Bill Owen was the stage name of William John Owen Rowbotham, an English actor and songwriter who lived from 14 March 1914 to 12 July 1999. He was the father of the late actor, Tom Owen.
His most well-known role is as Compo Simmonite in the BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine, which was based in Yorkshire and ran for more than 25 years.
His final filming took place in April 2000, and he passed away on July 12th, 1999.
Cause of Death
In 2000, while filming the Last of the Summer Wine French special, Owen became ill but insisted on working through the pain.
When he returned to England, it was discovered that he had pancreatic and bowel cancer.
His death from pancreatic cancer occurred in Westminster, London, on July 12, 1999, which also happened to be the birthday of co-star Kathy Staff, who had played Nora Batty, his love interest in Last of the Summer Wine.
He had continued to work up until that point.
Owen was laid to rest in the churchyard of St. John’s Parish Church in Upperthong, Yorkshire, not far from his favorite town, Holmfirth, the setting for Last of the Summer Wine.
Following his passing at age 96 in June 2017, his co-star Peter Sallis was buried next to him.
