What happened to Ozzy Osbourne’s first wife? Thelma Riley relationship explored as reality star and singer dies

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.

His family has revealed no cause of death; however, the singer had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, specifically a variant called Parkin 2, in February 2019. His family announced his death in an official statement, stating that they were with him at the time of his death.

According to the BBC, Osbourne is survived by his wife, Sharon Osbourne, and his six children, including three from his previous marriage to his first wife, Thelma Riley.

Reportedly, the heavy metal legend’s rise to fame with Black Sabbath, coupled with heavy drug and alcohol use, strained his relationship with Riley, which led to their divorce. Following their separation, she returned to living her life privately and out of the public eye. She worked as an English teacher in Birmingham, as per a report in Yen.

Let us uncover more details about Ozzy Osbourne’s relationship with Thelma Riley.

Exploring the relationship between Ozzy Osbourne and his first wife, Thelma Riley

The tumultuous relationship between Ozzy Osbourne and his ex-wife Thelma started off with a rapid romance which resulted in their marriage.

His 2009 autobiography, titled, I am Ozzy, suggests that the former Black Sabbath singer met Riley in 1971 at a nightclub called Rum Runner in Birmingham, England. It was the place where Riley used to work. After a couple of months, the pair decided to walk down the aisle in July of the same year. At the time, Osbourne was 22 years old.

Remembering his first meeting in his memoir, he said:

"She was beautiful and I wanted to talk to her. I pulled her on the dance floor."

In January 1972, Thelma Riley welcomed their first child, a daughter named Jessica. Three years later, they became parents to their son, Elliot. Osbourne also adopted Riley’s five-year-old son from her previous marriage, as per a report in Distractify.

Riley and Osbourne remained married for a decade before their divorce in 1982. In his autobiography, the singer referred to his marriage to Riley as “a terrible mistake” and took full responsibility for his failed marriage. He wrote,

"I put that woman through it. I should have never married her. She didn't deserve it. She wasn't a bad person, and she wasn't a bad wife. But I was a f---ing nightmare.”

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According to a report in Yen, Thelma Riley is currently 71 years old. Her full maiden name is Thelma Mayfair Riley. She was born on May 17, 1954 in Birmingham, England. She continues to live her life secretly, away from the spotlight.

Following his divorce with Thelma Riley, Osbourne married his manager, Don Arden’s daughter, Sharon Arden on July 4, 1982, per Distractify. She became acquainted with the 18-year-old Riley as she worked as Arden’s receptionist at that time. The couple shared three children together – Aimee, born in 1983, Kelly in 1984, and Jack in 1985.

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