Richard Wattis
Born
February 25, 1912
Died
February 1, 1975 (62 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England, UK
Richard Cameron Wattis (25 February 1912 – 1 February 1975) was an English actor.
After leaving the family business, Wattis became an actor. His debut was with Croydon Repertory Theatre, and he made many stage appearances in the West End in London. His first appearance in a film was A Yank at Oxford (1938), but war service interrupted his career as an actor. He served as a second lieutenant in the Small Arms Section of Special Operations Executive at Station VI during World War II (James Bond author, Ian Fleming worked in the same section). He is best known for his appearances, wearing his thick-rimmed round spectacles, in British comedies of the 1950s and 1960s, often as a "Man from the Ministry" or similar character. He was also involved as the secretary to Lord Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Such appearances included the St Trinian's films (The Belles of St Trinian's, Blue Murder at St Trinian's, and The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery) as Manton Bassett, a civil servant who was the Deputy Director of Schools in the Ministry of Education, where he was often seen frowning and expressing indignation at the outrageous behaviour of other characters. To American audiences, Wattis is probably best known for his performance as the British civil servant Northbrook in The Prince and the Showgirl (1957). He broke from this typecasting in his later films, such as his starring role in Games That Lovers Play.
Wattis's other films included Hobson's Choice, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Carry On Spying, The Colditz Story, Dentist on the Job, Very Important Person, The Happiest Days of Your Life, and The Longest Day. He also appeared on television, including a long-running role in Sykes, and appearances in Danger Man, The Prisoner, The Goodies, Hancock's Half Hour, and Father, Dear Father. From 1957 to 1958, he appeared as Peter Jamison in three episodes of the American sitcom Dick and the Duchess.
Known For
Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
Self (archive material)
1981
Aladdin
Emperor Nanki
1974
Confessions of a Window Cleaner
Carole's Father
1974
Take Me High
Sir Charles Furness
1973
Diamonds on Wheels
Sir Hilary Stanton
1973
Sex and the Other Woman
Presenter
1972
That's Your Funeral
Simmonds
1972
Sykes
Charles Brown · (39 episodes)
1972
Coppers End
(13 episodes)
1971
Games That Lovers Play
Mr. Lothran
1971
Too Close for Comfort
Narrator
1971
The Ballad of Tam Lin
Elroy
1970
The Goodies
(1 episode)
1970
The Goodies
TV Show Host · (1 episode)
1970
Egghead's Robot
1970
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Secretary at Sweet Factory (uncredited)
1968
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Secretary at Sweet Factory (Uncredited)
1968
Wonderwall
Perkins
1968
The Prisoner
Fotheringay · (1 episode)
1967
Casino Royale
British Army Officer
1967
The Troublesome Double
Mr. Wentworth
1967
The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery
Manton Bassett
1966
The Alphabet Murders
Wolf
1965
Up Jumped a Swagman
Lever, Music Publisher
1965
The Liquidator
Flying Instructor
1965
Bunny Lake Is Missing
Shipping Clerk
1965
You Must Be Joking
Parkins
1965
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita
Travel Agent
1965
Operation Crossbow
Sir Charles Sims
1965
The Bargain
Narrator
1965
Carry On Spying
Cobley
1964
The V.I.P.s
Sanders
1963
Come Fly with Me
Oliver Garson
1963
Venus fra Vestø
1962
The Longest Day
British Paratrooper
1962
I Thank a Fool
Ebblington
1962
Bon Voyage!
Party Guest
1962
Play It Cool
Nervous Man
1962
Dentist on the Job
Macreedy
1961
Nearly a Nasty Accident
Wagstaffe
1961
Very Important Person
Woodcock, Entertainments Officer
1961
The Avengers
Clarke · (1 episode)
1961
Follow That Horse!
1960
Your Money or Your Wife
Hubert Fry
1960
Sykes and a...
(67 episodes)
1960
Libel
The Judge
1959
The Ugly Duckling
Barclay
1959
Left Right and Centre
Harding-Pratt
1959
Ten Seconds to Hell
Major Haven
1959
The Captain's Table
Prittlewell
1959
Follow a Star
Dr. W. Chatterway
1959
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
Mr. Murfin
1958
Barnacle Bill
Registrar of Shipping
1957
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's
Manton Bassett
1957
High Flight
Wilson
1957
The Abominable Snowman
Dr. Peter Fox
1957
The Prince and the Showgirl
Northbrook
1957
Second Fiddle
Bill Turner
1957
The Green Man
Doctor
1956
The Silken Affair
Worthington
1956
A Touch of the Sun
Purchase
1956
The Iron Petticoat
Lingerie Clerk
1956
It's a Wonderful World
Harold
1956
Eyewitness
Anaesthetist
1956
Hancock's Half Hour
(2 episodes)
1956
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Assistant Manager
1956
The Man Who Never Was
Shop Assistant
1956
Colonel March of Scotland Yard
Arthur Cabot · (1 episode)
1956
Jumping for Joy
Carruthers
1956
An Alligator Named Daisy
Hoskins
1955
Simon and Laura
Controller of Television Drama
1955
I Am a Camera
Bespectacled Man at Book Launch (uncredited)
1955
As Long as They're Happy
Hippodrome Stage Manager
1955
The Colditz Story
Richard Gordon
1955
The Time of His Life
Edgar
1955
A Yank in Ermine
Boone
1955
Lease of Life
Solicitor
1954
The Crowded Day
Mr. Christopher
1954
The Belles of St. Trinian's
Manton Bassett
1954
Hobson's Choice
Albert Prosser
1954
Doctor in the House
Medical Book Salesman (uncredited)
1954
Small Town Story
Marsh
1953
Background
David Wallace
1953
The Intruder
School Master
1953
Blood Orange
Detective Inspector MacLeod
1953
Park Plaza 605
Theodore Feather
1953
Innocents in Paris
Wilkinson
1953
Colonel March Investigates
Cabot
1953
The Final Test
Cricket Fan
1953
Appointment in London
Pascal
1953
Top of the Form
1953
Top Secret
Barnes
1952
Made in Heaven
The vicar
1952
Mother Riley Meets the Vampire
P.C. Freddie
1952
Derby Day
Editor
1952
The Importance of Being Earnest
Seton
1952
The Liberace Show
(1 episode)
1952
Penny Princess
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
1952
Song of Paris
Carter
1952
Lady Godiva Rides Again
Casting Director
1951
Appointment with Venus
Carruthers - Higher Executive
1951
The Clouded Yellow
Employment Agent
1950
The Happiest Days of Your Life
Arnold Billings: Staff of Nutbourne
1950
The Chiltern Hundreds
Vicar (uncredited)
1949
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Defence Counsel (uncredited)
1949
Marry Me
Minor Role (uncredited)
1949
Helter Skelter
Compere of Nick Nack Show
1949
A Yank at Oxford
Latin Speaker at Dinner (uncredited)
1938