Bill Owen

Bill Owen

Acting 1914-03-14 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.

代表作

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全部作品

1998 Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited)
1996 Self
1993 Billy Rice
1991 Billy Rice
1991 Compo
1984 Amos
1983 Compo Simmonite
展开全部作品
1979 Meakins
1978 Mr. B
1977 Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)
1975 Mr. Shaw
1975
1973 Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding
1973 George Chambers
1973 Compo (archive footage)
1973 Compo
1971 Sgt. Sam Short
1970 Worker
1970 Pickle
1969
1968 Self
1966 Ted
1966 Officer Powell
1964 George Bludgin
1964 Gangster
1963 "Smiley" Sims
1963 Fred Cuddel
1963 Fred Cuddell
1961 Mike Weston
1961 Martin
1961 Cpl. Gittens
1961 Bailey
1960 David Spettigue
1959 Percy "Perc" Hickson
1958 Corporal Bill Copping
1958 NCO Instructor
1958 Eric
1956 Clip West
1955 Birdie
1955 Self
1954 Sam
1953 Happy Burns
1953 Shorty Sharpe
1951 Private Binns
1951 Inspector Lestrade
1949 Pinto
1949 Lag Gibbon
1949 Joe Jugg
1948 Ron
1948 Syd Evans
1948 Mr. Lee
1948 Soldier with Chicken
1947 Dave Robinson
1947 Bill Collins
1946 Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)
1945 Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke
1943 (uncredited)
1941 Geordie