Prince of Darkness, King of the Video Aisle: Ozzy Osbourne’s best on-screen roles

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Legendary rock star Ozzy Osbourne has passed away, leaving the music world – particularly the realm of heavy metal – significantly diminished. However, Ozzy’s influence extended far beyond the realm of music. Indeed, he and Black Sabbath were instrumental in shaping heavy metal as we know it today, with a series of groundbreaking albums (including “Black Sabbath,” “Paranoid,” “Master of Reality,” and “Vol. 4”) that paved the way for punk, thrash, and stoner metal genres.

Absolutely, his individual projects during the ’80s significantly propelled metal music into the next decade. However, Ozzy’s larger-than-life personality was not confined to a single stage. It was only a matter of time before he found himself in the limelight on the big screen.

Before his death on July 22 at the age of 76, Ozzy showcased in several noteworthy performances across television and film. Often, he embodied himself, given that “Ozzy Osbourne” was a persona John Michael Osbourne had been portraying throughout his life. However, there were instances where Ozzy donned another character, one that elevated the projects he was involved in, or at least added a touch of metallic flair.

Ozzy Osbourne’s best on-screen roles

The appearance of him in the “Chef Aid” episode of South Park is commendable, however, since he’s voicing a cartoon character (even though it’s a caricature of himself), it doesn’t count for this list. Similarly, his role as King Thrash in Trolls World Tour isn’t included either. Despite the presence of James Corden and Justin Timberlake, I must admit that performance wasn’t entirely terrible.

As a die-hard music enthusiast, I can’t help but give a shoutout to “Brütal Legend.” It’s the epitome of metal gaming experience on PS3/Xbox 360, offering a protagonist that embodies Glenn Danzig’s likeness and boasts Jack Black’s voice. It’s like stepping into a rock concert and living out your heaviest dreams!

Trick or Treat (1986)

It’s widely believed that Ozzy delivered one of his finest performances during the peak of his solo career, particularly amidst the Satanic Panic in the 1980s. This moral panic fueled by the belief that heavy metal music contained hidden satanic messages, was a significant theme in the 1986 movie, “Trick or Treat“. In this film, when Eddie plays a record backwards, he inadvertently opens a gateway to summon back Sammi Curr, a malevolent rocker who seeks destruction (with a heavy emphasis on hell).

In the classic horror film, Ozzy makes an intriguing cameo, playing a televangelist who criticizes “rock music obscenity.” As Reverend Aaron Gilstrom, he labeled heavy metal enthusiasts as “sick individuals” and “evil people,” which didn’t sit well with Sammi Curr.

Sam Kinison, “Under My Thumb” (1990)

Sam Kinison, who had a voice like a car alarm and a physique reminiscent of a Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker (albeit less attractive and less skilled), could have made it in the music industry just as some uglier and less gifted individuals did. After all, isn’t that what happened with his third comedy album, “Leader of the Banned,” which even featured covers such as his rendition of The Rolling Stones’ “Under My Thumb”?

1. The music video embodies pure ’90s cheesiness, appealing to some or not depending on personal preferences.
2. A troublemaking teen is standing trial for his numerous wrongdoings.
3. The judge overseeing the case? It’s none other than Ozzy Osbourne.
4. As Ozzy prepares to pass judgment on the boy, suddenly, Sam Kinison bursts in to cause chaos.

The jury metamorphoses into a group of ladies dressed in lingerie, Ozzy exposes himself with his judicial robe on, and Dweezil Zappa performs an electrifying solo.

(Here, the sentence structure is maintained but the words used are more natural and easy to understand)

Jerky Boys (1995)

Back then, in the ’90s, it was unbelievable that a pair who were famous for playing pranks over the phone could even star in a full-length film. (Not to mention, back in those days, making prank calls was still quite common since caller ID wasn’t as widespread as it is today.)

In the movie “The Jerky Boys,” Ozzy Osbourne made an appearance, portraying a disgruntled band manager for the 90’s metal rock group Helmet. Despite his brief screen time, Ozzy delivered a humorous line when the Jerky Boys deceived him about the band’s roadies landing better opportunities, working with the 60’s pop-icons, The Monkees. His reaction was priceless: “Are you kidding me? The MONKEES?!

Little Nicky (2000)

Ozzy Osbourne made an unforgettable appearance in Adam Sandler’s movie “Little Nicky.” This is likely the one scene people recall from the film, which currently has a 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and may have been a box-office failure that dented Sandler’s early film career success. However, it still holds a special place in Adam’s memory.

In his own words, Sandler expressed grief over the death of Ozzy. On Instagram, he penned, “From our basements with our siblings, in the woods with friends, in cars, at parties, on boats, at football practice, or sleepovers – nobody made us feel cooler than the extraordinary Prince of Darkness – Ozzy Osborne! We all adored him deeply. My thoughts are with his family, and I’m grateful for the time I had the privilege to meet the legend himself.

The Osbournes (2002-2005)

The Osbournes” can be seen as a two-faced coin. This popular MTV reality show significantly influenced the channel’s transformation, moving it from primarily airing music videos to a platform that now only plays reruns of shows like “Ridiculousness” around the clock (although shows like “Jersey Shore,” “The Challenge,” and the rise of the internet bear more responsibility for this shift, but we’ll discuss that another time).

In my gaming world, playing “The Osbournes” show made me feel like I was part of the family, getting a behind-the-scenes look at Ozzy’s life. It showed me a softer side of him as he was portrayed as a caring father to Jack and Kelly, and a devoted husband to Sharon, his manager and partner in crime.

Although it might not have been the most extreme program in existence, it served as a testament to the fact that even amidst the gloom, there lies genuine compassion – a truth metal enthusiasts were well aware of. This is what makes Ozzy’s absence so poignant. Despite his flaws and mistakes, he endeavored to be a kind soul.

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2025-07-23 13:00