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Bill Owen
Acting
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), Mania…
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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.
Biography expanded
BODY OF WORK
Bill Owen's Filmography
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Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs
as Self (archive)
No Poster
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
as Compo Simmonite (archive footage) (uncredited)
What's a Carry On?
as Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Entertainer
as Billy Rice
Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day at Dream Acres
as Compo
Last of the Summer Wine: Uncle of the Bride
as Compo
Royal Variety Performance 1984
as Compo
Laughterhouse
as Amos
Last of the Summer Wine: Getting Sam Home
as Compo Simmonite
The Funny Side of Christmas
as Compo
No Poster
Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982
as Compo
The Comeback
as Mr. B
That's Carry On!
as Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)
In Celebration
as Mr. Shaw
O Lucky Man!
as Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding
Kadoyng
as Jack Flitton
No Poster
Unfair!
as Worker
No Poster
Mischief
No Poster
Headline Hunters
The Fighting Prince of Donegal
as Officer Powell
Georgy Girl
as Ted
The Secret of Blood Island
as George Bludgin
Kiss Me, Kate
as Gangster
No Poster
The Last Word on Julie
as Ray
Carry On Cabby
as "Smiley" Sims
On the Fiddle
as Cpl. Gittens
Carry On Regardless
as Mike Weston
The Hellfire Club
as Martin
The Shakedown
as David Spettigue
Carry On Nurse
as Percy "Perc" Hickson
Carry On Sergeant
as Corporal Bill Copping
Carve Her Name with Pride
as NCO Instructor
Davy
as Eric
Not So Dusty
The Ship That Died of Shame
as Birdie
The Rainbow Jacket
as Sam
A Day to Remember
as Shorty Sharpe
The Square Ring
as Happy Burns
There Was a Young Lady
as Joe
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
as Stutely
Hotel Sahara
as Private Binns
The Girl Who Couldn't Quite
as Tim
Trottie True
as Joe Jugg
Diamond City
as Pinto
Once a Jolly Swagman
as Lag Gibbon
Trouble in the Air
The Weaker Sex
as Soldier with Chicken
My Brother's Keeper
as Syd Evans
Daybreak
as Ron
Easy Money
as Mr. Lee
No Poster
When The Bough Breaks
as Bill Collins
Dancing with Crime
as Dave Robinson
School for Secrets
as Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)
The Way to the Stars
as Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke
A City Reborn
Breathing Space
as (uncredited)
No Poster
Tank Patrol
as Geordie