BO
Bill Owen
Actor, Additional Credits
Died 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.
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
Filmography
| 2023 | Keeping Up Appearances: 30 Years of Laughs · as Compo |
| 2013 | Both Feet in the Army · as Cast |
| 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 | Singleton's Pluck · as Amos |
| 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 | The Smurfs and the Magic Flute · as Cast |
| 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) |
| 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 | 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 (TV Series) · 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) (TV Series) · as Inspector Lestrade |
| 1950 | The Astonished Heart · as Mr. Burton |
| 1950 | The Girl Who Couldn't Quite · as Tim |
| 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 | 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 |