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Bill Owen (I) (1914–1999)

Actor | Soundtrack | Writer

This Britisher was born of humble, working class beginnings and became well-known for playing the same kind of blokes on both film and TV. Born William Rowbotham, he was the son of a tram driver and laundress. He knew early on that entertaining was the life for him. He worked in odd jobs as a printer's apprentice and band vocalist to make do and... See full bio »

Born:

William John Owen Rowbotham
in Acton, Middlesex, England, UK

Died:

(age 85) in Highgate, London, England, UK
Michael Bates, Bill Owen and Peter Sallis in Last of the Summer Wine
1 photo | 1 video | 6 news articles »

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Related News

'Last of the Summer Wine' tops UK TV show repeats
6 April 2013 8:00 PM, PDT | Digital Spy - TV news
Digital Fury: DVD Essentials for February and March
18 March 2013 4:49 PM, PDT | Planet Fury
Last of the Summer Wine finally runs dry after 37 years and 31 series
2 June 2010 11:23 AM, PDT | The Guardian - TV News
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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (89 titles)
1973-2000 Last of the Summer Wine (TV series)
Compo / Compo Simmonite / William 'Compo' Simmonite
– Magic and the Morris Minor (2000) … Compo
– Under the Rug (2000) … Compo
– Lipstick and Other Problems (2000) … William 'Compo' Simmonite
– Last Post and Pigeon (2000) … William 'Compo' Simmonite
– Ironing Day (1999) … Compo
See all 185 episodes »
 
1993 Performance (TV series)
Billy Rice
– The Entertainer (1993) … Billy Rice
 
1990 The Handmaid's Tale
T.V. Announcer #2
 
1985 Singleton's Pluck
Amos
 
1982 Tales of the Unexpected (TV series)
Meakins
– The Moles (1982) … Meakins
 
1981 Brideshead Revisited (TV mini-series)
Lunt
– Et in Arcadia Ego (1981) … Lunt
 
1979 Sally Ann (TV series)
Brigadier. Wells
– Put Out to Grass (1979) … Brigadier. Wells
 
1978 The Comeback
Mr. B
 
1976 The Smurfs and the Magic Flute
(1976 UK version) (voice: English version)
 
1975 Angels (TV series)
Harry Jamieson
– Confrontation (1975) … Harry Jamieson
– On the Mat (1975) … Harry Jamieson
 
1975 In Celebration
Mr. Shaw
 
1973-1974 Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (TV series)
George Chambers
– Affairs and Relations (1974) … George Chambers
– Absent Friends (1974) … George Chambers
– End of an Era (1973) … George Chambers
– Count Down (1973) … George Chambers
 
1973 Away from It All (TV series)
Robert
– This Quiet Half Hour (1973) … Robert
 
1973 O Lucky Man!
Supt. Barlow/Insp. Carding
 
1973 Comedy Playhouse (TV series)
Compo
– Of Funerals and Fish (1973) … Compo
 
1972 Late Night Theatre (TV series)
William
– Time Passing (1972) … William
 
1972 ITV Playhouse (TV series)
Mr. Milner
– Seventeen Percent Said Push Off (1972) … Mr. Milner
 
1972 The Challengers (TV series)
Sir Joseph / Sir Joseph Conran
– What About England? (1972) … Sir Joseph
– History Does Not Pay the Rent … Sir Joseph Conran
– Who's Been Eating My Porridge? … Sir Joseph
 
1972 Kadoyng
Jack Flitton
 
1971 Shirley's World (TV series)
Joe Burns
– The Colonel (1971) … Joe Burns
 
1971 Coronation Street (TV series)
Charlie Dickinson
– Episode #1.1086 (1971) … Charlie Dickinson
 
1971 Coppers End (TV series)
Sgt. Sam Short
 
1971 Catweazle (TV series)
Pickle
– Duck Halt (1971) … Pickle
 
1970 Unfair! (short)
Worker
 
1969 Mischief
Quarryman
 
1969 ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV series)
Mr. Hanley
– An Hour of Love: The Bind (1969) … Mr. Hanley
 
1969 Scene (TV series)
– Terry (1969)
 
1968 Headline Hunters
Henry
 
1967 Man in a Suitcase (TV series)
Lord Gormond
– The Bridge (1967) … Lord Gormond
 
1967 Half Hour Story (TV series)
R.J.Smellies
– Bug (1967) … R.J.Smellies
 
1967 Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV series)
Henry Jay
– R.S.V.P. (1967) … Henry Jay
 
1966 The Fighting Prince of Donegal
Officer Powell
 
1966 Georgy Girl
Ted
 
1964 The Secret of Blood Island
Bludgin
 
1964 The Masque of the Red Death
Male Dancer (uncredited)
 
1964 Kiss Me Kate (TV movie)
Gangster
 
1964 Love Story (TV series)
Bill
– Three Piece Suite (1964) … Bill
 
1964 Armchair Theatre (TV series)
Ray
– The Last Word on Julie (1964) … Ray
 
1964 House of Glass (TV movie)
Private Wilky
 
1963 Taxi! (TV series)
Fred Cuddell
– The Villain (1963) … Fred Cuddell
 
1963 Carry on Cabby
Smiley Sims
 
1962 ITV Play of the Week (TV series)
Charlie Denchfield
– Birds in the Wilderness (1962) … Charlie Denchfield
 
1961 The Dickie Henderson Show (TV series)
– The Race Horse (1961)
 
1961 Operation Snafu
Cpl. Gittens
 
1961 Carry on Regardless
Mike Weston
 
1961 The Hellfire Club
Martin
 
1957-1961 ITV Television Playhouse (TV series)
George Scott / Joe Harris
– Hi Diddle Diddle (1961) … George Scott
– Saloon Bar (1957) … Joe Harris
 
