The ‘Cosby Show’ actor addresses misconceptions about an ‘average, middle-class actor”s income

Geoffrey Owens appeared on The Cosby Show from 1985 to 1992 and made headlines in 2018 when he was photographed working at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey. Owens, who said he struggled to earn a living wage as an actor, quit his job at a grocery store shortly after a customer recognized and photographed him, citing concerns about his privacy in the future. Even after landing more acting work, Owens returned to his job as Trader Joe’s to supplement his income.

Six years after he was first photographed, Owens says he still struggles financially. While promoting his film Mr. Santa: A Christmas extravaganza, he told Atlanta radio station V-103 earlier this month that his residual checks, the payment he receives when a movie or television episode he starred in is rebroadcast on cable or streaming, “have never been particularly wonderful”. He also spoke about the common misconception that what an “average, middle-class actor” earns in Hollywood.

“Even today, as we speak, I still struggle to make a living,” he said. “I struggle every day to make ends meet. And people can’t understand that because they see me in the movies.

Past successes with films and TV shows, like The Spectacle Cosby, does not necessarily equate to a treasure trove of disposable and regenerative income. Before subscription streaming platforms became widespread, tracking the profitability of a movie or TV show was relatively simple. It’s more complicated now.

Streamers like Netflix, Hulu and Max “make their money through subscriptions, so [there’s] no way of knowing whether or not my show…is directly related to getting a subscriber and generating revenue,” a former agent told the Los Angeles Times during the Writers Guild of America’s twin strikes and of SAG-AFTRA in 2023 which concerned streaming residuals. specifically.

Reservation dogs Actress Jana Schmieding shared in a since-deleted post on Greer Grammer, daughter of Kelsey Grammer, took to TikTok to share a handful of streaming residual checks she received from her time on MTV. Clumsy, the highest gross total being 80 cents. Mandy Moore, who received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for It’s us, told The Hollywood Reporter that his residual checks for the series’ streaming deal ranged from a penny to around 81 cents.

The Screen Actors Guild’s post-strike deal now includes “success-based bonuses” for streaming productions that take into account the number of views a movie or show received in the first 90 days of eligibility – something SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher called “essential.” »

The amount of residuals an actor gets can range from ridiculously small to large enough to help them get through the times when they’re not playing a role in a movie or TV show.

On Twists Star Glen Powell said he “survived on residuals while trying to make it as a working actor.”

But even Hollywood’s biggest movie stars can struggle to stay afloat.

Jim Carrey a dit Access Hollywood in 2022, he was taking a break from acting and would only return to the screen if the script was correct. Less than two years later, in 2024, he came out of retirement to play in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which was released in theaters in December. The decision was motivated by financial reasons, he said.

“I came back into the universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch. And I just bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly,” he told The Associated Press at the film’s premiere in London.

Anyone but you Star Sydney Sweeney also spoke about the façade of financial stability as an A-list actress. THE euphoria The actress told The Hollywood Reporter in 2022 that she doesn’t have the luxury of taking downtime between gigs.

“If I wanted to take a six-month break, I don’t have the income to cover that,” she said. “I have no one to support me, I have no one to turn to to pay my bills or call for help.”

A high-profile player’s bills likely include what the outlet describes as “non-discretionary costs.” The “industry standard” is that approximately 30% of an actor’s compensation is allocated to their rep team, which includes their agent, manager, lawyer and accountant. Publicists, personal assistants, stylists and makeup artists, security and taxes also come into play.

The long list of expenses may, in part, explain why some celebrities choose to be paid brand ambassadors. Sweeney, for example, also forms partnerships outside of Hollywood. On Instagram last month, she promoted Samsung and Korean skincare brand Laneige to her 23.2 million followers.

Whether it’s Sweeney’s openness about the financial realities of being an “it” girl, Carrey being forced out of retirement due to a lack of funds, or Owens and D’s struggles. s other actors to make ends meet, their comments shed light on what it takes to have and maintain a career in Hollywood.