Bill Owen
Skuespiller
14. mars 1914 — 12. juli 1999 (85 år)
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.
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.
Kjent for
Filmography
| 2023 | Keeping Up Appearances: 30 Years of Laughs · as Compo |
| 2022 | Last of the Summer Wine: 30 Years of Laughs · as Compo |
| 2013 | Both Feet in the Army · as Cast |
| 2005 | The Funny Blokes of British Comedy · as Compo Simmonite (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 1998 | What's a Carry On? · as Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 1993 | The Entertainer · as Billy Rice |
| 1991 | Noel's House Party · as Compo |
| 1991 | Performance · as Billy Rice |
| 1990 | The Handmaid's Tale · as T.v. Announcer #2 |
| 1984 | Royal Variety Performance 1984 · as Compo |
| 1984 | Singleton's Pluck · as Amos |
| 1982 | The Funny Side of Christmas · as Compo |
| 1981 | Brideshead Revisited · as LuntPå Plex |
| 1979 | Tales of the Unexpected · as Meakins |
| 1978 | |
| 1978 | |
| 1978 | The Comeback · as Mr. BPå Plex |
| 1977 | That's Carry On! · as Corporal Bill Copping (archive Footage) (uncredited) |
| 1975 | The Smurfs and the Magic Flute · as Cast |
| 1975 | |
| 1975 | In Celebration · as Mr. Shaw |
| 1973 | O Lucky Man! · as Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding |
| 1973 | Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads · as George Chambers |
| 1973 | Last of the Summer Wine · as Compo |
| 1972 | Kadoyng · as Jack Flitton |
| 1971 | |
| 1971 | Coppers End · as Sgt. Sam Short |
| 1970 | Unfair! · as Worker |
| 1970 | Catweazle · as Pickle |
| 1969 | |
| 1969 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre · as Mr. Hanley |
| 1968 | |
| 1967 | |
| 1967 | ITV Playhouse · as Mr. Milner |
| 1967 | CBS Children's Film Festival · as Quarryman |
| 1966 | The Fighting Prince of Donegal · as Officer Powell |
| 1966 | It's a Knockout · as Compo |
| 1966 | Georgy Girl · as Ted |
| 1965 | Thirty-Minute Theatre · as Henry Jay |
| 1965 | The Secret of Blood Island · as George Bludgin |
| 1964 | The Masque of the Red Death · as Male Dancer |
| 1963 | Carry on Cabby · as "smiley" Sims |
| 1963 | Love Story (1963) · as Bill |
| 1961 | Comedy Playhouse · as Compo |
| 1961 | On the Fiddle · as Cpl. Gittens |
| 1961 | Carry on Regardless · as Mike Weston |
| 1961 | Drama 61-67 · as Bailey |
| 1961 | The Hellfire Club · as Martin |
| 1960 | Coronation Street · as Charlie DickinsonPå Plex |
| 1960 | Man from Interpol · as Tim Stout |
| 1960 | The Shakedown · as David Spettigue |
| 1959 | Probation Officer · as Mr. Chapman |
| 1959 | Carry on Nurse · as Percy "perc" Hickson |
| 1958 | Carry on Sergeant · as Corporal Bill Copping |
| 1958 | Carve Her Name with Pride · as Nco Instructor |
| 1958 | Dial 999 · as Freddy Haldane |
| 1957 | Davy · as Eric |
| 1957 | Emergency-Ward 10 · as George Edwards |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 · as Peters |
| 1956 | The Buccaneers · as Clip West |
| 1956 | Armchair Theatre · as Ray |
| 1956 | |
| 1955 | ITV Play of the Week · as Charlie Denchfield |
| 1955 | The Adventures of Robin Hood · as Mark |
| 1955 | ITV Television Playhouse · as George Scott |
| 1955 | PT Raiders · as Birdie |
| 1954 | The Rainbow Jacket · as Sam |
| 1953 | A Day to Remember · as Shorty Sharpe |
| 1953 | The Square Ring · as Happy Burns |
| 1953 | Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Presents · as Arthur Preece |
| 1953 | There Was a Young Lady · as Joe |
| 1952 | The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men · as Stutely |
| 1951 | Hotel Sahara · as Private Binns |
| 1951 | Sherlock Holmes (1951) · as Inspector Lestrade |
| 1950 | The Astonished Heart · as Mr. Burton |
| 1950 | The Girl Who Couldn't Quite · as Tim |
| 1950 | Sunday Night Theatre · as Oakie |
| 1949 | Diamond City · as Pinto |
| 1949 | The Gay Lady · as Joe Jugg |
| 1949 | Maniacs on Wheels · as Lag Gibbon |
| 1948 | |
| 1948 | The Weaker Sex · as Soldier With Chicken |
| 1948 | My Brother's Keeper · as Syd Evans |
| 1948 | Daybreak · as Ron |
| 1948 | Easy Money · as Mr. Lee |
| 1947 | When the Bough Breaks · as Bill Collins |
| 1947 | Holiday Camp · as Camper |
| 1947 | Dancing with Crime · as Dave Robinson |
| 1946 | Secret Flight · as Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham) |
| 1945 | Vacation from Marriage · as Sailor |
| 1945 | Johnny in the Clouds · as Sgt. 'nobby' Clarke |
| 1945 | |
| 1943 | Breathing Space · as (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Tank Patrol · as Geordie |
| 1936 |
| 2022 | Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs · as Self (archive) |
| 1997 | 25 Years of 'Last of the Summer Wine' · as Self |
| 1997 | Light Lunch · as Self |
| 1982 | Saturday Superstore · as Self - Guest |
| 1982 | Wogan · as Self |
| 1976 | Multi-Coloured Swap Shop · as Self |
| 1975 | The Val Doonican Music Show · as Self |
| 1959 | Juke Box Jury · as Self - Panellist |
| 1958 | Blue Peter · as Self |
| 1955 | This is Your Life (UK) · as Self |
| 1975 | Romance with a Double Bass · as Based On A Screenplay By |