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Bill Owen

Born · March 14, 1914

Died · July 12, 1999 (85 years old)

Known For: Acting

Place of Birth: Acton, London, England, UK

Bio

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.

Known for

O Lucky Man!

O Lucky Man!

Carry On Sergeant

Carry On Sergeant

Brideshead Revisited

Brideshead Revisited

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs

Self (archive)

2022

The Entertainer

Billy Rice

1993

Noel's House Party

Compo · (1 episode)

1991

Performance

Billy Rice · (1 episode)

1991

Laughterhouse

Amos

1984

Getting Sam Home

Compo

1983

The Kids International Show

Compo · (1 episode)

1982

Brideshead Revisited

Lunt · (11 episodes)

1981

Tales of the Unexpected

Meakins · (1 episode)

1979

Blankety Blank

(1 episode)

1979

The Comeback

Mr. B

1978

Angels

(1 episode)

1975

In Celebration

Mr. Shaw

1975

O Lucky Man!

Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding

1973

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

George Chambers · (4 episodes)

1973

Last of the Summer Wine

Compo (archive footage) · (1 episode)

1973

Last of the Summer Wine

Compo · (173 episodes)

1973

Shirley's World

(1 episode)

1972

Coppers End

(13 episodes)

1971

Unfair!

Worker

1970

Catweazle

Pickle · (1 episode)

1970

Mischief

1969

Headline Hunters

1968

Cilla

Self · (1 episode)

1968

Man in a Suitcase

(1 episode)

1967

The Fighting Prince of Donegal

Officer Powell

1966

Georgy Girl

Ted

1966

The Secret of Blood Island

George Bludgin

1964

Kiss Me, Kate

Gangster

1964

Carry On Cabby

Smiley Sims

1963

On the Fiddle

Cpl. Gittens

1961

Carry On Regardless

Mike Weston

1961

The Hellfire Club

Martin

1961

The Shakedown

David Spettigue

1960

Carry On Nurse

Percy 'Perc' Hickson

1959

Carry On Sergeant

Corporal Bill Copping

1958

Carve Her Name with Pride

NCO Instructor

1958

Davy

Eric

1958

The Buccaneers

Clip West · (1 episode)

1956

Not So Dusty

1956

The Ship That Died of Shame

Birdie

1955

The Rainbow Jacket

Sam

1954

A Day to Remember

Shorty Sharpe

1953

The Square Ring

Happy Burns

1953

There Was a Young Lady

Joe

1953

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

Stutely

1952

Sherlock Holmes

Inspector Lestrade · (6 episodes)

1951

Hotel Sahara

Private Binns

1951

The Girl Who Couldn't Quite

Tim

1950

Trottie True

Joe Jugg

1949

Diamond City

Pinto

1949

Once a Jolly Swagman

Lag Gibbon

1949

Trouble in the Air

1948

The Weaker Sex

Soldier with Chicken

1948

My Brother's Keeper

Syd Evans

1948

Daybreak

Ron

1948

Easy Money

Mr. Lee

1948

When The Bough Breaks

Bill Collins

1947

Dancing with Crime

Dave Robinson

1947

School for Secrets

Paratroop Sergeant

1946

The Way to the Stars

Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke

1945

A City Reborn

1945

Breathing Space

(uncredited)

1943

Tank Patrol

Geordie

1941