Bill Owen
Biography
Bill Owen was an English actor and songwriter, born in London, who became best known for playing Compo Simmonite in the BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine, a role he held for more than 25 years. His first screen role came in the 1941 short Tank Patrol, and he made his first film appearance in 1945; he was a regular in early Carry On films including Carry On Sergeant (1958), Carry On Nurse (1959), Carry On Regardless (1961) and Carry On Cabby (1963). He appeared in Lindsay Anderson's O Lucky Man! (1973) and In Celebration (1974). During the 1960s he had a second career as a songwriter, writing the hit Marianne for Cliff Richard and collaborating on the musical The Matchgirls. On stage he performed with Sadler's Wells Opera in The Mikado and co-starred with Spike Milligan in Son of Oblomov.
85years old at death
- Born London
- Died Highgate
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- William John Owen Rowbotham (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 12
- Career span
- 33 years1945 to 1978
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A change of course
Owen built a successful second career as a songwriter in the 1960s. His work included the hit "Marianne", which Cliff Richard recorded, and he worked with Tony Russell on The Matchgirls, a musical about the London matchgirls strike of 1888.
Bill Owen movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Gerald Thomas directed four of these films. Four actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Charles Hawtrey's page
Kenneth Connor's page
Cyril Chamberlain's page
Hattie Jacques's page
Kenneth Williams's page
Terence Longdon's page
Gerald ThomasDirector, 4 films, 1958 to 1963
All films by Gerald Thomas
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Member of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.