Thelma Riley: The 'Secret' First Wife Ozzy Osbourne Called A 'Terrible Mistake' Before Sharon

The question of whether Ozzy Osbourne was married before his iconic, decades-long union with Sharon Osbourne has become a subject of intense curiosity, especially in the wake of the legendary rocker’s passing on July 22, 2025. The answer is a resounding yes, a fact that reveals a complicated, often tumultuous chapter of the late Prince of Darkness's life that predates the reality TV fame and global spotlight he shared with Sharon. This first marriage, to a woman named Thelma Riley, was a stark contrast to the public spectacle of his later life, a hidden history that Ozzy himself would later describe with profound regret.

The story of Ozzy’s life before he became the "Prince of Darkness" is inextricably linked to Thelma Riley, a woman who chose to retreat entirely from the public eye after their divorce. Their relationship, which lasted over a decade, provided the rock icon with his first taste of family life and three of his six children. The details of this marriage, marked by the early chaos of his Black Sabbath fame and his escalating struggles with addiction, offer a crucial, often somber, context to the man who would later find stability with Sharon.

The Complete Biography and Family Profile of Ozzy Osbourne

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne, the legendary musician and television personality, lived a life defined by rock and roll, controversy, and two profoundly different marriages. His passing on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, following a heart attack, brought renewed attention to his entire family structure.

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• Full Name: John Michael Osbourne
• Nickname: Ozzy, The Prince of Darkness, The Godfather of Heavy Metal
• Born: December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, England
• Died: July 22, 2025, age 76 (Cause of Death: Heart Attack, had been suffering from Parkinson's disease)
• Spouses:
  • Thelma Riley (m. 1971; div. 1982)
  • Sharon Arden/Osbourne (m. 1982; until his death)
• Children (6 Total):
  • From First Marriage (Thelma Riley): Elliot Kingsley (adopted, b. 1966), Jessica Osbourne (b. 1972), Louis Osbourne (b. 1975)
  • From Second Marriage (Sharon Osbourne): Aimee Osbourne (b. 1983), Kelly Osbourne (b. 1984), Jack Osbourne (b. 1985)
• Career Highlights: Co-founder and lead vocalist of Black Sabbath, successful solo artist, star of the reality TV show The Osbournes.

Thelma Riley: The First Mrs. Osbourne and the 'Terrible Mistake'

Ozzy Osbourne’s life with Thelma Riley began in 1970 when he met her at a Birmingham nightclub where she was working. At the time, Ozzy was a burgeoning rock star, and Thelma was a young woman with a son, Elliot, from a previous relationship. They married quickly in 1971, the same year Black Sabbath released their second album, Paranoid, cementing the start of Ozzy’s turbulent rise to fame.

A Marriage Marred by Fame and Turmoil

The 11-year marriage to Thelma was fundamentally unstable, largely due to Ozzy’s rapid descent into heavy drug and alcohol abuse, fueled by the pressures of his rock career. Ozzy himself later admitted that he was a terrible husband and father during this period, a time he now reflected on with deep remorse.

In his autobiography, the rocker was brutally honest about the suffering he inflicted on his first family. He confessed to being absent, unfaithful, and emotionally abusive, stating he "treated her really badly" and that the entire marriage was a "terrible mistake." These candid admissions, which have resurfaced following his death, paint a picture of a man struggling with his own demons while his first wife bore the brunt of his early stardom.

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The couple had two biological children, Jessica and Louis, and Ozzy adopted Elliot Kingsley. Despite the family unit, Ozzy's lifestyle created an impossible environment, leading to their divorce in 1982.

The Contrast: Thelma's Privacy vs. Sharon's Public Empire

Thelma Riley and Sharon Osbourne represent two completely opposite trajectories in the life of Ozzy Osbourne and the world of celebrity spouses. Thelma’s post-divorce life is defined by her deliberate choice of anonymity, while Sharon’s is defined by her role as the ultimate rock manager and reality TV matriarch.

Thelma Riley: The English Teacher Who Wiped Ozzy from Her Life

After the divorce was finalized in 1982, Thelma Riley took extraordinary steps to remove herself and her children from the glare of the Osbourne name and the world of heavy metal. She adopted a low-profile life, reportedly becoming an English teacher and shunning all media attention.

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• Post-Divorce Career: Reportedly worked as an English teacher.
• Media Presence: Zero. She has famously never given an interview about her life with Ozzy.
• Goal: To provide a stable, private life for her children away from the chaos of their father’s fame.

This desire for privacy is why Jessica Osbourne, Louis Osbourne, and Elliot Kingsley are often referred to as Ozzy’s "secret" or "older" children, as they were not featured on the hit reality show The Osbournes, which launched in 2002 and focused entirely on Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack.

Sharon Osbourne: The Manager and Matriarch

In a twist of fate, Ozzy married Sharon Arden (who was also his manager) in 1982, the same year his divorce from Thelma was finalized. Sharon, the daughter of music mogul Don Arden, was the complete opposite of Thelma. She embraced the chaos of Ozzy’s life, becoming the driving force behind his successful solo career and managing his image into a global brand.

The marriage to Sharon produced three more children—Aimee, Kelly, and Jack—and became the foundation for a media empire. While their relationship was also famously tumultuous, featuring public battles with addiction, infidelity, and health crises (including Ozzy's long battle with Parkinson's), it endured until Ozzy's death. Sharon often spoke candidly about Ozzy's previous marriage and his struggles, reinforcing the public narrative that she was the one who ultimately saved him.

The Legacy of Ozzy’s Six Children

Ozzy Osbourne is survived by his wife, Sharon, and his six children, all of whom have now publicly acknowledged their father’s legacy following his July 2025 passing. The children from his first marriage, who have lived largely outside the spotlight, have maintained their own distinct paths.

• Louis Osbourne: Has found his own success in the music industry as a DJ.
• Jessica Osbourne: Has worked in various fields and maintained a very private family life.
• Elliot Kingsley: Has also pursued a career in the entertainment industry, working behind the scenes.

The "secret" children's tributes following their father’s death highlighted the complex reality of Ozzy’s life: a man who was a rock god to the world but a flawed, loving father to six distinct individuals from two different marriages. The story of Thelma Riley, the first wife who chose peace and privacy over fame, remains a powerful, quiet counter-narrative to the deafening volume of the Osbourne family's public life.