Bill Owen

Acting

Bill Owen

Born March 14, 1914 · Acton, London, England, UK

Died July 12, 1999 · aged 85

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 pro…

Known For

The Weaker SexThe Weaker Sex · 1948
The Weaker Sex
6.71948
MovieDrama
A British housewife does her own battles against the enemy during World War II.
Carry On NurseCarry On Nurse · 1959
Carry On Nurse
6.41959
MovieComedy
In Haven Hospital, a certain men's ward is causing more havoc than the whole hospital altogether. The formidable Matron's debut gives everyone a chill every time she walks past, with only Reckitt standing up to her. There's a colonel who's a constant nuisance, a bumbling nurse, a romance between Ted York and Nurse Denton, and Bell wants his bunion removed straight away, so after a couple of pints, the men decide to remove the bunion themselves!
O Lucky Man!O Lucky Man! · 1973
O Lucky Man!
6.81973
MovieComedyMusic
An ambitious coffee salesman has a series of improbable and ironic adventures seemingly designed to challenge his naive idealism.
The ComebackThe Comeback · 1978
The Comeback
5.81978
MovieHorrorMystery
A singer holes up at a sinister estate to write new songs for his act. His ex-wife is brutally murdered, and the killer may be stalking him next.
Carry On RegardlessCarry On Regardless · 1961
Carry On Regardless
6.21961
MovieComedy
After a bunch of no-hopers approaches an employment agency, the anarchy mounts as they do a series of odd jobs, including a chimp's tea party, trying to stay sober at a wine tasting… and demolishing a house.
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie MenThe Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men · 1952
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
6.21952
MovieAdventure
Young Robin Hood, in love with Maid Marian, enters an archery contest with his father at the King's palace. On the way home his father is murdered by henchmen of Prince John. Robin takes up the life of an outlaw, gathering together his band of merry men with him in Sherwood Forest, to avenge his father's death and to help the people of the land that Prince John are over taxing.
Breathing SpaceBreathing Space · 1943
Breathing Space
1943
MovieDocumentary
Documentary which shows some of the spare-time activities of service personnel and civilians during the war.
Carry On SergeantCarry On Sergeant · 1958
Carry On Sergeant
6.41958
MovieComedyWar
Sergeant Grimshawe wants to retire in the flush of success by winning the Star Squad prize with his very last platoon of newly called-up National Servicemen. But a motley bunch they turn out to be, and it's up to Grimshawe to put the no-hopers through their paces.

Filmography

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Noel's House PartyNoel's House Party · 1991
Noel's House Party
7.41991
Series
Noel's House Party is a BBC television light entertainment show hosted by Noel Edmonds that was broadcast live on Saturday evenings throughout the 1990s. It was set in a large house in the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom, leading to much innuendo. The show was broadcast during the autumn-spring season. It was the successor show to Noel's Saturday Roadshow, and carried over some of its regular features such as the Gunge Tank, the Gotcha Oscar and Wait 'Till I Get You Home. In 2010, Noel's House Party was voted the best Saturday night TV show of all time. The show had many regular guests posing as fictional villagers, including Frank Thornton and Vicki Michelle. The show gave birth to Mr. Blobby in the Gotcha segment. The character became well known, ruining the premise of the segment, but Blobby still made appearances. There was also a contrived rivalry between Noel and Tony Blackburn. In addition, many episodes featured one-off guest stars, including Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer, who came in to find the whole audience dressed as Frank after Fantastic Stuart Henderson from Troon had performed as Frank singing The Beatles song "I Saw Her Standing There", and Ken Dodd in a highwayman's outfit - 'Going cheap at the Maxwell sale' - as Noel's long lost 'twin', Berasent.

Compo

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? · 1973
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
7.71973
SeriesComedy
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? is a British sitcom which was broadcast between 9 January 1973 and 9 April 1974 on BBC1. It was the colour sequel to the mid-1960s hit The Likely Lads. It was created and written, as was its predecessor, by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. There were 26 television episodes over two series; and a subsequent 45-minute Christmas special was aired on 24 December 1974. The cast were reunited in 1975 for a BBC radio adaptation of series 1, transmitted on Radio 4 from July to October that year. In 1976, a feature film spin-off was made. Around the time of its release, however, Rodney Bewes and James Bolam fell out over a misunderstanding involving the press and have not spoken since. This long-suspected situation was finally confirmed by Bewes while promoting his autobiography in 2005. Unlike Bewes, Bolam is consistently reluctant to talk about the show, and has vetoed any attempt to revive his character.

George Chambers