- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- March 14, 1914
- Place of Birth
- Acton, London, England, UK
- Died
- July 12, 1999
Bill Owen
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, a…
Filmography
movieLast Of The Summer Wine: 30 Years Of Laughs
2022 · Self (archive)
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
movieThe Funny Blokes of British Comedy
2005 · Compo Simmonite (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieWhat's a Carry On?
1998 · Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited)
Smillie's People
tvSmillie's People
1996 · Self
movieThe Entertainer
1993 · Billy Rice
tvNoel's House Party
1991 · Compo
tvPerformance
1991 · Billy Rice
movieRoyal Variety Performance 1984
1984 · Compo
movieLaughterhouse
1984 · Amos
movieGetting Sam Home
1983 · Compo Simmonite
movieThe Funny Side of Christmas
1982 · Compo
The Kids International Show
tvThe Kids International Show
1982 · Compo
tvTales of the Unexpected
1979 · Meakins
tvBlankety Blank
1979
Last of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982
movieLast of the Summer Wine Christmas Specials 1978-1982
1978 · Compo
movieThe Comeback
1978 · Mr. B
movieThat's Carry On!
1977 · Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Val Doonican Music Show
tvThe Val Doonican Music Show
1977 · Self
tvAngels
1975
movieIn Celebration
1975 · Mr. Shaw
Away from It All
tvAway from It All
1973 · Robert
movieO Lucky Man!
1973 · Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding
tvWhatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
1973 · George Chambers
tvLast of the Summer Wine
1973 · Compo (archive footage)
Late Night Theatre
tvLate Night Theatre
1972 · William
tvShirley's World
1972
Coppers End
tvCoppers End
1971 · Sgt. Sam Short
Unfair!
movieUnfair!
1970 · Worker
tvCatweazle
1970 · Pickle
Mischief
movieMischief
1969
tvITV Saturday Night Theatre
1969 · Mr. Hanley
Treasure Island
tvTreasure Island
1968 · Billy Bones
Headline Hunters
movieHeadline Hunters
1968
tvCilla
1968 · Self
tvMan in a Suitcase
1967
tvITV Playhouse
1967 · Mr Milner
tvHalf Hour Story
1967 · R.J.Smellies
movieThe Fighting Prince of Donegal
1966 · Officer Powell
movieGeorgy Girl
1966 · Ted
tvThirty-Minute Theatre
1965 · Henry Jay
movieThe Secret of Blood Island
1964 · George Bludgin
movieKiss Me, Kate
1964 · Gangster
The Last Word on Julie
movieThe Last Word on Julie
1964 · Ray
Taxi!
tvTaxi!
1963 · Fred Cuddel
Taxi!
tvTaxi!
1963 · Fred Cuddell
movieCarry On Cabby
1963 · "Smiley" Sims
movieOn the Fiddle
1961 · Cpl. Gittens
movieCarry On Regardless
1961 · Mike Weston
Drama 61-67
tvDrama 61-67
1961 · Bailey
movieThe Hellfire Club
1961 · Martin
movieThe Shakedown
1960 · David Spettigue
movieCarry On Nurse
1959 · Percy "Perc" Hickson
movieCarry On Sergeant
1958 · Corporal Bill Copping
movieCarve Her Name with Pride
1958 · NCO Instructor
movieDavy
1958 · Eric
tvThe Buccaneers
1956 · Clip West
tvArmchair Theatre
1956 · Ray
movieNot So Dusty
1956
tvThis Is Your Life
1955 · Self
movieThe Ship That Died of Shame
1955 · Birdie
movieThe Rainbow Jacket
1954 · Sam
movieA Day to Remember
1953 · Shorty Sharpe
movieThe Square Ring
1953 · Happy Burns
movieThere Was a Young Lady
1953 · Joe
movieThe Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
1952 · Stutely
Sherlock Holmes
tvSherlock Holmes
1951 · Inspector Lestrade
movieHotel Sahara
1951 · Private Binns
movieThe Girl Who Couldn't Quite
1950 · Tim
movieTrottie True
1949 · Joe Jugg
movieDiamond City
1949 · Pinto
movieOnce a Jolly Swagman
1949 · Lag Gibbon
movieTrouble in the Air
1948
movieThe Weaker Sex
1948 · Soldier with Chicken
movieMy Brother's Keeper
1948 · Syd Evans
movieDaybreak
1948 · Ron
movieEasy Money
1948 · Mr. Lee
When The Bough Breaks
movieWhen The Bough Breaks
1947 · Bill Collins
movieDancing with Crime
1947 · Dave Robinson
movieSchool for Secrets
1946 · Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)
movieThe Way to the Stars
1945 · Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke
movieA City Reborn
1945
movieBreathing Space
1943 · (uncredited)
Tank Patrol
movieTank Patrol
1941 · Geordie