Just for laughs: Gary Owen schedules a stand-up gig in November

Comedian Gary Owen, dubbed the “Funniest Serviceman in America,” brings his stand-up gig to the Orleans Showroom on Nov. 13 and 14.

As a kid growing up in Cincinnati, the class clown took a shine to comedy. Owen briefly worked as a military police officer in the U.S. Navy, then decided comedy was his true calling.

After working for a year in comedy clubs, he earned a large African American fan base in San Diego. Then Owen auditioned for BET’s “Comic View” in 1997 and after two appearances on the multicultural comedy show, he landed his own hour-long “Grandstand” show. By the end of the season, Owen was picked from the year’s four “Grandstanders” to be the host, making him the only Caucasian to host “Comic View.”

By 2011, Ebony Magazine named him “Black America’s Favorite White Comedian.”

“I always say that you don’t choose your audience, they choose you. And black audiences were exposed to me before mainstream wide audiences,” he told Here & Now.

Owen has appeared on three comedy specials on Showtime: the one-hour “True Story,” as host of “Shaquille O’Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam — Live from Orlando,” and as a performer on “Mike Epps Presents: Live From Club Nokia.”

He starred in two other stand-up comedy DVDs, “Breakin’ Out the Park” and “Urban Legend.” His latest comedy special, “I Agree With Myself,” debuted on Showtime in January.

The comedian has a recurring role as Zach the barber on Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne,” and played Bennett in “Think Like a Man” and “Think Like a Man Too.” He starred alongside Ice Cube and Kevin Hart in the comedy “Ride Along” and had supporting roles in “Little Man,” “Daddy Day Care” and “College.”

Tickets start at $39.95.

Tickets: Orleans Showroom, (702) 284-7777