Tom Owen Parents: Meet Bill Owen, Edith Stevenson

Thomas William Stevenson Rowbotham, known professionally as Tom Owen, was a British actor famous for playing Tom Simmonite in the sitcom Last of the Summer Wine.

Tom was born on 8 April 1949 in Marylebone, London to parents Bill Owen and Edith Stevenson. Tom died on Nov. 8, 2022 of natural causes.

There is not much information on Tom’s mother.

However, his father, Bill Owen, also an actor, played William “Compo” Simmonite (the father of Tom Simmonite) in the show.

Tom’s father made his film debut in 1945, but did not achieve lasting fame until 1973, when he took the co-starring role of William “Compo” Simmonite in the long-running British sitcom Last of the Summer Wine.

Tom’s father was also a singer and songwriter and had a relatively successful career at it, with compositions including the hit “Marianne”, recorded by Cliff Richard.

Bill also collaborated with songwriter Tony Russell on the musical The Matchgirls about the London matchgirls strike of 1888.

Bill, a staunch socialist and supporter of the Labour Party, was a founding member of the Keep Sunday Special campaign group, and president of Arts for Labour, a campaign group of performers linked to the Labour Party.

Bill was born on 14 March 1914 and passed away on 12 July 1999.