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Bill Owen

Acting 85 (deceased) years old Acton, London, England, UK ★ 0.5
Born: March 14, 1914
Died: July 12, 1999

Biography

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.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

Carry On Nurse
Carry On Nurse Percy "Perc" Hickson 1959
O Lucky Man!
O Lucky Man! Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding 1973
Georgy Girl
Georgy Girl Ted 1966
Carry On Regardless
Carry On Regardless Mike Weston 1961
Carry On Sergeant
Carry On Sergeant Corporal Bill Copping 1958

Jimmy's Seen (2)

Hackers
Hackers 1995
Hackers
Hackers 1995

Filmography

Acting Credits (79)

Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs
Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs Self (archive) 2022
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy Compo Simmonite (archive footage) (uncredited) 2005
What's a Carry On?
What's a Carry On? Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited) 1998
Smillie's People
Smillie's People Self 1996
The Entertainer
The Entertainer Billy Rice 1993
Noel's House Party
Noel's House Party Compo 1991
Performance
Performance Billy Rice 1991
Royal Variety Performance 1984
Royal Variety Performance 1984 Compo 1984
Laughterhouse
Laughterhouse Amos 1984
Getting Sam Home
Getting Sam Home Compo Simmonite 1983
The Funny Side of Christmas
The Funny Side of Christmas Compo 1982
The Kids International Show
The Kids International Show Compo 1982
Tales of the Unexpected
Tales of the Unexpected Meakins 1979
Blankety Blank
Blankety Blank 1979
Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982
Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982 Compo 1978
The Comeback
The Comeback Mr. B 1978
That's Carry On!
That's Carry On! Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited) 1977
The Val Doonican Music Show
The Val Doonican Music Show Self 1977
Angels
Angels 1975
In Celebration
In Celebration Mr. Shaw 1975
O Lucky Man!
O Lucky Man! Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding 1973
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? George Chambers 1973
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
Shirley's World
Shirley's World 1972
Coppers End
Coppers End Sgt. Sam Short 1971
Unfair!
Unfair! Worker 1970
Catweazle
Catweazle Pickle 1970
Mischief
Mischief 1969
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
ITV Saturday Night Theatre Mr. Hanley 1969
Headline Hunters
Headline Hunters 1968
Cilla
Cilla Self 1968
Man in a Suitcase
Man in a Suitcase 1967
ITV Playhouse
ITV Playhouse Mr Milner 1967
The Fighting Prince of Donegal
The Fighting Prince of Donegal Officer Powell 1966
Georgy Girl
Georgy Girl Ted 1966
The Secret of Blood Island
The Secret of Blood Island George Bludgin 1964
Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate Gangster 1964
The Last Word on Julie
The Last Word on Julie Ray 1964
Taxi!
Taxi! Fred Cuddel 1963
Taxi!
Taxi! Fred Cuddell 1963
Carry On Cabby
Carry On Cabby "Smiley" Sims 1963
On the Fiddle
On the Fiddle Cpl. Gittens 1961
Carry On Regardless
Carry On Regardless Mike Weston 1961
Drama 61-67
Drama 61-67 Bailey 1961
The Hellfire Club
The Hellfire Club Martin 1961
The Shakedown
The Shakedown David Spettigue 1960
Carry On Nurse
Carry On Nurse Percy "Perc" Hickson 1959
Carry On Sergeant
Carry On Sergeant Corporal Bill Copping 1958
Carve Her Name with Pride
Carve Her Name with Pride NCO Instructor 1958
Davy
Davy Eric 1958
The Buccaneers
The Buccaneers Clip West 1956
Armchair Theatre
Armchair Theatre Ray 1956
Not So Dusty
Not So Dusty 1956
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life Self 1955
The Ship That Died of Shame
The Ship That Died of Shame Birdie 1955
The Rainbow Jacket
The Rainbow Jacket Sam 1954
A Day to Remember
A Day to Remember Shorty Sharpe 1953
The Square Ring
The Square Ring Happy Burns 1953
There Was a Young Lady
There Was a Young Lady Joe 1953
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men Stutely 1952
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes Inspector Lestrade 1951
Hotel Sahara
Hotel Sahara Private Binns 1951
The Girl Who Couldn't Quite
The Girl Who Couldn't Quite Tim 1950
Trottie True
Trottie True Joe Jugg 1949
Diamond City
Diamond City Pinto 1949
Once a Jolly Swagman
Once a Jolly Swagman Lag Gibbon 1949
Trouble in the Air
Trouble in the Air 1948
The Weaker Sex
The Weaker Sex Soldier with Chicken 1948
My Brother's Keeper
My Brother's Keeper Syd Evans 1948
Daybreak
Daybreak Ron 1948
Easy Money
Easy Money Mr. Lee 1948
When The Bough Breaks
When The Bough Breaks Bill Collins 1947
Dancing with Crime
Dancing with Crime Dave Robinson 1947
School for Secrets
School for Secrets Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham) 1946
The Way to the Stars
The Way to the Stars Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke 1945
A City Reborn
A City Reborn 1945
Breathing Space
Breathing Space (uncredited) 1943
Tank Patrol
Tank Patrol Geordie 1941

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