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Bill Owen

Cast & creator

Bill Owen

1914-03-14 (died at 85) Acton, London, England, UKIMDb

Best known for Tales of the Unexpected, Last of the Summer Wine, Last of the Summer Wine

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.

Also known as: Билл Оуэн, William John Owen Rowbotham

Movies

56

film credits

Series

29

television credits

Career

85

1941–2022 · acting roles

Credit score

6.6

average across scored titles

Signature credits

Known for

Ordered by popularity

Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected

Meakins · 1979

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Compo (archive footage) · 1973

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Compo · 1973

ITV Playhouse

ITV Playhouse

Mr Milner · 1967

Thirty-Minute Theatre

Thirty-Minute Theatre

Henry Jay · 1965

Across film & television

Filmography (85)

Search filmography

Showing 85 of 85 credits

Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected

Meakins

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Compo (archive footage)

Last of the Summer Wine

Last of the Summer Wine

Compo

ITV Playhouse

ITV Playhouse

Mr Milner

Thirty-Minute Theatre

Thirty-Minute Theatre

Henry Jay

Performance

Performance

Billy Rice

This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life

Self

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

Mr. Hanley

Angels

Angels

Drama 61-67

Bailey

Blankety Blank

Noel's House Party

Noel's House Party

Compo

The Buccaneers

The Buccaneers

Clip West

Man in a Suitcase

Man in a Suitcase

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

George Chambers

Cilla

Cilla

Self

Catweazle

Catweazle

Pickle

Half Hour Story

Half Hour Story

R.J.Smellies

Late Night Theatre

William

Shirley's World

Shirley's World

The Val Doonican Music Show

Self

Armchair Theatre

Armchair Theatre

Ray

Treasure Island

Billy Bones

Away from It All

Robert

Carry On Nurse

Carry On Nurse

Percy "Perc" Hickson

Coppers End

Sgt. Sam Short

O Lucky Man!

O Lucky Man!

Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding

The Entertainer

The Entertainer

Billy Rice

Last of the Summer Wine: Getting Sam Home

Last of the Summer Wine: Getting Sam Home

Compo Simmonite

Sherlock Holmes

Inspector Lestrade

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

Stutely

What's a Carry On?

What's a Carry On?

Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited)

That's Carry On!

That's Carry On!

Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)

Georgy Girl

Georgy Girl

Ted

Carve Her Name with Pride

Carve Her Name with Pride

NCO Instructor

The Comeback

The Comeback

Mr. B

On the Fiddle

On the Fiddle

Cpl. Gittens

The Kids International Show

Compo

Mischief

The Funny Blokes of British Comedy

Compo Simmonite (archive footage) (uncredited)

A Day to Remember

A Day to Remember

Shorty Sharpe

Breathing Space

Breathing Space

(uncredited)

Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day at Dream Acres

Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day at Dream Acres

Compo

The Ship That Died of Shame

The Ship That Died of Shame

Birdie

The Fighting Prince of Donegal

The Fighting Prince of Donegal

Officer Powell

Carry On Sergeant

Carry On Sergeant

Corporal Bill Copping

The Way to the Stars

The Way to the Stars

Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke

Taxi!

Fred Cuddell

The Funny Side of Christmas

The Funny Side of Christmas

Compo

Last of the Summer Wine: Uncle of the Bride

Last of the Summer Wine: Uncle of the Bride

Compo

Carry On Regardless

Carry On Regardless

Mike Weston

The Hellfire Club

The Hellfire Club

Martin

The Secret of Blood Island

The Secret of Blood Island

George Bludgin

Royal Variety Performance 1984

Royal Variety Performance 1984

Compo

Smillie's People

Self

School for Secrets

School for Secrets

Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)

Trouble in the Air

Trouble in the Air

My Brother's Keeper

My Brother's Keeper

Syd Evans

There Was a Young Lady

There Was a Young Lady

Joe

The Square Ring

The Square Ring

Happy Burns

Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs

Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs

Self (archive)

Carry On Cabby

Carry On Cabby

"Smiley" Sims

The Weaker Sex

The Weaker Sex

Soldier with Chicken

Once a Jolly Swagman

Once a Jolly Swagman

Lag Gibbon

When The Bough Breaks

Bill Collins

Hotel Sahara

Hotel Sahara

Private Binns

Dancing with Crime

Dancing with Crime

Dave Robinson

Trottie True

Trottie True

Joe Jugg

Unfair!

Worker

In Celebration

In Celebration

Mr. Shaw

The Rainbow Jacket

The Rainbow Jacket

Sam

The Last Word on Julie

Ray

A City Reborn

A City Reborn

Easy Money

Easy Money

Mr. Lee

Kiss Me, Kate

Kiss Me, Kate

Gangster

Diamond City

Diamond City

Pinto

The Shakedown

The Shakedown

David Spettigue

The Girl Who Couldn't Quite

The Girl Who Couldn't Quite

Tim

Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982

Compo

Not So Dusty

Not So Dusty

Laughterhouse

Laughterhouse

Amos

Daybreak

Daybreak

Ron

Davy

Davy

Eric

Tank Patrol

Geordie

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