Gary Owen has been entertaining American audiences for more than a
decade with his side-splitting comedy. Having performed to sold-out
audiences in all the major comedy clubs and theatres across the
country, Owen is one of America’s most beloved comedians, having
been proclaimed by Ebony magazine as Black America’s “Favorite
White Comedian”.
Owen is currently starring in the BET docuseries “The Gary Owen
Show”, which chronicles his dynamic and interracial family life with his
wife and children in small-town Ohio. His next comedy special, “I Got
My Associates,” is also currently slated to air on Showtime Network in
September 8,2017.
Owen has had massive success as a comic actor on the big screen.
Last year, he starred opposite Mike Epps and Mike Tyson in the
comedy MEET THE BLACKS.
He is one of the stars of the popular Screen Gems’ franchise THINK
LIKE A MAN (2012), having appeared in the first installment and its
successful follow up THINK LIKE A MAN TOO (2014). In additional their
commercial successes, both opening #1 at the box office, the films
were warmly received by critics and fans alike. In 2014, he starred in
the Universal comedy RIDE ALONG with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart.
Other film credits include LITTLE MAN (2016) opposite The Wayans
Brothers and DADDY DAY CARE (2003) opposite Eddie Murphy. He is
also widely known for his stealing role as “Bearcat” in the MGM film
COLLEGE (2008).
On the small screen, Owen co-hosted TruTV’s sketch series “Upload
with Shaquille O’Neal” (2013). After meeting Tyler Perry on The Tom
Joyner Morning Show, Owen was cast as the recurring role of Zach the
barber in the 5th season of the TBS comedy series “Tyler Perry’s House
of Payne”.
In addition to his memorable series roles, Owen has starred in multiple
televised standup specials, most recently the hit special “I Agree With
Myself” and his one-hour comedy special “True Story”, both of which
aired on Showtime in 2015. In 2014, he served as the host of the
hugely popular comedy special “Shaquille O'Neal Presents: All Star
Comedy Jam - Live from Orlando”. Other standout comedy
performances include “Mike Epps Presents: Live From Club Nokia” as
well as “Breakin’ Out The Park” and “Urban Legend”, that latter two
which he also produced. He also starred in “Martin Lawrence Presents:
1st Amendment”, which aired on Starz in 2005.
In addition to his breadth of comedic work in films, television, and
standup, Owen works closely with the nonprofit Facing Addiction, an
organization dedicated to finding solutions to the addiction crisis in
America. Having lost his own brother to heroin addiction, Owen
regularly speaks and performs to raise awareness and support for the
organization’s mission.
Owen grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and has always had a passion for
comedy. He enrolled in the US navy following high school, where he
was chosen for the prestigious Presidential Honor Guard. After leaving
his ceremonial position, Owen became a military police officer at the
Naval Installations on Coronado Island in San Diego. During this time,
he returned to his true calling: standup comedy. Two appearances on
the multicultural comedy showcase, “BET's ComicView”, won him his
own one-hour “grandstand” show. At the end of the season he was
selected from the year’s four "grandstanders" to be the host. Owen
currently resides in Ohio with his wife Kenya and their three children.