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Geoffrey Owens
Born
Geoffrey Louis Owens

(1961-03-18) March 18, 1961 (age 64)
Alma mater Yale University
Occupation Actor
Years active 1985–present
Spouse(s)
Josette
(m. 1995)
Children 2
Parent(s)

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

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. He has two brothers and two half-siblings from his father's second marriage. Owens attended the High School of Performing Arts for a year and graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1983.

Career

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

In 2011, Owens portrayed the role of Casca at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in its Free-For-All production of Julius Caesar.

In 2015, he portrayed an obstetrician on the NBC drama series The Slap, in an episode entitled "Ritchie".

In 2017, he portrayed an assistant dean on the FOX drama series Lucifer, in an episode entitled "Deceptive Little Parasite".

In 2018, photos of Owens working in a Trader Joe's were published by The Daily Mail, which many characterized as "job shaming." Owens agreed with the "job shaming" characterization, eventually quitting due to the unwanted attention. The story led producer Tyler Perry to offer Owens a ten-episode role in The Haves and the Have Nots. Owens also booked a guest-starring role on NCIS: New Orleans and supporting roles in the films Fatale and Hide and Seek. In 2024, Owens revealed ongoing career and financial challenges.

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. He played a supporting role in Power Book II: Ghost.

Teaching

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.

Personal life

In 1995, Owens married his wife, Josette. Together they have one son.

Filmography

Film

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

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 ... 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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Geoffrey Owens para niños

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