Career Timeline of Gary Owens: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Gary Owens built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Gary Owens was a versatile American entertainer known for his work as a disc jockey, voice actor, announcer, and radio personality. His signature was a polished baritone voice delivering deadpan recitations of humorous nonsense, famously showcased as the announcer on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Equally adept at serious and comedic roles, Owens was a prominent presence on television, radio, and in numerous commercials, solidifying his status as a well-known and respected figure in the entertainment industry.
7 hours ago : Gary Owen Helps Fan After Learning of His Wife's Death Before Show.
Gary Owen learned a fan's wife passed away days before his show. He then offered support and dedicated his performance to the grieving fan, offering comfort through comedy during a difficult time.
1952: Started Radio Career at KORN
In 1952, Gary Owens began his radio career as a news reporter at KORN in Mitchell, South Dakota.
1956: Left KORN for KMA
In 1956, Gary Owens departed from KORN and took on a newscaster position at KMA in Shenandoah, Iowa.
1959: Relocated to California
In 1959, Gary Owens moved to California, working at KROY in Sacramento and KEWB in Oakland before settling in Los Angeles.
1961: Moved to KFWB in Los Angeles
In 1961, Gary Owens transitioned to KEWB's sister station, 980 KFWB, situated in Los Angeles.
1962: Joined KMPC
In 1962, Gary Owens became part of the staff at 710 KMPC, remaining there for two decades.
1963: "Drowning in the Surf" fame
In 1963, Gary Owens worked with Stan Ross, known as "Drowning in the Surf" fame.
1966: Collaborated on Comedy Spoof Record Album
In 1966, Gary Owens collaborated with various artists on a comedy spoof record album titled Sunday Morning With the Funnies with the Jimmy Haskell Orchestra on Reprise Records.
1966: Appeared on The Green Hornet
In 1966, Gary Owens made appearances in eight episodes of the television series The Green Hornet.
1968: Appeared in The Love Bug
In 1968, Gary Owens made an appearance as the racing correspondent in Disney's The Love Bug.
1969: Hosted Letters to Laugh-In
In 1969, Gary Owens hosted Letters to Laugh-In, a daily game show spin-off of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, during its brief run.
1972: Released Comedy LP
In 1972, Gary Owens released a comedy LP titled Put Your Head On My Finger for the MGM-Pride label.
1973: Wrote The (What to Do While You're Holding the) Phone Book
In 1973, Gary Owens wrote The (What to Do While You're Holding the) Phone Book, a comedic look at the history of the telephone. In that same year, Owens appeared in the first season of Barnaby Jones, in the episode titled "Twenty Million Alibis", playing the role of Gary Michaels.
1975: News Blurbs in The Prisoner of Second Avenue
In 1975, Gary Owens provided humorous news blurbs for the film The Prisoner of Second Avenue.
1979: Announcer for Disney's Wonderful World
Starting in 1979, Gary Owens became the announcer for Disney's Wonderful World.
1981: Substituted on American Top 40 and Hosted Soundtrack Of The Sixties
In 1981, Gary Owens filled in for Casey Kasem on American Top 40. Also in that year, Watermark Inc. selected Owens to take over from Murray "The K" Kaufman as the permanent host of Soundtrack Of The Sixties.
1982: Narrated World of Motion
In 1982, Gary Owens became the narrator of Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center pavilion, World of Motion, which operated until 1996.
1982: Hosted Mornings at KPRZ
In 1982, Gary Owens moved from KMPC to 1150 KPRZ, a Los Angeles station, where he hosted mornings at the "Music of Your Life" adult standards station.
August 30, 1983: Emceed Unveiling Ceremony for The Three Stooges' Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
On August 30, 1983, Gary Owens emceed the unveiling ceremony for The Three Stooges' Hollywood Walk of Fame Star. Owens was instrumental in helping the Stooges receive the Star.
1984: Narrated Mighty Orbots
In 1984, Gary Owens served as the voice narrator on the ABC Saturday morning animated series, Mighty Orbots.
1984: Hosted Gary Owens' Supertracks
Through 1984, Gary Owens hosted Creative Radio's Gary Owens' Supertracks, a retrospective show similar to Soundtrack Of The Sixties.
1987: Voiced Lt. Dirk Niblick
From 1987, Gary Owens was the voice of Lt. Dirk Niblick of the Math Brigade in the animated series on PBS's Square One TV.
1988: Emcee for 'Pimp of the Year' in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
In 1988, Gary Owens had a small role as an emcee for "Pimp of the Year" in a dream scene in the comedy I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.
1989: Played DJ Bobby Bumgartner in Night Court
In 1989, Gary Owens appeared in Night Court, playing the role of DJ Bobby Bumgartner in the episode "Auntie Maim".
1992: Narrated Space Quest IV
In 1992, Gary Owens narrated the voiced CD-ROM version of Sierra On-Line's Space Quest IV.
1992: Voiced Lt. Dirk Niblick
Through 1992, Gary Owens voiced Lt. Dirk Niblick of the Math Brigade in the animated series on PBS's Square One TV.
1994: Narrated Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad
From 1994, Gary Owens narrated the opening and interstitial bumpers of Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad.
1995: Announcer for America's Funniest Home Videos
From 1995, Gary Owens became the announcer for America's Funniest Home Videos, during Bob Saget's hosting tenure.
1995: Narrated Space Quest 6
In 1995, Gary Owens reprised his role as narrator in Space Quest 6.
1995: Narrated Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad
Through 1995, Gary Owens narrated the opening and interstitial bumpers of Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad.
1996: World of Motion Ended Operation
In 1996, the World of Motion pavilion at Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center, for which Gary Owens was the narrator, ceased operation.
1997: Announcer for America's Funniest Home Videos
Through 1997, Gary Owens was the announcer for America's Funniest Home Videos, during Bob Saget's hosting tenure.
1998: Cameo Appearance on Space Ghost Coast to Coast and Voice Acting Roles
In 1998, Gary Owens made a cameo appearance as himself on Space Ghost Coast to Coast. In addition to this, he was best known for providing the voices of the titular superhero on Space Ghost and of Blue Falcon in Dynomutt, Dog Wonder.
2001: Hosted TV Land's 'Blast from the Past' Games
In 2001, Gary Owens hosted TV Land's Blast from the Past, two computer games featuring various TV celebrities. The games spoofed a game show, and the prize for winners was an interview with the celebrity chosen by the contestant at the start of the game.
2004: Co-Wrote 'How to Make a Million Dollars With Your Voice'
In 2004, Gary Owens co-authored a book titled How to Make a Million Dollars With Your Voice (Or Lose Your Tonsils Trying).
2006: Hosted Weekend Afternoon Show
Until 2006, Gary Owens hosted a weekend afternoon show on the Music of Your Life radio network.
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