Tom Owen (actor)
Thomas William Stevenson Rowbotham (born 8 April 1949), known professionally as Tom Owen, is a British actor best known for playing Tom Simmonite in the world's longest-running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. He is the son of Bill Owen (born William Rowbotham), who played William "Compo" Simmonite (the father of Tom Simmonite) in the show.
Tom Owen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 April 1949 Marylebone, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Moylan ( m. 1978) |
| Children | 2 |
Career
Theatre
Owen trained as a student assistant stage manager at Leatherhead Theatre in 1966. He has worked extensively in repertory both as an actor and director. In 1969 Owen played Farley, in 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' a role first played by John Mills in the original version. He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company playing on Broadway in their production of 'London Assurance'. His performance as Krapp in Fiona Baddeley's production of Beckett's masterpiece 'Krapp's Last Tape' was likened to those given by Michael Gambon, John Hurt and Harold Pinter. He has appeared in the West End in 'Lulu'. He also starred in over twenty pantomimes
Television
He made his television debut in 1968 playing Bill Cowan in Southern TV's groundbreaking series 'Freewheelers' of which he made fifty two episodes. Numerous television series followed including 'Tottering Towers', 'Wreckers at Deadeye', 'Horse in the House', 'The Piglet Files'. Later he has appeared in other television shows including 'The Hello Goodbye Man', 'Z Cars', 'Upstairs Downstairs', 'The Bill', 'Minder' and 'Our Mutual Friend'.
Owen's debut in "Last Of The Summer Wine" was in 1991 as a bank customer at a cash dispenser in the episode "Situations Vacant". Following the death of his father, Bill, who played Compo for twenty seven years, Tom joined Last of the Summer Wine as a regular and stayed with the show until it finished in 2010.
He starred with Kirk Douglas in the TV film 'Queenie', with Michael York in 'Great Expectations' and David Hemmings in 'Unman, Wittering & Zigo'.
Film
He had two films being released in 2018 - 'The Bromley Boys' and 'Guernsey'.
Personal life
He married Mary Bernadette Therese Moylan in 1978; they have two sons, James and William.[1][2]
Television roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2000-10 | Last of the Summer Wine | Tom Simmonite |
| 1998 | The Bill | Larcy |
| 1991 | The Piglet Files | Harold |
| 1989 | Minder | Keith |
| 1984 | The Hello Goodbye Man | Rod Stewart |
| 1979 | Horse in the House | Jim Tynan |
| 1978 | Hawkmoor | John Stedman |
| 1976 | Our Mutual Friend | Golly |
| 1974 | Hunter's Walk | Freddie |
| 1973 | Harlequinade | Johnny |
| 1973 | The Onedin Line | Tom |
| 1972 | Upstairs Downstairs | Stanley |
| 1971-72 | Tottering Towers | Dick |
| 1970 | Wreckers at Deadeye | Zac |
| 1968-70 | Freewheelers | Bill Cowan |
| Lytton's Diary | Mr. Potter |