Emilio Owen is the son of businesswoman Kenya Duke and the stepson of American stand-up comedian Gary Owen. He became part of the Owen family when Gary married Kenya, and Gary has always treated Emilio as his own child.
Early Life: Birth, Upbringing, and Childhood
Emilio Owen was born on January 18, 1991, and spent his early years in California. According to reports, he was born in Oakland, on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay area, where he lived during his childhood.
Emilio was raised primarily by his mother, Kenya Duke, in these early years. He enjoyed a relatively normal upbringing, especially given that his family situation would soon change.
In the late 1990s, Kenya Duke met Gary Owen, and their relationship eventually led to marriage in 2003. During Emilio’s childhood, he and his mother relocated from California to Ohio.
This move to Cincinnati, Ohio, placed Emilio in a new environment just as he was entering his pre-teen years.
At around 12 years old, Emilio took part in a major family event: his mother’s wedding to Gary Owen in July 2003. He was present at the ceremony and is believed to have played an important role in the wedding.
This event marked the beginning of Emilio’s life as a member of the Owen family, blending his childhood experiences with a new family dynamic. Despite the changes, moving states, and gaining a stepfather, Emilio’s childhood remained grounded.
He grew up surrounded by love and support, experiencing a mix of everyday life and the unique addition of having a comedian as a parent figure.
Friends and family recall that his early life was filled with humor (thanks to Gary’s influence) and stability provided by his mom, Kenya.
Family Background: Relationship with Gary Owen and Biological Parents
Emilio’s family background is a blend of biological ties and stepfamily bonds. His mother, Kenya Duke, had Emilio in her younger years from a previous relationship.
Emilio’s biological father is a man named Emilio Toliver Sr., after whom he was originally named. Not much is publicly known about Toliver Sr., and it appears that Kenya raised Emilio on her own for the first part of his life.
Kenya and Emilio’s biological father separated in the early 1990s, soon after Emilio was born. From all indications, Emilio did not maintain contact with his biological father while growing up, and Kenya took on the primary parenting role during his childhood.
When Kenya Duke married Gary Owen in 2003, Emilio gained a stepfather who readily embraced him. Gary Owen took on a fatherly role in Emilio’s life from that point forward.
Gary has often referred to Emilio as “my oldest son,” even though they are not biologically related. This affectionate public acknowledgment showed that Gary considered Emilio just as much his family as his two younger kids.
There are reports that Gary may have even formally adopted Emilio after marrying Kenya, which is why Emilio’s last name is now Owen instead of Toliver. Regardless of legal paperwork, it’s clear that Gary and Emilio formed a genuine father-son relationship built on love, not genetics. Emilio himself calls Gary his father, indicating how close their bond became.
Emilio is also the eldest sibling in a blended family. After Kenya and Gary married, they had two children together, making them Emilio’s half-siblings.
His younger brother, Austin Owen, was born in 2000, and his younger sister, Kennedy Owen, was born in 2002. Growing up, Emilio took on the role of big brother to Austin and Kennedy.
The Owen family was often described as tight-knit; Gary and Kenya worked to nurture a loving relationship among all their children.
Family photos shared by Gary over the years showed Emilio alongside Austin and Kennedy, smiling and enjoying time together, which highlighted a strong sibling bond.
In short, Emilio’s family background is one of a blended family: he has his biological roots in Kenya (and an absent biological father), and he has his Owen family with a stepdad and two younger siblings.
This unique background has shaped who he is, teaching him that family is defined by love and support more than by blood alone.
Education: Schools Attended and Academic Achievements
Emilio Owen’s education spanned both California and Ohio, reflecting the moves in his early life. As a young child in Oakland, California, Emilio began his schooling at a local elementary school.
He spent several years in elementary education in Oakland before relocating with his mother to the Midwest. After moving to Ohio, Emilio continued his schooling in the Cincinnati area.
He enrolled in Lakota West High School, a public high school located in West Chester Township (a suburb of Cincinnati).
There, he completed his high school education, attending for about four years and graduating in the late 2000s. Classmates remember him as a relatively quiet student who managed to stay under the radar, despite his stepfather’s growing fame at the time.
