Richard Wattis
Known For: Acting
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: February 25, 1912
Day of Death: February 1, 1975 (63 years old)
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.
1981
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1968
1967
1966
1965
Actor Sir Charles Sims
Operation Crossbow
Actor Narrator
The Bargain
Actor Travel Agent
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita
Actor Parkins
You Must Be Joking
Actor Shipping Clerk
Bunny Lake Is Missing
Actor Lever, Music Publisher
Up Jumped a Swagman
Actor Flying Instructor
The Liquidator
Actor Wolf
The Alphabet Murders
1964
1963
1962
1961
1960
1959
1958
1957
1956
Actor Assistant Manager
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Actor Lingerie Clerk
The Iron Petticoat
Actor Purchase
A Touch of the Sun
Actor Doctor
The Green Man
Actor Harold
It's a Wonderful World
Actor Anaesthetist
Eyewitness
Actor Worthington
The Silken Affair
Actor Carruthers
Jumping for Joy
Actor Shop Assistant
The Man Who Never Was
1955
Actor Hoskins
An Alligator Named Daisy
Actor Edgar
The Time of His Life
Actor Hippodrome Stage Manager
As Long as They're Happy
Actor Richard Gordon
The Colditz Story
Actor Controller of Television Drama
Simon and Laura
Actor Boone
A Yank in Ermine
Actor Bespectacled Man at Book Launch (uncredited)
I Am a Camera
1954
1953
Actor Cabot
Colonel March Investigates
Actor Wilkinson
Innocents in Paris
Actor Marsh
Small Town Story
Actor
Top of the Form
Actor Detective Inspector MacLeod
Blood Orange
Actor David Wallace
Background
Actor Pascal
Appointment in London
Actor School Master
The Intruder
Actor Cricket Fan
The Final Test
Actor Theodore Feather
Park Plaza 605
