Geoffrey Owens is giving followers an replace about his life as a working actor.
In 2018, Owens went viral after he was seen working at Dealer Joe’s following his high-profile gig on “The Cosby Present.” Although Owens has booked roles since then and had celebrities rally round him in assist, he says he is nonetheless struggling to make ends meet as an actor.
“Even right this moment, proper now, as we converse, I nonetheless wrestle to make a residing. I wrestle day-after-day to make my ends meet,” he stated throughout a latest look on V-103 Atlanta’s “Massive Tigger Morning Present.”
“Individuals can’t get their heads round that as a result of they see me in motion pictures, whether or not it’s ‘Mr. Santa’ or, you realize, I’m on ‘Poppa’s Home’ on CBS,” he continued. “All of the TV reveals I’ve carried out and all that stuff. Individuals have the impression that, ‘Effectively, you’re making some huge cash. What’s the issue? Why would you’ve monetary troubles?’ They don’t perceive the specifics of how my trade works.”
It is unclear how a lot cash Owens makes from appearing. 2023 information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the common hourly wage for actors is $41, with a median hourly wage of $20.
“Individuals have a misunderstanding of what the common what I name ‘middle-class actor’ makes and their potential to make a residing within the trade,” he stated.
Within the interview, Owens stated he give up working at Dealer Joe’s shortly after the images of him working had been taken, on account of privateness considerations. Because the story began to realize traction, Owens stated he skilled fame like by no means earlier than.
“For 2 weeks or extra, I used to be like one of the vital well-known individuals on this planet,” he stated. “… In all places I went, individuals acknowledged me.”
Due to the story, Owens began to get alternatives and assist from numerous celebrities, corresponding to Tyler Perry, who provided him a task on his present “The Haves and the Have Nots.” Owens stated Nicki Minaj gifted him $25,000, however he donated the cash as a result of “on the time, it appeared like the appropriate factor to do.”
Owens went on play Conley in “The Haves and the Have Nots” and appeared in TV reveals together with “Energy E book II: Ghost” and “It is At all times Sunny in Philadelphia.”
Owens instructed TODAY in a 2018 essay that he is grateful for the way every thing labored out.
“By no means at any level on this entire story did I’ve any unwell will or dangerous emotions towards (the lady who photographed me at Dealer Joe’s),” he stated. “I don’t nonetheless. We’re cool. I forgive her completely. All people makes errors. And her mistake turned out for lots of fine. In the end, I’m grateful for it having occurred, though it occurred in a bizarre method. I’m grateful to be the place I’m now.