Following high school, Emilio pursued higher education in a field that seemed to align with his interests. He gained admission to The Art Institute of Ohio – Cincinnati, a private college focused on art and design programs.
While it’s not publicly confirmed what degree or specialty he pursued, the fact that he attended an art institute suggests he may have studied something in the creative arts, such as graphic design, visual arts, or a related field.
This educational path indicates that Emilio was carving out his own niche, perhaps influenced by an artistic inclination. There haven’t been reports of academic awards or public accolades from his school years – likely because Emilio maintained a low profile.
He appeared to value learning and personal development over public attention, as evidenced by choosing a college not widely known to the media and focusing on his studies quietly.
Career: Professional Life of Emilio Owen
Unlike his comedian stepfather, Emilio Owen has not pursued a career in show business or any highly public profession. In fact, one of the notable things about Emilio is that he chose a private career path rather than entering the entertainment industry.
Growing up with Gary Owen as a father figure, some might have assumed Emilio would try his hand at comedy or acting, but that hasn’t been the case.
There have been occasional rumors or unverified claims that Emilio might have done some work in entertainment, but there is no concrete information or evidence to support those claims.
What we do know is that as an adult, Emilio has been living in Ohio and is gainfully employed. Sources from recent years mention that Emilio has settled down in Ohio with his long-time girlfriend and is working there, leading a regular life away from Hollywood.
The specifics of his job or career aren’t publicly disclosed – which is intentional, as Emilio seems to prefer keeping his work life private. His decision to not leverage his stepfather’s fame for a career boost speaks to his desire for an independent identity.
He appears content with a normal professional life, perhaps in a business or creative field, but without any fanfare. This low-key approach to his career highlights Emilio’s individuality.
While Gary Owen’s career is all about being in the spotlight, Emilio’s career is all about staying out of it. By all accounts, he is doing well for himself in his own right, just without the publicity.
Personal Life: Interests, Hobbies, and Any Public Presence
Emilio Owen is known for being private, but a few details about his personal life have surfaced, painting a picture of a grounded and happy individual. One of the most significant aspects of Emilio’s personal life is his long-term relationship.
Emilio is in a loving relationship with his girlfriend, Taylor Patton. The couple has been together for several years; in fact, Emilio marked September 8, 2016, as the date when their relationship officially began.
This suggests that the two have been dating since their mid-20s and have built a strong bond over time. Both Emilio and Taylor are described as outgoing and extroverted.
They aren’t completely off social media – they have shared glimpses of their life together on their private accounts, showing moments of joy and togetherness – but they keep their online presence relatively low-key.
Taylor Patton, who hails from Ohio as well, works in the corporate sector (as an Operations Expert at a health insurance company), and Emilio’s relationship with her seems to be a source of stability and happiness in his life.
The pair often appear at friends’ gatherings and family events, and those who know them say they make a great team.
Beyond his relationship, not much is publicly documented about Emilio’s hobbies or daily interests, which is consistent with his overall private nature.
However, given that he grew up in a household filled with humor and entertainment, it wouldn’t be surprising if he has a strong appreciation for comedy, movies, or the arts.
His college background in the arts suggests he has a creative side, whether it’s in design, music, or another artistic hobby. Emilio has been described by those close to the family as kind-hearted and humble.
He isn’t the type to seek out paparazzi or make splashy headlines. In fact, his social media presence is minimal or inactive, indicating that he values keeping his personal life personal.
When he does pop up in public, it’s usually in relation to family. For instance, he appeared in some family-oriented content when Gary Owen had a reality TV show, and he’s been seen in family photos at events like graduations or celebrations.
But Emilio tends to skip the red carpet and spotlight events. In his free time, he likely enjoys ordinary activities – perhaps watching sports, given Gary often jokes about family sports outings, or engaging in creative projects quietly.
Importantly, Emilio’s personal life reflects a young man who, despite having a famous parent figure, chooses normalcy.
He prioritizes his relationship with his girlfriend and close friends, and he enjoys a life that is relatable rather than glitzy. By maintaining this kind of lifestyle, Emilio has shown that he values privacy, genuine relationships, and personal happiness over public attention.
