Comedian Gary Owen to Headline at Florida Theatre, 11/1

Actor and comedian Gary Owen will be performing at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Fla., this Friday, November 1st at 8 p.m. (www.floridatheatre.com).

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.

Gary starred in the Screen Gems blockbuster film "Think Like A Man," which opened #1 at the box office, and just finished filming the sequel, "Think Like A Man Too," out in June 2014. He can next be seen co-starring in the Universal comedy "Ride Along" with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart this January. On the small screen, Gary starred last season in TruTV's funny video/sketch show "Upload" which he co-hosts with Shaquille O'Neal.

Gary's hit one-hour Showtime special "True Story" is now available on DVD and Netflix. He is also the host of the Showtime special "Shaquille O'Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam - Live from Orlando." In addition, in 2012 Gary hosted the Shaq All-Star Comedy Jam which toured the nation. He also toured with Mike Epps in 2013.

Owen 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" (Owen is a regular on the radio show) and immediately knew he wanted to work with him and wrote him into the show. On the big screen, Owen appeared in the films "Little Man" with The Wayans Brothers and "Daddy Day Care" with Eddie Murphy. He is also recognized around the country for his scene stealing role as "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. After leaving his ceremonial position, Owen became a military police officer at the Naval Installations on Coronado Island in San Diego but he only made two arrests in three years. During that time he embarked on his true calling: stand-up comedy. After only a year of doing stand-up, he 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.

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.

Over the years, he 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." In addition to "True Story," Owen stars in, and produced, two other stand-up comedy DVDs - "Breakin' Out The Park" and "Urban Legend." He also starred in "Martin Lawrence Presents: 1st Amendment" on the Starz channel.

Here is a stand-up clip of Gary describing the difference between going to black church and white church - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1DOoEE8zQI.