Gary Owen Hosts Shaquille O'Neal's ALL-STAR COMEDY JAM at Hard Rock in Las Vegas, 9/1

Actor/comedian Gary Owen, the new host of the national Shaquille O'Neal "All-Star Comedy Jam," comes to The Joint at Hard Rock in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 1st, 2012. Joining Gary on the show are comics Capone, Tony Roberts and Michael Blackson, along with DJ Spinderella. Produced by Shaq Entertainment, this is the second year of the 20-city tour which started out in Chicago in June and ends on New Year's Eve in Atlanta.

Gary is one of the stars of the blockbuster film "Think Like A Man" and his recent hit Showtime comedy special "True Story" is now available on DVD. He can also be seen this fall in the new funny video clip/sketch show "Upload" which he co-hosts with Shaquille O'Neal for TruTV. Gary has a recurring role as "Zach" the barber on Tyler Perry's "House of Payne" and co-starred in the films "Daddy Day Care," "Rebound" and "Little Man." Gary got his start in stand-up comedy when he was stationed in San Diego - He served in the Navy for six years and was named "Funniest Serviceman in America."

Over the years, Gary has been embraced by African-American audiences with his take on being in a biracial marriage and as the father of three kids. In fact, Ebony magazine recently proclaimed Gary "Black America's Favorite White Comedian." Here is a link to a funny stand-up clip of Gary describing the difference between going to black church and white church.

Shaquille O'Neal All-Star Comedy Jam Show plays The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas (4455 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas 89109) on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. Tickets $35.50 - $71 @ www.ticketmaster.com.

Gary Owen stars in the Screen Gems feature film THINK LIKE A MAN with Kevin Hart, Romany Malco, and Gabrielle Union. Based on StEve Harvey's best-selling book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man, the hit film opened at #1 at the box office on April 20th. Gary's new, uproariously funny one-hour Showtime comedy special TRUE STORY is now available on DVD and Netflix. He can be seen this fall in UPLOAD, a video clip show he co-hosts with Shaquille O'Neal for TruTV.

In addition, Owen currently hosts SHAQ'S ALL-STAR COMEDY JAMand performs at many of the top Comedy Clubs across the country.

He was recently seen as "Zach" the barber on Tyler Perry's hit TBS show HOUSE OF PAYNE. Perry met Owen on the Tom Joyner Morning Show (on which Owen is a regular), immediately knew he wanted to work with him, and wrote him into the show. Additionally, Owen has been seen in such films as LITTLE MAN with the Wayans Brothers, REBOUND, and DADDY DAY CARE with Eddie Murphy. He is also recognized around the country for his scene stealing role of "Bearcat" in the MGM film COLLEGE.

Owen was always the class clown growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio. After high school, he got serious and enlisted in the Navy. He was chosen for the prestigious Presidential Honor Guard, however, spinning rifles and carrying flags for George Bush and Bill Clinton turned out to be the wrong job for a funny guy. "I was always smiling," he remembers, "I got yelled at for smiling all the time."

After leaving his ceremonial position, Owen became a military police officer at the Naval Installations on Coronado Island in San Diego, but he says he was too much of a pushover to be a cop. Owen only made two arrests in three years, but during that time he embarked on his true calling: stand-up comedy. One night while hanging with his service buddies, Owen worked up the nerve to go on stage at a nightclub. After only a year of doing stand-up, he was named "Funniest Serviceman in America."

Owen continued doing stand-up in San Diego and developed a huge African-American fan base. He went on to win the "Funniest Black Comedian in San Diego" contest. That led to his first big gig at the Comedy Store in Hollywood.

In July of 1997 he auditioned for BET's 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. Not only is Owen the only white man to have ever hosted COMIC VIEW, but he is the only white on-air personality the network has ever had.

In addition to TRUE STORY, Owen has produced and starred in two other stand-up DVDs: BREAKIN' OUT THE PARK and URBAN LEGEND. He was also one of the headliners on Martin Lawrence PRESENTS: 1ST AMENDMENT STAND-UP on STARZ.

 

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