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.

Фільмографія

• 2005The Funny Blokes of British Comedy — Compo Simmonite (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1998What's a Carry On? — Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1993The Entertainer — Billy Rice
• Noel's House Party — Compo
• Performance — Billy Rice
• 1987Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day at Dream Acres — Compo
• 1986Last of the Summer Wine: Uncle of the Bride — Compo
• 1984Laughterhouse — Amos
• 1984Royal Variety Performance 1984 — Compo
• 1983Last of the Summer Wine: Getting Sam Home — Compo Simmonite
• 1982The Funny Side of Christmas — Compo
• The Kids International Show — Compo
• Blankety Blank
• Tales of the Unexpected — Meakins
• 1978Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982 — Compo
• 1978The Comeback — Mr. B
• 1977That's Carry On! — Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Angels
• 1975In Celebration — Mr. Shaw
• Away from It All — Robert
• Last of the Summer Wine — Compo (archive footage)
• 1973O Lucky Man! — Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding
• Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? — George Chambers
• Late Night Theatre — William
• Shirley's World
• Coppers End — Sgt. Sam Short
• Catweazle — Pickle
• 1970Unfair! — Worker
• ITV Saturday Night Theatre — Mr. Hanley
• 1969Mischief
• 1968Headline Hunters
• Treasure Island — Billy Bones
• Half Hour Story — R.J.Smellies
• ITV Playhouse — Mr Milner
• Man in a Suitcase
• 1966Georgy Girl — Ted
• 1966The Fighting Prince of Donegal — Officer Powell
• Thirty-Minute Theatre — Henry Jay
• 1964Kiss Me, Kate — Gangster
• 1964The Last Word on Julie — Ray
• 1964The Secret of Blood Island — George Bludgin
• 1963Carry On Cabby — "Smiley" Sims
• Taxi! — Fred Cuddell
• 1961Carry On Regardless — Mike Weston
• Drama 61-67 — Bailey
• 1961On the Fiddle — Cpl. Gittens
• 1961The Hellfire Club — Martin
• 1960The Shakedown — David Spettigue
• 1959Carry On Nurse — Percy "Perc" Hickson
• 1958Carry On Sergeant — Corporal Bill Copping
• 1958Carve Her Name with Pride — NCO Instructor
• 1958Davy — Eric
• Armchair Theatre — Ray
• 1956Not So Dusty
• The Buccaneers — Clip West
• 1955The Ship That Died of Shame — Birdie
• 1954The Rainbow Jacket — Sam
• 1953A Day to Remember — Shorty Sharpe
• 1953The Square Ring — Happy Burns
• 1953There Was a Young Lady — Joe
• 1952The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men — Stutely
• 1951Hotel Sahara — Private Binns
• Sherlock Holmes — Inspector Lestrade
• 1950The Girl Who Couldn't Quite — Tim
• 1949Diamond City — Pinto
• 1949Once a Jolly Swagman — Lag Gibbon
• 1949Trottie True — Joe Jugg
• 1948Daybreak — Ron
• 1948Easy Money — Mr. Lee
• 1948My Brother's Keeper — Syd Evans
• 1948The Weaker Sex — Soldier with Chicken
• 1948Trouble in the Air
• 1947Dancing with Crime — Dave Robinson
• 1947When The Bough Breaks — Bill Collins
• 1946School for Secrets — Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)
• 1945A City Reborn
• 1945The Way to the Stars — Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke
• 1943Breathing Space — (uncredited)
• 1941Tank Patrol — Geordie

Ток-шоу, премії та інші появи (5)

• 2022Last Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs — Self (archive)
• Smillie's People — Self
• The Val Doonican Music Show — Self
• Cilla — Self
• This Is Your Life — Self