Last of the Summer Wine actor Tom Owen dies aged 73

Rest in peace.

Last of the Summer Wine star Tom Owen has died aged 73. In a statement, the actor's family announced: “He passed away peacefully and is survived by his two children, James and William, and ex-wife, Mary.” Owen played the nomadic Tom Simmonite in the popular and long-running BBC sitcom for 10 years from 2000. His appearance on the show continued a family tradition after his father, Bill Owen, portrayed his on-screen dad, Compo Simmonite. The actor's other television credits included The Bill, The Onedin Line and Upstairs Downstairs. [caption id="attachment_366527" align="alignnone" width="864"] Star: Owen played the nomadic Tom Simmonite in the popular and long-running BBC sitcom for 10 years from 2000. Pictured with Peter Sallis and Frank Thornton[/caption]

Tom was cast to play the character of Compo’s long-lost son just days after the death of Bill Owen in July 1999.

"It was two or three days after Dad had died," he told Telegraph & Argus back in 2000.

"Obviously my mind was on other things, like organising the funeral, and it hadn't occurred to me at all that I would be approached to play Compo's long-lost son.

"I thought about it for two seconds before saying yes."