Deceased

How Did Bill Owen Die?

Life & Death

Died aged 85

Also known asБилл Оуэн, William John Owen RowbothamGenderMaleNationalityUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandBorn14/03/1914Born inActon, London, England, UKDied12/07/1999 (aged 85)Died inHighgateCausepancreatic cancerWikidataQ2903321 ↗Buried atChurch of St JohnTMDb#84405 ↗

William John Owen Rowbotham was an English actor and songwriter. He is best known for portraying Compo Simmonite in the Yorkshire-based BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine for over a quarter of a century. He died on 12 July 1999, his last appearance on-screen being shown in April 2000.

Read full Wikipedia article ↗

Filmography63 titles

Year	Title	Character	Age at release
2005	The Funny Blokes of British ComedyMovie	Compo Simmonite (archive footage) (uncredited)	91
2001	Great Comedy MomentsMovie	Compo (archive footage)	87
1998	What's a Carry On?Movie	Corporal Bill Copping / Perc Hickson / Mike Weston (archive footage) (uncredited)	84
1993	The EntertainerMovie	Billy Rice	79
1991	PerformanceSeries	Billy Rice	77
1991	Noel's House PartySeries	Compo	77
1987	Last of the Summer Wine: Big Day at Dream AcresMovie	Compo	73
1986	Last of the Summer Wine: Uncle of the BrideMovie	Compo	72
1984	Royal Variety Performance 1984Movie	Compo	70
1984	LaughterhouseMovie	Amos	70
1982	The Kids International ShowSeries	Compo	68
1979	Tales of the UnexpectedSeries	Meakins	65
1979	Blankety BlankSeries	—	65
1978	The ComebackMovie	Mr. B	64
1977	That's Carry On!Movie	Corporal Bill Copping (archive footage) (uncredited)	63
1975	AngelsSeries	—	61
1975	In CelebrationMovie	Mr. Shaw	61
1973	Last of the Summer WineSeries	Compo	59
1973	O Lucky Man!Movie	Supt. Barlow / Insp. Carding	59
1973	Away from It AllSeries	Robert	59
1972	Shirley's WorldSeries	—	58
1972	Late Night TheatreSeries	William	58
1971	Coppers EndSeries	Sgt. Sam Short	57
1969	ITV Saturday Night TheatreSeries	Mr. Hanley	55
1968	CillaSeries	Self	54
1968	Headline HuntersMovie	—	54
1968	Treasure IslandSeries	Billy Bones	54
1967	ITV PlayhouseSeries	Mr Milner	53
1967	Man in a SuitcaseSeries	—	53
1967	Half Hour StorySeries	R.J.Smellies	53
1966	Georgy GirlMovie	Ted	52
1964	Kiss Me, KateMovie	Gangster	50
1964	The Secret of Blood IslandMovie	George Bludgin	50
1963	Carry On CabbyMovie	"Smiley" Sims	49
1963	Taxi!Series	Fred Cuddell	49
1961	Drama 61-67Series	Bailey	47
1961	On the FiddleMovie	Cpl. Gittens	47
1961	The Hellfire ClubMovie	Martin	47
1960	The ShakedownMovie	David Spettigue	46
1959	Carry On NurseMovie	Percy "Perc" Hickson	45
1958	Carry On SergeantMovie	Corporal Bill Copping	44
1958	Carve Her Name with PrideMovie	NCO Instructor	44
1958	DavyMovie	Eric	44
1956	Armchair TheatreSeries	Ray	42
1956	The BuccaneersSeries	Clip West	42
1956	Not So DustyMovie	—	42
1955	This Is Your LifeSeries	Self	41
1955	The Ship That Died of ShameMovie	Birdie	41
1953	There Was a Young LadyMovie	Joe	39
1953	A Day to RememberMovie	Shorty Sharpe	39
1952	The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie MenMovie	Stutely	38
1951	Hotel SaharaMovie	Private Binns	37
1950	The Girl Who Couldn't QuiteMovie	Tim	36
1949	Trottie TrueMovie	Joe Jugg	35
1949	Once a Jolly SwagmanMovie	Lag Gibbon	35
1949	Diamond CityMovie	Pinto	35
1948	Easy MoneyMovie	Mr. Lee	34
1948	The Weaker SexMovie	Soldier with Chicken	34
1948	DaybreakMovie	Ron	34
1948	My Brother's KeeperMovie	Syd Evans	34
1947	Dancing with CrimeMovie	Dave Robinson	33
1946	School for SecretsMovie	Paratroop Sergeant (as Bill Rowbotham)	32
1945	The Way to the StarsMovie	Sgt. 'Nobby' Clarke	31