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 late United States Congressman Major 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 |
Early life and education
editOwens 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
editOne 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] Owens agreed with the "job shaming" characterization, eventually quitting due to the unwanted attention.[12] The story led producer Tyler Perry to offer Owens a ten-episode role in The Haves and the Have Nots.[13][14] Owens also booked a guest-starring role on NCIS: New Orleans and supporting roles in the films Fatale and Hide and Seek.[15][16][17]
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.[18] He played a supporting role in Power Book II: Ghost.
Teaching
editOwens 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.[19]
Personal life
editIn 1995, Owens married his wife, Josette. Together they have one son.[3]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Stonebrook | Marty | |
| Forgiven | Stan | Short film | |
| 1994 | The Paper | Lou | |
| 1995 | The Amistad Revolt: All We Want Is Make Us Free | Joseph Cinqué | Voice Docudrama short |
| 2001 | The Cross | Featured Apostle | |
| 2009 | Play the Game | Rob | |
| Speaking of Baghdad | Documentary | ||
| 2010 | Sami's Cock | Short film | |
| 2011 | Wilde Salomé | Tigellinus / Himself | |
| 2013 | Dreams | Mr. Welch | |
| 2014 | Romeo and Juliet | Prince Escalus | Filmed from a 2013 Broadway play |
| 2016 | Youth in Oregon | Dr. Roma | |
| 2018 | Hibiscus | Tad | |
| 2019 | Impossible Monsters | Jacobs | |
| klutz. | Harold | Short film | |
| 2020 | Victor in Paradise | Simon | Short film |
| Fizzle | Man Who Sneezes | Short film | |
| Fatale | Bill Cranepool | ||
| 2021 | Hide and Seek | Lyle | |
| 2022 | Somewhere in Queens | Scotty | |
| Susie Searches | President Andrews | ||
| 2023 | Ezra | Robert Segal | |
Television
edit| Television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985–1992 | The Cosby Show | Elvin Tibideaux | 44 episodes |
| 1990 | ABC Afterschool Special | Mr. Singer | Season 19 episode 3: "Stood Up!" |
| 1997 | Built to Last | Robert Watkins | 8 episodes |
| 1999 | Law & Order | Langer | Season 9 episode 24: "Refuge: Part 2" |
| 2002 | The Cosby Show: A Look Back | Himself / Elvin Tibideaux | Documentary |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Constantino | Season 4 episode 7: "Dolls" | |
| 2007 | That's So Raven | Michael Thomas | Season 4 episode 21: "The Way They Were" |
| The Wedding Bells | Dr. Harris | Episode 5: "The Most Beautiful Girl" | |
| Boston Legal | Dr. Mitch Morris | Season 4 episode 1: "Beauty and the Beast" | |
| Las Vegas | Dr. Eric Haber | Season 5 episode 2: "Shrink Rap" | |
| Life from the Inside | N/A | Director Episode 5: "*Side Effects May Include Night Terrors" | |
| The Journeyman | Matthew Tarbell | Episode 4: "The Year of the Rabbit" | |
| 2007–2021 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Fake Tiger Woods / Middle Aged Guy - Donovan McNabb imposter / Don Cheadle | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Medium | Unemployment worker / Unemployment Evaluator | 2 episodes |
| I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant | Hospital Staff | Episiode: "Special #1" | |
| Without a Trace | Jay Costas | Season 7 episode 6: "Live to Regret" | |
| 2009 | In the Mix | Harvey Deets | TV movie |
| Action Auto | Officer Martin | TV movie | |
| 2010 | FlashForward | Dr. Julian Ebbing | Episode 17: "The Garden of Forking Paths" |
| 2010–2011 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Mediator / Judge | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | The Leftovers | Kind Man | Season 1 episode 10: "The Prodigal Son Returns" |
| The Affair | Victor | Season 1 episode 10 | |
| 2015 | The Slap | Dr. Fletcher | Miniseries Episode 8: "Richie" |
| Deadbeat | Arthur | Season 2 episode 2: "Table for Sue" | |
| Divorce | Gerald | 3 episodes | |
| 2017 | Blue Bloods | Sergeant Weller | Season 7 episode 19: "Love Lost" |
| Lucifer | Assistant Dean | Season 2 episode 15: "Deceptive Little Parasite" | |
| The Blacklist | Dresner | Season 5 episode 4: "The Endling (No. 44)" | |
| Greenport | JT | ||
| 2018 | Elementary | Vernon Fisk | Season 6 episode 1: "An Infinite Capacity for Taking Pains" |
| NCIS: New Orleans | Commander Calvin Atkins | Season 5 episode 6: "Pound of Flesh" | |
| 2019 | Billions | Abington | Season 4 episode 6: "Maximum Recreational Depth" |
| On Becoming a God in Central Florida | Pastor Steve | 2 episodes | |
| (Future) Cult Classic | Detective Moscovitz | TV movie | |
| 2020 | Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet | Tom | Season 1 episode 5: "A Dark Quiet Death" |
| Power | Daniel Warren | 2 episodes | |
| Bless This Mess | Pastor Paul | 3 episodes | |
| 2020–2021 | The Haves and the Have Nots | Conley | 8 episodes |
| 2020–2022 | Power Book II: Ghost | Daniel Warren | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | That Damn Michael Che | Thurgood Carver | 2 episodes |
| The Good Fight | Daniel | 4 episodes | |
| 2022 | New Amsterdam | Chris / Santa | Season 4 episode 11: "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" |
| The Rookie | Graham Scott | Season 4 episode 17: "Coding" | |
| Bull | Judge Westlake | Season 6 episode 19: "Opening Up" | |
| All Rise | Carl Brewer | 2 episodes | |
| 2024 | Ghosts | Gene | Season 3 episode 7: “The Polterguest” |
| Poppa's House | J. J. | Season 1 episode 1: "Pilot" episode 4: " School Days" | |
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.
- ^ 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
- ^ "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
