Last updated on: November 22, 2024

Lancelot Owens Sr. is the father of the popular American actress, singer, and rapper Queen Latifah. Though his daughter is a well-known face in the entertainment industry, life was relatively behind-the-scenes for Lancelot Owens Sr. He was a police officer, and though he did not crave fame, his influence did much in molding the person that is Queen Latifah today.

Early Life and Career

Lancelot Owens Sr. was a policeman. His career meant so much to him, and he treated it very seriously. He had been a guiding light in his children’s lives as a father. He was married to Rita Owens, the mother of Queen Latifah. Together, they were blessed with two children: Queen Latifah, whose birth name is Dana Owens, and her older brother, Lancelot Owens Jr.

Lancelot had a stable job, but he had some personal issues. His marriage to Rita Owens ended by divorce when Queen Latifah was just 10 years old. It became hard for him in splitting, but that did not make him absent from his children’s life. Lancelot still remains an important figure for Queen Latifah even after the divorce.

Relationship of Lancelot Owens Sr. with Queen Latifah

He may not have been put in the limelight like his daughter, but Queen Latifah credits much of her life to Lancelot. As a police officer, he would be at times busy and involved in difficult jobs, which contrasts with having to be there for his children. Queen Latifah has shared repeatedly that it was in her father that she found a strong, loving presence.

She narrates in interviews how much love and support her father bestowed on her. She was inspired by his hard work in tending to his job and family. Though Lancelot Owens Sr. never took the public eye, his influence upon Queen Latifah’s values and character is profoundly evident.

Effects of Divorce and Family Problems

Lancelot and Rita Owens divorced in 1978. The divorce was tough on the family especially to Queen Latifah, but she did have a brother as well. Their mother, Rita, therefore took on the responsibility of raising them on her own. Yet Queen Latifah is always found talking warmly of her father and the role he played in her life. She actually appreciated the strength it took for him to manage his career life including the personal one when things went wrong.

It is sad that her brother, Lancelot Owens Jr., died in 1992 in a motorcycle accident. She had given him the motorcycle as a gift, which made the loss even more heartbreaking for her. To this day, she still wears the key to the motorcycle around her neck as a way to remember her brother. Lancelot Owens Sr. likely shared the pain of losing his son. The depth of the loss magnified Queen Latifah’s insight into the value of family and loss.

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Lancelot Owens Sr. and Queen Latifah’s Success

Though Lancelot Owens Sr. never desired to be a famous father like his daughter, his contribution to her successful career is beyond doubt. He was constant and supportive in her life when Queen Latifah became one of the most influential women in music and film. She often credits her parents, especially her mother, for their guidance and support throughout her career.

Queen Latifah’s ability to balance her personal and professional life comes from the values she learned at home. Her father’s dedication to his job and his family played a big part in shaping her work ethic and commitment.

Later Years and Legacy

Lancelot Owens Sr. remained a pillar in his daughter’s life even after he retired. The later years of his life are not much in the public arena, but his legacy in his daughter’s life goes on. She continues to honor her family and her father, who was quiet and steady in her life during childhood.

Source: celebs.infoseemedia.com