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 Butlins 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 BBCs 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.

Filmy nedostupný z Bill Owen

Carry On Nurse

Percy 'Perc' Hickson

Film 1959

Carry On Sergeant

Corporal Bill Copping

Film 1958

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

Stutely

Film 1952

The Secret of Blood Island

George Bludgin

Film 1964

Carve Her Name with Pride

NCO Instructor

Film 1958

Hotel Sahara

Private Binns

Film 1951

Daybreak

Ron

Film 1948

The Shakedown

David Spettigue

Film 1960

The Rainbow Jacket

Sam

Film 1954

My Brother's Keeper

Syd Evans

Film 1948

Dancing with Crime

Dave Robinson

Film 1947

The Square Ring

Happy Burns

Film 1953

The Ship That Died of Shame

Birdie

Film 1955

The Hellfire Club

Martin

Film 1961

Laughterhouse

Amos

Film 1984

Easy Money

Mr. Lee

Film 1948

Once a Jolly Swagman

Lag Gibbon

Film 1949

Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs

Self (archive)

Film 2022

The Comeback

Mr. B

Film 1978

In Celebration

Mr. Shaw

Film 1975

On the Fiddle

Cpl. Gittens

Film 1961

Davy

Eric

Film 1958

When The Bough Breaks

Bill Collins

Film 1947

Getting Sam Home

Compo

Film 1983

Unfair!

Worker

Film 1970

Not So Dusty

Film 1956

Trottie True

Joe Jugg

Film 1949

A City Reborn

Film 1945

The Girl Who Couldn't Quite

Tim

Film 1950

There Was a Young Lady

Joe

Film 1953

Headline Hunters

Film 1968

Mischief

Film 1969

Trouble in the Air

Film 1948

Tank Patrol

Geordie

Film 1941

The Weaker Sex

Soldier with Chicken

Film 1948

Kiss Me, Kate

Gangster

Film 1964

The Entertainer

Billy Rice

Film 1993

Breathing Space

(uncredited)

Film 1943

The Fighting Prince of Donegal

Officer Powell

Film 1966

televizní seriál nedostupný z Bill Owen

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

George Chambers

Tv 1973

Tales of the Unexpected

Meakins

Tv 1979

Last of the Summer Wine

Compo (archive footage)

Tv 1973

The Buccaneers

Clip West

Tv 1956

Catweazle

Pickle

Tv 1970

Shirley's World

Tv 1972

Angels

Tv 1975

Man in a Suitcase

Tv 1967

Coppers End

Tv 1971

Blankety Blank

Tv 1979

Cilla

Self

Tv 1968

Sherlock Holmes

Inspector Lestrade

Tv 1951

Noel's House Party

Compo

Tv 1991

Last of the Summer Wine

Himself (archive footage)

Tv 1973

Last of the Summer Wine

Compo

Tv 1973