What is Gary Owen's Net Worth?
Gary Owen is an American actor and stand-up comedian who has a net worth of $4 million. Gary Owen had his breakthrough in 1997 on the stand-up comedy television show "ComicView." Following that, he began appearing in many comedy films, including "Held Up," "Daddy Day Care," "Little Man," "College," and "Think Like a Man." Notably, Owen has developed a large African-American following due to his appearances on the cable channel BET. Owens was named "Black America's Favorite White Comic" by Ebony.
Early Life and Military Service
Gary Owen was born on July 26, 1974 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He grew up with his six siblings in a trailer park in Oxford. As a young adult, he served for six years in the US Navy as a Master-at-Arms. Owen was in the Presidential Honor Guard as well.
Career Beginnings
Owen began his stand-up comedy career in earnest after his military service. Performing in San Diego, he began cultivating a substantial African-American fan base, and started taking home accolades and honors. His early success resulted in his first gig at the famed Comedy Store in West Hollywood.
Breakthrough on ComicView
Owen had his breakthrough in 1997 when he appeared on the BET stand-up comedy television show "ComicView." After appearing for a second time on the show, he was given his own one-hour "Grandstand" showcase. At the conclusion of the season, Owen was chosen from four finalists to be the new host of "ComicView." This made him the first and only white man to host the program.
Comedy Specials
Among Owen's comedy specials are "Breakin' Out the Park" and "Urban Legend," both of which were released on DVD. His other specials have included 2012's "Gary Owen: True Story," 2015's "Gary Owen: I Agree with Myself," and 2019's "Gary Owen: #DoinWhatIDo." Due to his popularity with African-American audiences in particular, Owen was named "Black America's Favorite White Comic" by Ebony magazine in 2011.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Film Career
Following his breakthrough as a stand-up comic, Owen began appearing in comedy movies on the big screen. He made his debut in the 1999 buddy crime comedy "Held Up," starring Jamie Foxx and Nia Long. Owen next had bit parts in the 2003 films "Daddy Day Care" and "Love Chronicles." In 2005, he played a mascot in the basketball comedy "Rebound." The year after that, he showed up as a police officer in both "Little Man" and "Who Made the Potatoe Salad?" Owen had a bigger part in 2008, playing Brian "Bearcat" Miller in "College." He appeared alongside Drake Bell, Kevin Covais, Andrew Caldwell, and Haley Bennett, among others.
In 2012, Owen appeared in the large ensemble cast of Tim Story's romantic comedy "Think Like a Man," costarring Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Taraji P. Henson, Regina Hall, Gabrielle Union, and many others. He played Bennett, the "Happily Married Man." Owen reunited with both Story and Hart in 2014 for the buddy cop action comedy "Ride Along," in which he played Crazy Cody. The same year, he reprised his role as Bennett in "Think Like a Man Too." Owen subsequently appeared in such films as "Get Hard," "Bachelors," "Meet the Blacks," and "Undercover Brother 2." In 2020, he had a notable non-comedic role as janitor Gus in the sports action film "Welcome to Sudden Death," a remake of "Sudden Death." The following year, Owen was in "The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2."
(Photo by Gary Gershoff/WireImage)
Television Career
Gary Owen has made some memorable appearances on television over the years. In 1998, he was in an episode of the sitcom "The Wayans Bros." Later, in 2009, he played the recurring role of Zach in the fifth season of the Tyler Perry sitcom "House of Payne." Owen was given his own BET show in 2016 called "The Gary Owen Show." That same year, he appeared in an episode of "Nubbin & Friends."
Personal Life
In 2003, Owen married Kenya Duke. Together, they had a son named Austin and a daughter named Kennedy before divorcing in 2021. Duke also has a son named Emilio from a prior relationship.
