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Bill Owen

Born 14/03/1914 in Acton, London, England, UK

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: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0654089

Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2903321

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Filmography (Movies)

Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs

Character:Self (archive)

Release Date:05/03/2022

What's a Carry On?

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

Release Date:29/12/1998

The Entertainer

Character:Billy Rice

Release Date:04/12/1993

Royal Variety Performance 1984

Character:Compo

Release Date:25/11/1984

Laughterhouse

Character:Amos

Release Date:01/09/1984

Getting Sam Home

Character:Compo Simmonite

Release Date:27/12/1983

The Funny Side of Christmas

Character:Compo

Release Date:27/12/1982

Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982

Character:Compo

Release Date:26/12/1978

The Comeback

Character:Mr. B

Release Date:16/06/1978

That's Carry On!

Character:Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)

Release Date:10/11/1977

In Celebration

Character:Mr. Shaw

Release Date:17/03/1975

O Lucky Man!

Character:Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding

Release Date:25/03/1973

Unfair!

Character:Worker

Release Date:15/11/1970

Mischief

Character:

Release Date:01/12/1969

Headline Hunters

Character:

Release Date:01/09/1968

The Fighting Prince of Donegal

Character:Officer Powell

Release Date:01/10/1966

Georgy Girl

Character:Ted

Release Date:04/08/1966

The Secret of Blood Island

Character:George Bludgin

Release Date:01/12/1964

Kiss Me, Kate

Character:Gangster

Release Date:20/04/1964

The Last Word on Julie

Character:Ray

Release Date:26/01/1964

Carry On Cabby

Character:"Smiley" Sims

Release Date:01/06/1963

On the Fiddle

Character:Cpl. Gittens

Release Date:10/10/1961

Carry On Regardless

Character:Mike Weston

Release Date:04/04/1961

The Hellfire Club

Character:Martin

Release Date:03/02/1961

The Shakedown

Character:David Spettigue

Release Date:01/01/1960

Carry On Nurse

Character:Percy "Perc" Hickson

Release Date:30/01/1959

Carry On Sergeant

Character:Corporal Bill Copping

Release Date:31/08/1958

Carve Her Name with Pride

Character:NCO Instructor

Release Date:18/02/1958

Davy

Character:Eric

Release Date:02/01/1958

Not So Dusty

Character:

Release Date:16/02/1956

The Ship That Died of Shame

Character:Birdie

Release Date:19/04/1955

The Rainbow Jacket

Character:Sam

Release Date:27/05/1954

A Day to Remember

Character:Shorty Sharpe

Release Date:10/11/1953

The Square Ring

Character:Happy Burns

Release Date:13/07/1953

There Was a Young Lady

Character:Joe

Release Date:01/01/1953

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

Character:Stutely

Release Date:26/05/1952

Hotel Sahara

Character:Private Binns

Release Date:09/07/1951

The Girl Who Couldn't Quite

Character:Tim

Release Date:31/01/1950

Trottie True

Character:Joe Jugg

Release Date:29/09/1949

Diamond City

Character:Pinto

Release Date:20/09/1949

Once a Jolly Swagman

Character:Lag Gibbon

Release Date:02/02/1949

Trouble in the Air

Character:

Release Date:01/11/1948

The Weaker Sex

Character:Soldier with Chicken

Release Date:11/10/1948

My Brother's Keeper

Character:Syd Evans

Release Date:19/08/1948

Daybreak

Character:Ron

Release Date:18/05/1948

Easy Money

Character:Mr. Lee

Release Date:20/01/1948

When The Bough Breaks

Character:Bill Collins

Release Date:19/11/1947

Dancing with Crime

Character:Dave Robinson

Release Date:25/06/1947

School for Secrets

Character:Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)

Release Date:23/12/1946

The Way to the Stars

Character:Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke

Release Date:16/06/1945

A City Reborn

Character:

Release Date:01/01/1945

Breathing Space

Character:(uncredited)

Release Date:30/09/1943

Tank Patrol

Character:Geordie

Release Date:16/06/1941

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External links

Filmography (Movies)

Television Appearances

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