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.

Filmes indisponível de Bill Owen

Carry On Nurse

Percy 'Perc' Hickson

Filme 1959

Carry On Sergeant

Corporal Bill Copping

Filme 1958

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

Stutely

Filme 1952

The Secret of Blood Island

George Bludgin

Filme 1964

Carve Her Name with Pride

NCO Instructor

Filme 1958

Hotel Sahara

Private Binns

Filme 1951

Daybreak

Ron

Filme 1948

The Shakedown

David Spettigue

Filme 1960

The Rainbow Jacket

Sam

Filme 1954

My Brother's Keeper

Syd Evans

Filme 1948

Dancing with Crime

Dave Robinson

Filme 1947

The Square Ring

Happy Burns

Filme 1953

The Ship That Died of Shame

Birdie

Filme 1955

The Hellfire Club

Martin

Filme 1961

Laughterhouse

Amos

Filme 1984

Easy Money

Mr. Lee

Filme 1948

Once a Jolly Swagman

Lag Gibbon

Filme 1949

Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs

Self (archive)

Filme 2022

The Comeback

Mr. B

Filme 1978

In Celebration

Mr. Shaw

Filme 1975

On the Fiddle

Cpl. Gittens

Filme 1961

Davy

Eric

Filme 1958

When The Bough Breaks

Bill Collins

Filme 1947

Getting Sam Home

Compo

Filme 1983

Unfair!

Worker

Filme 1970

Not So Dusty

Filme 1956

Trottie True

Joe Jugg

Filme 1949

A City Reborn

Filme 1945

The Girl Who Couldn't Quite

Tim

Filme 1950

There Was a Young Lady

Joe

Filme 1953

Headline Hunters

Filme 1968

Mischief

Filme 1969

Trouble in the Air

Filme 1948

Tank Patrol

Geordie

Filme 1941

The Weaker Sex

Soldier with Chicken

Filme 1948

Kiss Me, Kate

Gangster

Filme 1964

The Entertainer

Billy Rice

Filme 1993

Breathing Space

(uncredited)

Filme 1943

The Fighting Prince of Donegal

Officer Powell

Filme 1966

Série de TV indisponível de 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