Gary Owen has been entertaining America 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 loved comedians. The actor and stand-up comedian got his big break in 1997 on BET’s stand-up showcase Comic View. Two appearances on the multi-cultural comedy showcase 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 is the only white man to have ever hosted Comic View.
He followed this debut with featured roles in the films Daddy Day Care, Little Man and College. After only a year of stand-up, Gary was named “Funniest Serviceman in America.” Owen had a huge African-American fan base and went on to win the “Funniest Black Comedian in San Diego” contest. In addition, Ebony magazine proclaimed him “Black America’s Favorite White Comedian.” He’s produced two stand-up DVDs: Breakin’ Out The Park and Urban Legend. He was a headliner on Martin Lawrence Presents: 1st Amendment Stand-Up on Starz.
Growing up the class clown in Cincinnati, Ohio, Owen became serious following high school, enlisting in the Navy. He was chosen for the prestigious Presidential Honor Guard. Thereafter, Owen became a military police officer at the Naval Installations on Coronado Island in San Diego. During that time he embarked on his true calling: stand-up comedy.
Owen recently filmed a reality show pilot for BET following his family life and starred opposite Mike Epps and Mike Tyson in the film “Meet The Blacks.” His hit comedy special “I Agree With Myself,” which premiered on Showtime in 2015, continues to air on the network. He is one of the stars of “Think Like A Man Too” and the original film “Think Like A Man,” both opening #1 at the box office. He was seen in the Universal comedy “Ride Along” with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. On the small screen, Gary starred in TruTV’s funny video/sketch show “Upload” which he hosted with Shaquille O’Neal.
Remarkably, Owen starred in three Showtime specials all in the same year; his one-hour comedy special “True Story” was an instant hit and is now a best-selling DVD; he commanded the stage as host of “Shaquille O’Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam – Live from Orlando;” and he was a stand-out performer on “Mike Epps Presents: Live From Club Nokia.”
Owen also had a recurring role as Zach the barber on Tyler Perry’s successful television series “House of Payne.” Perry met Owen on the “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” in which Owen is a regular. Gary and his gorgeous black wife Kenya Duke have two sons and a daughter. They wed in 2003.
Now, if you want to cry while laughing, roll on down to Zanies this weekend. This guy is definitely worth the price of admission.
