Bill Owen
Acting • Born 1914-03-14 – Died 1999-07-12
Biography
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.
Filmography
76 credits
Carry On Nurse
Movie • 1959
Percy "Perc" Hickson
Carry On Sergeant
Movie • 1958
Corporal Bill Copping
Carry On Regardless
Movie • 1961
Mike Weston
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
Movie • 1952
Stutely
The Secret of Blood Island
Movie • 1964
George Bludgin
Georgy Girl
Movie • 1966
Ted
Carve Her Name with Pride
Movie • 1958
NCO Instructor
The Way to the Stars
Movie • 1945
Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke
Hotel Sahara
Movie • 1951
Private Binns
Daybreak
Movie • 1948
Ron
The Shakedown
Movie • 1960
David Spettigue
Carry On Cabby
Movie • 1963
"Smiley" Sims
The Rainbow Jacket
Movie • 1954
Sam
My Brother's Keeper
Movie • 1948
Syd Evans
Dancing with Crime
Movie • 1947
Dave Robinson
The Square Ring
Movie • 1953
Happy Burns
Diamond City
Movie • 1949
Pinto
The Ship That Died of Shame
Movie • 1955
Birdie
The Hellfire Club
Movie • 1961
Martin
Laughterhouse
Movie • 1984
Amos
Easy Money
Movie • 1948
Mr. Lee
Once a Jolly Swagman
Movie • 1949
Lag Gibbon
Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs
Movie • 2022
Self (archive)
The Comeback
Movie • 1978
Mr. B
In Celebration
Movie • 1975
Mr. Shaw
On the Fiddle
Movie • 1961
Cpl. Gittens
Davy
Movie • 1958
Eric
When The Bough Breaks
Movie • 1947
Bill Collins
A Day to Remember
Movie • 1953
Shorty Sharpe
Getting Sam Home
Movie • 1983
Compo Simmonite
Unfair!
Movie • 1970
Worker
Not So Dusty
Movie • 1956
Trottie True
Movie • 1949
Joe Jugg
A City Reborn
Movie • 1945
The Girl Who Couldn't Quite
Movie • 1950
Tim
There Was a Young Lady
Movie • 1953
Joe
Headline Hunters
Movie • 1968
Mischief
Movie • 1969
O Lucky Man!
Movie • 1973
Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding
Trouble in the Air
Movie • 1948
Tank Patrol
Movie • 1941
Geordie
The Weaker Sex
Movie • 1948
Soldier with Chicken
Kiss Me, Kate
Movie • 1964
Gangster
The Entertainer
Movie • 1993
Billy Rice
School for Secrets
Movie • 1946
Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)
Breathing Space
Movie • 1943
(uncredited)
The Fighting Prince of Donegal
Movie • 1966
Officer Powell
The Last Word on Julie
Movie • 1964
Ray
Royal Variety Performance 1984
Movie • 1984
Compo
The Funny Side of Christmas
Movie • 1982
Compo
Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982
Movie • 1978
Compo
That's Carry On!
Movie • 1977
Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)
What's a Carry On?
Movie • 1998
Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
Movie • 2005
Compo Simmonite (archive footage) (uncredited)
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
TV • 1973
George Chambers
Tales of the Unexpected
TV • 1979
Meakins
Last of the Summer Wine
TV • 1973
Compo (archive footage)
The Buccaneers
TV • 1956
Clip West
Catweazle
TV • 1970
Pickle
Shirley's World
TV • 1972
Angels
TV • 1975
Man in a Suitcase
TV • 1967
Performance
TV • 1991
Billy Rice
Blankety Blank
TV • 1979
Cilla
TV • 1968
Self
Sherlock Holmes
TV • 1951
Inspector Lestrade
Noel's House Party
TV • 1991
Compo
Last of the Summer Wine
TV • 1973
Compo
Taxi!
TV • 1963
Fred Cuddel
Taxi!
TV • 1963
Fred Cuddell
Coppers End
TV • 1971
Sgt. Sam Short
The Val Doonican Music Show
TV • 1977
Self
Smillie's People
TV • 1996
Self
This Is Your Life
TV • 1955
Self
The Kids International Show
TV • 1982
Compo
Drama 61-67
TV • 1961
Bailey