laude, means he did very well in his studies.

Acting Career

Getting Started

One of Owens's first acting experiences was in a high school play. He played the main character in a performance of Peter Pan. This early role inspired him to become a professional actor.

The Cosby Show

In 1985, Owens got his big break. He joined the cast of the popular NBC TV show The Cosby Show. He played Elvin Tibideaux, the boyfriend of the character Sondra Huxtable. Elvin and Sondra later got married on the show. Owens was a main character until the series ended in 1992.

Guest Appearances on TV

After The Cosby Show, Owens appeared in many other television shows. He often played guest roles, appearing in one or a few episodes.

He played a funny character on the show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In several episodes, he played an actor who pretends to be famous people like football player Donovan McNabb and golfer Tiger Woods.

Some other shows he has appeared on include:

• That's So Raven
• Las Vegas
• Elementary
• Lucifer
• NCIS: New Orleans
• Power Book II: Ghost

Respect for All Work

In 2018, a newspaper published photos of Owens working at a Trader Joe's grocery store. Some people made negative comments, which was called "job shaming." Job shaming is when people are made to feel bad about the type of work they do.

Owens explained that he took the job between acting roles to support his family. Many people in Hollywood and around the world supported him. They said that all honest work should be respected. Because of the story, movie producer Tyler Perry offered him a role on the TV show The Haves and the Have Nots. He also received other acting offers.

Teaching and Theater

Besides acting on screen, Owens is also a talented theater actor and teacher. He is an expert on the plays of William Shakespeare.

He started his own theater group called The Brooklyn Shakespeare Company. He has taught acting and Shakespeare at famous schools like Columbia University and Yale University. He also teaches workshops for students in middle schools, high schools, and acting studios. For over 25 years, he has helped judge the National Shakespeare Competition at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Personal Life

Owens married his wife, Josette, in 1995. They have a son together.

See also

In Spanish: Geoffrey Owens para niños