1960 Man from Interpol (TV series)
Tim Stout
– The Odds on Murder (1960) … Tim Stout
 
1960 The Shakedown
David Spettigue
 
1959 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Peters
– Dark as the Night (1959) … Peters
 
1959 Carry on Nurse
Percy 'Perc' Hickson
 
1959 Dial 999 (TV series)
Freddie Haldane
– A Mined Area (1959) … Freddie Haldane
 
1958 Carry on Sergeant
Corporal Bill Copping
 
1958 Carve Her Name with Pride
N.C.O. Instructor
 
1958 Davy
Eric
 
1957 A Santa for Christmas (TV movie)
 
1957 Sword of Freedom (TV series)
Otello
– The Assassin (1957) … Otello
 
1956 The Buccaneers (TV series)
Clip West
– Marooned (1956) … Clip West
 
1956 The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV series)
Mark
– The Hero (1956) … Mark
 
1956 Not So Dusty
Dusty Grey
 
1955 Rum Punch (TV movie)
 
1955 PT Raiders
Birdie
 
1954 The Rainbow Jacket
Sam
 
1954 Thought to Kill
Arthur
 
1953 A Day to Remember
Shorty Sharpe
 
1953 The Square Ring
Happy Burns
 
1953 Rheingold Theatre (TV series)
Arthur Preece
– The Parlour Trick (1953) … Arthur Preece
 
1953 There Was a Young Lady
Joe
 
1952 The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
Stutely
 
1952 Stop the Merry-Go-Round
Alfred Stokes
 
1951 Sherlock Holmes (TV mini-series)
Inspector Lestrade
– The Second Stain (1951) … Inspector Lestrade
– The Red Headed League (1951) … Inspector Lestrade
– The Dying Detective (1951) … Inspector Lestrade
– The Empty House (1951) … Inspector Lestrade
 
1951 Hotel Sahara
Private Binns
 
1950 The Astonished Heart
Mr. Burton (uncredited)
 
1950 The Girl Who Couldn't Quite
Tim
 
1949 Diamond City
Pinto
 
1949 The Gay Lady
Joe Jugg
 
1949 Maniacs on Wheels
Lag Gibbon
 
1948 The Weaker Sex
Soldier with Chicken
 
1948 My Brother's Keeper
Syd Evans
 
1948 Trouble in the Air
1st Spiv (guest artiste)
 
1948 Daybreak
Ron
 
1948 Easy Money
Mr. Lee
 
1947 When the Bough Breaks
Bill Collins
 
1947 Holiday Camp
Bit Role (uncredited)
 
1947 Dancing with Crime
Dave Robinson (as Bill Rowbotham)
 
1946 Secret Flight
Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)
 
1945 Vacation from Marriage (uncredited)
 
1945 Johnny in the Clouds
'Nobby' Clarke (as Bill Rowbotham)
 
1941 Tank Patrol (short)
Geordie
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (2 titles)
1992 Last of the Summer Wine (TV series)
– Ordeal by Trousers (1992) (performer: "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter")
 
1956 Not So Dusty (writer: "Lobelia")
 
Show ShowWriter (2 titles)
1974 Romance with a Double Bass (short) (based on a screenplay by)
 
1955 Rum Punch (TV movie) (writer)
 
Show ShowMusic Department (1 title)
1996 Last of the Summer Wine (TV series) (composer: songs - 1 episode)
– Extra! Extra! (1996) (composer: songs)
 
Show ShowSelf (8 titles)
1998 Light Lunch (TV series)
Himself
– Let's Get Nissed as a Pewt (1998) … Himself
 
1997 25 Years of 'Last of the Summer Wine' (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1989 A Night of Comic Relief 2 (TV special)
Himself
 
1985 You and Me (TV series)
Himself - Presenter
 
1981 This Is Your Life (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Bill Owen (1981) … Himself
 
1964 Juke Box Jury (TV series)
Himself - Judge
– Episode dated 27 June 1964 (1964) … Himself - Judge
 
1964 Don't Say a Word (TV series)
Himself - Guest
– Episode #2.1 (1964) … Himself - Guest
 
1958 Spectacular (TV series)
Himself
– Tony Bennett Show (1958) … Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (9 titles)
2008 Last of the Summer Wine (TV series)
 
2003 30 Years of 'Last of the Summer Wine' (TV documentary)
Himself/Compo (as Bill Owen M.B.E.)
 
2001 The Greatest (TV series documentary)
 
1998 What's a Carry On? (TV documentary)
Various Characters (uncredited)
 
1998 Kenneth Williams: A Life on the Box (TV documentary)
 
1997 Room 101 (TV series)
 
1993 Laugh with the Carry Ons
 
1979 That's Carry On
Various Characters
 
1955-1967 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series)
 

Related Videos

The Fighting Prince of Donegal -- Clip: The Escape - 1:46
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1956) He acted in Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill and Marc Blitzstein's musical, "The ThreePenny Opera", at the Royal Court Theatre in London, England. Sam Wanamaker was the director. Berthold Goldschmidt was the musical director. See more »

Alternate Names:

Bill Owen M.B.E. | Bill Rowbotham

Height:

5' 4" (1.63 m)
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

Although a Londoner, his last wish was to be buried in Holmfirth, Yorkshire - filming location for the long-running sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine, in which he played "Compo". See more »

Star Sign:

Pisces