Relationship with Gary Owen
The relationship between Emilio Owen and his stepfather Gary Owen is a heartwarming example of a blended family bond. From the moment Gary entered Emilio’s life, he made it clear that he considered Emilio his son.
Gary’s love for Emilio has been evident in many ways over the years. He often publicly acknowledges Emilio, for example by wishing him happy birthday on social media with messages like “Happy Birthday to my oldest son, Emilio.
When I married your mom you were a package deal…” — highlighting that Gary always embraced Emilio as part of the family from day one.
In interviews and comedy routines, Gary would sometimes mention his children, and he never failed to include Emilio in those mentions as his son. This consistent recognition made it apparent that their father-son relationship was based on love and choice, not just biology.
During the years Gary and Kenya were together, Emilio and Gary shared many typical father-son moments. Gary, being a comedian, brought a lot of laughter into the household.
Emilio grew up laughing at his stepdad’s jokes and even attending some of Gary’s shows. There were instances where Emilio would accompany Gary on events or be backstage, getting a peek into the entertainment world while still being just “Gary’s son” rather than a public figure.
In 2016, the Owen family was featured on BET’s reality series “The Gary Owen Show,” which centered on Gary’s life as a comedian and his interracial family.
Emilio, though an adult by then, appeared on the show occasionally alongside his siblings and parents, giving viewers a glimpse of the warm relationship he shared with Gary and the rest of the family.
Viewers saw that Emilio was a supportive big brother and a respectful son, often staying low-key even on camera, which matched what everyone said about his personality off camera.
Every family faces challenges, and for Emilio and Gary, the biggest challenge came when Gary Owen and Kenya Duke divorced in 2021. The divorce was highly publicized and unfortunately led to strains in the family.
During the split, Emilio and his siblings found themselves in a difficult position and, according to Gary, they stopped speaking to him for a period of time. In interviews after the divorce, Gary Owen openly shared his heartbreak that his kids were keeping their distance.
In mid-2022, Gary revealed that he had not seen or spoken to his children, including Emilio, for over a year following the separation. This estrangement was reportedly due to the children siding with their mother amid the messy divorce proceedings.
It was a tough time for both Gary and Emilio – Gary has expressed how much he misses his kids, and for Emilio, it couldn’t have been easy to navigate the rift between a parent he’s known his whole life (Kenya) and a stepfather who became his real dad (Gary).
Despite these challenges, there are signs of hope that the relationship will mend. Gary Owen has consistently stated that he loves his children and will always consider them his kids, Emilio included.
He has been patient and optimistic that with time, things will improve. Given Emilio’s good-natured and thoughtful character, many believe that he and Gary will reconcile once the dust of the divorce truly settles.
In fact, recent reports in late 2024 suggested that one of the Owen children (Gary’s son Austin) has started reconnecting with Gary, which sparks hope that Emilio might also rebuild his bond with Gary in the near future.
The foundation of love and respect that existed for so many years between Gary and Emilio is still there, and both of them seem to quietly acknowledge that.
As of now, it appears to be a work in progress; Gary might not be posting new family photos with Emilio, but he often reiterates that Emilio is his son no matter what.
FAQs
- Who is Emilio Owen?
Emilio Owen is the eldest son of comedian Gary Owen and his ex-wife, Kenya Duke. Born on January 18, 1991, he was raised in a blended family alongside his two younger siblings, Austin and Kennedy Owen.
- What is Emilio Owen’s profession?
Emilio Owen has chosen to maintain a private life, and details about his professional endeavors are not publicly disclosed. Unlike his stepfather, Gary Owen, who is a comedian and actor, Emilio has not pursued a career in the entertainment industry.
- Does Emilio Owen have social media accounts?
Emilio Owen does not have a public social media profile. He prefers to keep his personal life private and out of the public eye.
- Is Emilio Owen married?
There are no confirmed reports indicating that Emilio Owen is married. He has been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Taylor Patton, who works as an operations specialist at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
- What is Emilio Owen’s net worth?
Emilio Owen’s net worth is not publicly available, as he maintains a private lifestyle. Unlike his stepfather, Gary Owen, who has an estimated net worth of $3 million, Emilio’s financial details remain undisclosed.
