Before Ozzy Osbourne became the legendary "Prince of Darkness" and married Sharon Osbourne, the heavy metal icon had a completely different life with his first wife, Thelma Riley. This lesser Before Ozzy Osbourne became the 'Prince of Darkness' and a global rock icon, he was married to Thelma Riley, his first wife and the mother of two of his children. What happened to Ozzy Osbourne’s first wife? After divorcing Ozzy, Thelma Riley led a quieter life, focusing on her career as a teacher and raising their children. The couple divorced in 1982, and Ozzy later expressed regret about how he treated Thelma and his children, acknowledging that his lifestyle at the time was destructive. Here's everything we know about Ozzy Osbourne's first wife and the mother of his older children. Why did their marriage end? Ozzy Osbourne was the father to six children, whom he shared with his ex-wife, Thelma Riley, and second wife, Sharon Osbourne. Ozzy Osbourne's first wife, Thelma Riley, is a former English teacher. She rose to fame following her marriage to the renowned British singer. Ozzy and Thelma were married for over a decade before divorcing in 1982. Riley has maintained a relatively private life away from the spotlight since her Ozzy Osbourne shared 3 children with first wife Thelma Riley The father of six children over two marriages, Osbourne has been vocal about how rigorous touring and alcohol use affected his family life. Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath frontman and reality-TV star's relationship with his former wife Thelma Riley have come into the limelight following his passing at the age of 76 on July 22, 2025. Who Has Ozzy Osbourne Been Married To? Ozzy Osbourne has been married a total of two times. He first married Thelma Riley, whom he divorced in 1982. At the time of his death on July 22, 2025, the star was married to his longtime wife, Sharon Osbourne. Ozzy Osbourne died at 76 years old on July 22, and he's survived by his family, including his children from his first marriage to ex-wife Thelma Riley. British educator Thelma Riley is recognized as the first wife of British musician and rock icon Ozzy Osbourne. Who is Thelma Riley? Thelma Riley, also known as Thelma Osbourne and Thelma Mayfair, is the ex-wife of Ozzy Osbourne and a professional school teacher. She was born on 17 May 1954 in England. She was married to Black Sabbath's lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne from 1971 to 1982. Her Here's what you need to know about Thelma Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne's first wife, and their two children, Louis and Jessica. Thelma Riley (also known as Thelma Mayfair and Thelma Osbourne) is the first wife of singer-songwriter, musician, and rock icon Ozzy Osbourne. They have two children together, Jessica and Louis. According to People Magazine, Ozzy Osbourne met his first wife, Thelma Riley, in 1971 at a Birmingham nightclub called The Rum Runner, where she worked part-time, while pursuing teaching as a career. Who is Thelma Riley? Thelma Riley was Ozzy Osbourne's first wife. The pair met in the 1960s while on a night out, and at the time, Osbourne was still establishing his career in music, while Riley was a teacher. They eventually tied the knot in 1971, amid the rise in prominence of Black Sabbath in the music scene. Before Ozzy Osbourne became the bat-biting, reality TV-screaming, Prince of Darkness the world knows today, there was a woman who saw him before the madness took over: Thelma Riley. Their marriage wasn’t a rock ‘n’ roll fairy tale; it was a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the chaos of a man on the brink of superstardom, battling addiction and infidelity while trying (and failing) to be a Thelma Riley is best known as the first wife of legendary rock musician Ozzy Osbourne. Though her life largely remained away from the limelight, her relationship with the Black Sabbath frontman brought her some media attention. However, Thelma has always led a private life, focusing on her family rather than the rock-and-roll lifestyle Ozzy embraced. Over the course of his life, Osbourne had six children, including three from his first marriage. However, while Sharon and Ozzy were an undoubtedly iconic couple, Ozzy was actually married to another woman prior to becoming Sharon’s husband. Without further ado, meet Thelma Riley, Ozzy Osbourne’s first wife.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |