Watch Ozzy Osbourne As Gandalf
via Clark Graff / YouTube
The internet has once again proven its love for rediscovering quirky pop culture gems, and this time it’s Ozzy Osbourne who’s back in the spotlight. Clips have surfaced online showing the legendary Black Sabbath frontman dressed as Gandalf the Grey in a parody of The Lord of the Rings. Complete with a fake beard, robes, and a wizard’s staff, Ozzy channels the beloved wizard in his own outrageous way.
The footage, dating back to 2003, has gained new traction on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube. Fans are sharing and laughing at Ozzy’s improvised lines, including his signature style of mixing heavy metal bravado with tongue-in-cheek humor. His parody transforms Gandalf’s iconic dialogue into something unmistakably Ozzy.
These skits showcase more than just a joke—they highlight how the Prince of Darkness was always willing to poke fun at himself and embrace the unexpected. Even in a role as serious as Tolkien’s wise wizard, Ozzy found a way to make it both hilarious and uniquely his own.
The Origins of the Skit
Many fans believed at first that the parody was something Ozzy personally sent to Peter Jackson as a tribute to his love for the films. While that makes for a good story, it turns out the truth is slightly different. The parody was one of several short skits created specifically for the 2003 edition of Ozzfest, his traveling heavy metal festival.
The original idea was that these parodies would play on big screens between sets, keeping the crowd entertained while waiting for bands. For reasons still unknown, the clips never made it to the concert screens. But like many hidden treasures, they eventually found their way online.
In 2006, YouTube user Clark Graff uploaded the skits, giving fans a chance to see Ozzy take on roles far outside his usual persona. The result was a mix of absurd comedy and genuine rock star charm, cementing the Gandalf parody as a cult favorite among fans.
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Ozzy’s Other Parody Roles
The Lord of the Rings skit wasn’t the only time Ozzy put on a costume for laughs. He also spoofed other cultural touchstones, stepping into roles such as Morpheus from The Matrix, General Patton from the classic war film Patton, and even journalist Martin Bashir during his famous interviews with Michael Jackson.
These performances revealed Ozzy’s playful side, showing that he wasn’t afraid to make himself the butt of the joke. For someone with a reputation built on heavy metal intensity, these spoofs highlighted his unique balance of theatrical darkness and comedic self-awareness.
Some skits even placed him in modern pop culture settings, such as American Idol auditions or appearing in a music video for 50 Cent’s single “Birfday.” Each parody was short, sharp, and entirely in line with Ozzy’s unpredictable style.
Ozzy Clarifies To St. Peter He Was Just Joking About The Whole Satanism Thing https://t.co/2hLo4UgCXa pic.twitter.com/AdnQvta5Lf
— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) July 22, 2025
A Final Look Back at Ozzy
The rediscovery of the Gandalf parody comes at a poignant time, just months after Ozzy’s passing in July 2025 at the age of 76. Seventeen days before his death, he played his farewell show Back to the Beginning in Birmingham, his hometown. It was a fitting close to a career that had influenced generations of fans.
His health had been declining for years, as he battled Parkinson’s disease and endured several spinal surgeries following a fall in 2019. Despite these challenges, Ozzy continued to create, perform, and connect with fans until the very end. His willingness to embrace humor alongside his darker image reflected the full range of his personality.
To honor his life and career, two documentaries are being released in the coming days: Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home on the BBC and Ozzy: No Escape From Now on Paramount Plus. Together with moments like the Gandalf skit, they paint a picture of a man who was larger than life, full of contradictions, and unforgettable in every way.
