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William John Owen Rowbotham,, known professionally as Bill Owen, was an English actor and songwriter. He was the father of actor Tom Owen. He is best known for portraying Compo Simmonite in the Yorkshire-based BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine for 27 years. He died in July 1999, his last appearance on-screen being shown in April 2000.
Birth Name
William John Owen Rowbotham
Born
Saturday, 14 March 1914
Died
Monday, 12 July 1999
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Keeping Up Appearances: 30 Years of Laughs | Compo | 2023 |
| Coronation Street: Compilations | Charlie Dickinson | 2020 |
| What We Were Watching | Compo | 2018 |
| Screenwipe | Compo | 2006 |
| What's a Carry On? | Various Characters | 1998 |
| Light Lunch | Self | 1997 |
| Room 101 | William 'Compo' Simmonite | 1994 |
| Performance | Billy Rice | 1991 |
| The Handmaid's Tale | T.V. Announcer #2 | 1990 |
| Singleton's Pluck | Amos | 1985 |
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Keeping Up Appearances: 30 Years of Laughs | Compo | 2023 |
| Coronation Street: Compilations | Charlie Dickinson | 2020 |
| What We Were Watching | Compo | 2018 |
| Screenwipe | Compo | 2006 |
| What's a Carry On? | Various Characters | 1998 |
| Light Lunch | Self | 1997 |
| Room 101 | William 'Compo' Simmonite | 1994 |
| Performance | Billy Rice | 1991 |
| The Handmaid's Tale | T.V. Announcer #2 | 1990 |
| Singleton's Pluck | Amos | 1985 |
| Brideshead Revisited | Lunt | 1981 |
| Sally Ann | Brigadier Wells | 1979 |
| Tales of the Unexpected | Meakins | 1979 |
| Blankety Blank | Himself | 1978 |
| The Comeback | Mr. B / Mr B | 1978 |
| That's Carry On! | Various Characters | 1977 |
| The Smurfs and the Magic Flute | (voice) | 1976 |
| Angels | Harry Jamieson | 1975 |
| In Celebration | Mr. Shaw | 1975 |
| O Lucky Man! | Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding | 1973 |
| Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? | George Chambers | 1973 |
| Last of the Summer Wine | Compo / William 'Compo' Simmonite | 1973 |
| The Challengers | Sir Joseph / Sir Joseph Conran | 1972 |
| Kadoyng | Jack Flitton | 1972 |
| Shirley's World | Joe Burns | 1971 |
| Coppers End | Sgt. Sam Short | 1971 |
| Catweazle | Pickle | 1970 |
| Mischief | Quarryman | 1969 |
| ITV Saturday Night Theatre | Mr. Hanley | 1969 |
| Man in a Suitcase | Lord Gormond | 1967 |
| ITV Playhouse | Mr. Milner | 1967 |
| The Fighting Prince of Donegal | Officer Powell | 1966 |
| Georgy Girl | Ted | 1966 |
| Thirty-Minute Theatre | Henry Jay | 1965 |
| The Secret of Blood Island | Bludgin / George Bludgin | 1964 |
| The Masque of the Red Death | Male Dancer | 1964 |
| Kiss Me Kate | Gangster | 1964 |
| Love Story | Bill | 1963 |
| Carry on Cabby | Smiley Sims | 1963 |
| Comedy Playhouse | Compo | 1961 |
| Operation Snafu | Corporal Gittens / Cpl. Gittens | 1961 |
| Carry on Regardless | Mike Weston | 1961 |
| Drama 61-67 | Bailey | 1961 |
| The Hellfire Club | Martin | 1961 |
| Man from Interpol | Tim Stout | 1960 |
| The Shakedown | Spettigue / David Spettigue | 1960 |
| Probation Officer | Mr. Chapman | 1959 |
| Carry on Nurse | Percy 'Perc' Hickson | 1959 |
| Carry on Sergeant | Corporal Bill Copping | 1958 |
| Carve Her Name with Pride | N.C.O. Instructor / NCO Instructor | 1958 |
| Sword of Freedom | Otello | 1958 |
| Davy | Eric | 1958 |
| A Santa for Christmas | 1957 | |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | George Edwards | 1957 |
| Playhouse 90 | Peters | 1956 |
| The Buccaneers | Clip West | 1956 |
| Armchair Theatre | Ray | 1956 |
| ITV Play of the Week | Charlie Denchfield / Mr. Zero | 1955 |
| The Adventures of Robin Hood | Mark | 1955 |
| ITV Television Playhouse | Joe Harris / George Scott | 1955 |
| This Is Your Life | Self / Filmed Tribute | 1955 |
| PT Raiders | Birdie / Birdie Dick | 1955 |
| The Magical World of Disney | Officer Powell / Stutely | 1954 |
| The Rainbow Jacket | Sam | 1954 |
| A Day to Remember | Shorty Sharpe | 1953 |
| The Square Ring | Happy Burns | 1953 |
| Rheingold Theatre | Arthur Preece | 1953 |
| There Was a Young Lady | Joe | 1953 |
| The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men | Stutely | 1952 |
| Sherlock Holmes | Inspector Lestrade | 1951 |
| Hotel Sahara | Private Binns | 1951 |
| The Astonished Heart | Mr. Burton | 1950 |
| The Girl Who Couldn't Quite | Tim | 1950 |
| Diamond City | Pinto | 1949 |
| The Gay Lady | Joe Jugg | 1949 |
| Maniacs on Wheels | Lag Gibbon | 1949 |
| The Weaker Sex | Soldier / Soldier with Chicken | 1948 |
| My Brother's Keeper | Syd Evans | 1948 |
| Trouble in the Air | 1st Spiv | 1948 |
| Daybreak | Ron | 1948 |
| Easy Money | Lee (segment The Night Club Story) / Mr. Lee | 1948 |
| When the Bough Breaks | Bill Collins | 1947 |
| Holiday Camp | Camper | 1947 |
| Dancing with Crime | Dave Robinson | 1947 |
| Secret Flight | Paratroop Sergeant | 1946 |
| Johnny in the Clouds | 'Nobby' Clarke / Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke | 1945 |
| Not So Dusty | 1936 |
