Bill Owen
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British born actor known for playing working class characters on film and TV. Born William Rowbotham, the son of a tram driver and laundress, he started playing drums in London nightclubs and toured music halls with his own cabaret act to pay for acting classes. He entertained at Butlin's holiday camps and performed in repertory, joining the Unity Theatre where he attained respect as a stage producer. His career was interrupted by military service with the Royal Army Ordinance Corps where he was injured in an explosion during a battle training course. Returning to acting, he started making a name for himself in such films as Johnny in the Clouds (1945), When the Bough Breaks (1947), Maniacs on Wheels (1949), and The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952). He continued to perform in the theatre limelight and peaked in roles with Katharine Hepburn in "As You Like It" in 1950, and with "The Threepenny Opera" and "The Mikado", which made use of his musical talents. A writer at heart, he penned songs, musicals and plays over the years. Partnered with Mike Sammes, he wrote songs recorded by Pat Boone, Harry Secombe, Engelbert Humperdinck and Sir Cliff Richard, who had a hit with his 1980 song "Marianne". In the 60s he produced the stage musical, "The Matchgirl", and focused heavily on film slapstick with the 'Carry On' series. TV stardom came late, in the role of Compo in the BBC's 1973 series "Last of the Summer Wine". When he died of pancreatic cancer in 1999, he asked to be buried in the Yorkshire village of Holmfirth, where the TV series was filmed. Owen was awarded the MBE in 1976 for his steadfast work for the National Association of Boys Clubs and for his role as chairman of the Performing Arts Advising Panel.
Known for
Credits
O Lucky Man! (1973)
as Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding
Carry On Nurse (1959)
as Percy "Perc" Hickson
Carry On Sergeant (1958)
as Corporal Bill Copping
Georgy Girl (1966)
as Ted
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952)
as Stutely
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy (2005)
as Compo Simmonite (archive footage) (uncredited)
Carve Her Name with Pride (1958)
as NCO Instructor
On the Fiddle (1961)
as Cpl. Gittens
The Comeback (1978)
as Mr. B
Carry On Cabby (1963)
as "Smiley" Sims
What's a Carry On? (1998)
as Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hotel Sahara (1951)
as Private Binns
That's Carry On! (1977)
as Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)
Diamond City (1949)
as Pinto
Carry On Regardless (1961)
as Mike Weston
Trottie True (1949)
as Joe Jugg
Easy Money (1948)
as Mr. Lee
A Day to Remember (1953)
as Shorty Sharpe
The Hellfire Club (1961)
as Martin
The Entertainer (1993)
as Billy Rice
The Fighting Prince of Donegal (1966)
as Officer Powell
My Brother's Keeper (1948)
as Syd Evans
The Ship That Died of Shame (1955)
as Birdie
The Rainbow Jacket (1954)
as Sam
School for Secrets (1946)
as Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)
The Secret of Blood Island (1964)
as George Bludgin
The Funny Side of Christmas (1982)
as Compo
The Way to the Stars (1945)
as Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke
Once a Jolly Swagman (1949)
as Lag Gibbon
The Square Ring (1953)
as Happy Burns
The Shakedown (1960)
as David Spettigue
In Celebration (1975)
as Mr. Shaw
Royal Variety Performance 1984 (1984)
as Compo
The Weaker Sex (1948)
as Soldier with Chicken
Dancing with Crime (1947)
as Dave Robinson
Getting Sam Home (1983)
as Compo Simmonite
Daybreak (1948)
as Ron
Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs (2022)
as Self (archive)
Not So Dusty (1956)
Actor
When The Bough Breaks (1947)
as Bill Collins
Davy (1958)
as Eric
There Was a Young Lady (1953)
as Joe
Trouble in the Air (1948)
Actor
The Last Word on Julie (1964)
as Ray
Kiss Me, Kate (1964)
as Gangster
A City Reborn (1945)
Actor
The Girl Who Couldn't Quite (1950)
as Tim
Laughterhouse (1984)
as Amos
Breathing Space (1943)
as (uncredited)
Unfair! (1970)
as Worker
Mischief (1969)
Actor
Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982 (1978)
as Compo
Headline Hunters (1968)
Actor
Tank Patrol (1941)
as Geordie