As the world mourns the death of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, many fans are revisiting his legacy — not just in music, but also in family. Yet amid the outpouring of tributes, there remains widespread confusion — and misinformation — about Ozzy’s children, particularly those from his first marriage to Thelma Riley.
Let’s set the record straight.
The First Osbourne Family
Before The Osbournes reality show turned the rock star’s household into early-2000s pop culture canon, Ozzy had already built a family during a quieter chapter of his life.
In the early 1970s, Ozzy married Thelma Riley, a schoolteacher from Birmingham. Together, they had two biological children: Jessica Osbourne, born in 1972, and Louis Osbourne, born in 1975. Ozzy also adopted Elliot, Thelma’s son from a previous relationship. Though not his biological child, Elliot was raised as part of the Osbourne household and considered Ozzy a father figure throughout his early life.
The Kids Fans Rarely Heard About
Jessica and Louis were raised largely outside the public eye — a sharp contrast to the visibility of Ozzy’s second family with Sharon Osbourne: Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, who all featured heavily in the MTV reality series that helped cement the Osbourne brand. This generational divide in exposure created a split in public perception, where many fans either forgot or never knew about Ozzy’s older children.
Over the years, Jessica and Louis maintained relatively low profiles. Jessica pursued a career in the arts, occasionally working in film and theater. Louis became involved in music and DJ culture. Elliot, meanwhile, remained even more private. None of them were ever part of the Osbourne family’s TV fame, and over time, were almost erased from the narrative — both by the media and, at times, by the family’s own public statements.
A Complicated Relationship with Their Father
Jessica once opened up about her childhood with Ozzy in the 2011 documentary God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, describing a life punctuated by long absences, fueled by her father’s substance abuse and demanding tour schedules.
“My recollection from my childhood with Dad is that he’d be away for very long periods of time… there’d always be a period of adjustment when he came home, and then it’d get to normality, and then he’d go again,” she said.
“So, it was a very erratic childhood with Dad.”
Their estrangement was never hidden — but it was rarely discussed. And as Ozzy’s star rose with his new family, the children from his first marriage faded further from view.
Mourning in Silence
When Ozzy Osbourne’s death was confirmed by his family on a Tuesday morning, the official statement — signed by Sharon, Aimee, Kelly, Jack, and Louis — made no mention of Jessica or Elliot.
Despite being left out of the official tribute, both Jessica and Louis found subtle, personal ways to honor their father. Louis changed his Facebook profile picture to a solid black square. Jessica reposted a tribute from the “On With Mario Lopez” podcast with the caption: “RIP Ozzy.”
But confusion quickly followed. A separate Instagram user with the handle @jessicaosbourne went viral for posting a tribute — only to later clarify that she is not Ozzy’s daughter.
“I just logged onto my Instagram feed to find I’m tagged erroneously as Ozzy’s daughter. I’m not,” the user wrote, trying to stop the spread of misinformation.
This mix-up only highlighted a broader issue: how little the public actually knows about Ozzy’s first children — and how easily their presence is overlooked or misrepresented.
So, What’s the Truth?
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Jessica Osbourne is Ozzy Osbourne’s biological daughter.
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Louis Osbourne is his biological son.
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Elliot is Thelma’s son from a previous relationship, legally adopted by Ozzy during their marriage.
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These three were his original children — long before Kelly, Jack, and Aimee became household names.
Yet in many reports, Jessica and Elliot are still omitted, misrepresented, or treated as footnotes in the rockstar’s life story.
Why It Matters
The erasure of Ozzy’s first children is more than just a tabloid oversight — it’s a reminder of how complicated family legacies can be, especially when fame and dysfunction collide.
Ozzy Osbourne’s life was marked by legendary highs and deeply personal lows. His estrangement from Jessica was part of that story. But exclusion from headlines doesn’t erase biological fact — or the emotional realities these children lived through.
As fans continue to remember the Prince of Darkness, perhaps it’s also time to remember all of the Osbournes — not just the ones who made it onto TV.