Geoffrey Owens Calls Night Out at SAGs ‘So Bizarre’ After Job-Shaming Controversy: ‘I’m in Awe’

Geoffrey Owens has had a very special last few months — which culminated with an unforgettable night out at the 2019 SAG Awards on Sunday.

Last fall, The Cosby Show alum was job-shamed when photos surfaced of him bagging groceries at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey to make ends meet. Since then, he’s received an influx of support from fans and celebrities alike and even scored a handful of new gigs, including a recurring role in Tyler Perry‘s hit OWN drama, The Haves and the Have Nots.

During Sunday’s telecast, Owens, 57, made a surprise appearance in the awards’ traditional “I am an actor” opening segment, saying, “Somewhere in the middle of the road of my life, I found myself in the dark wood of unemployment and debt. But instead of switching careers like a sane person, I took a job at Trader Joe’s to see if I could hang in there. And um, it’s actually worked out pretty well. I’m Geoffrey Owens and I’m an actor.”

In addition to receiving a round of applause from his fellow actors, Owens also shared a particularly sweet moment with Glenn Close, who took home the best leading actress award for her role in The Wife. Close, 71, was spotted encouraging Owens as they chatted and hugged briefly.

“This is a really good feeling,” he added. “Everywhere I go … I’ve been to New Orleans, I’ve been to L.A., New York, New Jersey, Atlanta in the last two months. Everywhere I’ve gone, people have approached me with how much this whole thing has meant to them. It’s really struck a chord. It’s really touched a nerve, this whole idea of the working man, and work, and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, it perfectly fits into all this.”

Owens added that he felt “rejuvenated” as an actor.

(Excerpt) Read More at: People.com