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Photo of Bill Owen

Bill Owen

Actor, Additional Credits
Born March 14, 1914Died July 12, 1999 (85 years)
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Brideshead Revisited
  • Coronation Street
Known For
  • Georgy Girl
  • Carry on Sergeant
  • Carry on Cabby
  • Carry on Regardless
  • Last of the Summer Wine
  • Carry on Nurse
  • The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
  • PT Raiders
  • The Comeback
  • Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads
  • Hotel Sahara
  • In Celebration
  • The Rainbow Jacket
  • Singleton's Pluck
  • Dancing with Crime
  • The Hellfire Club
  • When the Bough Breaks
  • The Fighting Prince of Donegal

Filmography

2023
2013
1998
What's a Carry On? · as Various Characters
1991
Noel's House Party (TV Series) · as Compo
1991
Performance (TV Series) · as Billy Rice
1990
The Handmaid's Tale · as T.v. Announcer #2
1984
1981
Brideshead Revisited (TV Series) · as Lunt
1979
Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) · as Meakins
1978
Blankety Blank (TV Series)
1978
The Comeback · as Mr. B
1977
That's Carry On! · as Various Characters
1976
1975
Angels (TV Series)
1975
In Celebration · as Mr. Shaw
1973
O Lucky Man! · as Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding
1973
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads (TV Series) · as George Chambers
1973
Last of the Summer Wine (TV Series) · as Compo
1973
Kadoyng · as Jack Flitton
1971
Shirley's World (TV Series)
1970
Unfair! · as Worker
1970
Catweazle (TV Series) · as Pickle
1969
1969
ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Mr. Hanley
1968
1967
Man in a Suitcase (TV Series)
1967
ITV Playhouse (TV Series) · as Mr. Milner
1967
CBS Children's Film Festival (TV Series) · as Quarryman
1966
The Fighting Prince of Donegal · as Officer Powell
1966
Georgy Girl · as Ted
1965
Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV Series) · 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) (TV Series) · as Bill
1961
Comedy Playhouse (TV Series) · as Compo
1961
On the Fiddle · as Cpl. Gittens
1961
Carry on Regardless · as Mike Weston
1961
The Hellfire Club · as Martin
1960
Coronation Street (TV Series) · as Charlie Dickinson
1960
Man from Interpol (TV Series) · as Tim Stout
1960
The Shakedown · as David Spettigue
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 (TV Series) · as Freddy Haldane
1957
Davy · as Eric
1957
Emergency-Ward 10 (TV Series) · as George Edwards
1956
Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Peters
1956
The Buccaneers (TV Series) · as Clip West
1956
Armchair Theatre (TV Series) · as Ray
1956
1955
ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) · as Charlie Denchfield
1955
The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV Series) · as Mark
1955
ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as George Scott
1955
PT Raiders · as Birdie
1954
1953
A Day to Remember · as Shorty Sharpe
1953
The Square Ring · as Happy Burns
1953
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Presents (TV Series) · as Arthur Preece
1953
1952
1951
Hotel Sahara · as Private Binns
1951
Sherlock Holmes (1951) (TV Series) · as Inspector Lestrade
1950
The Astonished Heart · as Mr. Burton
1950
1950
Sunday Night Theatre (TV Series) · 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
1945
1945
Johnny in the Clouds · as Sgt. 'nobby' Clarke
1945
1943
Breathing Space · as (uncredited)
1941
Tank Patrol · as Geordie

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