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Bill Owen

Bill Owen

Actor · 1914 – 1999 · 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.

Series23

  • TV6.7

    Tales of the Unexpected

    1979 · 54 votes

  • TV7.2

    Last of the Summer Wine

    1973 · 41 votes

  • TV7.0

    ITV Playhouse

    1967 · 3 votes

  • TV6.3

    Performance

    1991 · 2 votes

  • TV4.3

    Thirty-Minute Theatre

    1965 · 8 votes

  • TV6.7

    This Is Your Life

    1955 · 9 votes

  • TV7.0
  • TV4.5

    Angels

    1975 · 4 votes

  • TV5.3

    Blankety Blank

    1979 · 8 votes

  • TV7.4

    Noel's House Party

    1991 · 7 votes

  • TV8.0

    Cilla

    1968 · 3 votes

  • TV7.2

    Man in a Suitcase

    1967 · 10 votes

  • TV
  • TV6.4

    The Buccaneers

    1956 · 5 votes

  • TV7.7
  • TV7.5

    Catweazle

    1970 · 21 votes

  • TV6.0

    Shirley's World

    1972 · 4 votes

  • TV7.5

    Half Hour Story

    1967 · 2 votes

  • TV8.0

    Treasure Island

    1968 · 1 votes

  • TV
  • TV6.0

    Armchair Theatre

    1956 · 6 votes

  • TV
  • TV

Movies22

  • Movie6.4

    Carry On Nurse

    1959 · 66 votes

  • Movie6.2
  • Movie5.8

    That's Carry On!

    1977 · 25 votes

  • Movie5.8

    The Comeback

    1978 · 39 votes

  • Movie6.8

    O Lucky Man!

    1973 · 120 votes

  • Movie7.0

    The Entertainer

    1993 · 1 votes

  • Movie8.0
  • Movie6.5
  • Movie6.2

    Georgy Girl

    1966 · 53 votes

  • Movie5.6
  • Movie6.4

    Carry On Sergeant

    1958 · 76 votes

  • Movie6.2

    Carry On Regardless

    1961 · 57 votes

  • Movie5.4

    The Hellfire Club

    1961 · 7 votes

  • Movie5.7

    On the Fiddle

    1961 · 7 votes

  • Movie6.0
  • Movie7.7

    What's a Carry On?

    1998 · 6 votes

  • Movie7.2

    School for Secrets

    1946 · 5 votes

  • Movie
  • Movie9.0

    Mischief

    1969 · 1 votes

  • Movie6.0

    The Shakedown

    1960 · 7 votes

  • Movie5.2

    In Celebration

    1975 · 11 votes

  • Movie7.3