Born in Twizel, schooled in Christchurch, Owen moved to Waipara on 1987 to work on his father farm. In 1995, he moved to Auckland to pursue a career in acting. He graduated from Unitec school pf Performing and Screen Arts in 1998 and had gone to work in a number of theatre, films and television productions. Owen is most well-known as the evil surgeon, Doctor Ethan Pierce on Shortland Street for which he was a finalist for the "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" at the 2009 Qantas Films and Television awards.