Why Does Dr. Clay Barrett From ‘The Pitt’ Look Familiar?

In Season 2 Episode 13 of The Pitt, a cardiothoracic surgeon named Dr. Clay Barrett makes his way into Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, the latest addition to the nonstop chaos of the emergency room. For many TV fans, the actor behind the white coat will seem awfully familiar, a recognizable face whose past roles have already left a lasting impression on audiences.

The man behind the stethoscope is Geoffrey Owens, whom many Gen Xers and older millennials will recognize from his stint as Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux’s (Sabrina Le Beauf) husband on The Cosby Show. In a popular recurring role, Owens played Elvin Tibideaux, the partner of the eldest Huxtable daughter and a frequent thorn in the side of Claire Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad), thanks to his outdated views on women’s roles in society.

Featured in 128 episodes, Owens began as a recurring character before eventually joining the main cast in the show’s later years. Over time, Elvin became the father of twins Nelson and Winnie and, through considerable personal growth, finally won over his formidable mother-in-law.

After his time on The Cosby Show ended, Owens appeared in a string of guest roles on series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, That’s So Raven, Boston Legal, and Without a Trace, though none provided the same level of steady recognition as his breakout role. Among his more memorable appearances was his turn as “Tiger Woods” on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a brief but standout performance that reminded audiences of his comedic chops.

Related

Does 'The Pitt's Nurse Dana Evans Look Familiar? She Was One of Seinfeld's Most Infamous Exes

In 2018, the actor was “job shamed” when he was spotted working at a Trader Joe’s to fill in the gaps between acting gigs. “I quit Trader Joe’s actually before the news hit,” Owens said in an interview with Atlanta’s Big Tigger Morning Show. “It was strange because someone had been in the store taking pictures. … And I was like, well, now that this is breaking, I’m not going to feel comfortable working in this store, wondering who’s around with a camera. It’s gonna be just too weird. I’m a very private person.”

“It wasn’t like I quit knowing I would be making a lot of money soon or anything. I just felt like I wasn’t going to be able to handle that kind of scrutiny, that kind of attack on my privacy,” explained Owens.

According to Variety, after the pictures of Owens went viral, he received acting offers from Tyler Perry, as well as a cash gift of $25,000 from Nicki Minaj, which he donated to charity. “It seemed like the right thing to do,” said the actor.

“Trader Joe’s was a wonderful job. I got to give a shout out to those guys. It’s a wonderful place to work,” said Owens. “Let me make this clear to everyone listening: Even today, right now, as we speak, I still struggle to make a living. People can’t get their heads around that because they see me in movies, whether it’s Mr. Santa or, you know, I’m on Poppa’s House on CBS. All the TV shows I’ve done and all that stuff. People have the impression that, ‘Well, you’re making a lot of money. What’s the problem? Why would you have financial troubles?’ They don’t understand the specifics of how my industry works.”

Owens will appear in Episode 13 of The Pitt on April 3, as will star Noah Wyle‘s wife, Sara, who will play ER patient Ashley Davis.

The Pitt, Thursdays, 9/8c, HBO Max