Richard Wattis
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Avengers
Clarke
1961
Series
Danger Man
Hardy
1960
Series
The Goodies
TV Show Host
1970
Series
The Prisoner
Fotheringay
1967
Series
Sykes
Charles Brown
1972
Series
Centre Play
Arthur
1973
Series
Colonel March of Scotland Yard
Arthur Cabot
1956
Film
The Longest Day
British Paratrooper
1962
Film
Casino Royale
British Army Officer
1967
Series
Hancock's Half Hour
1956
The Dickie Henderson Show
1960
Film
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Assistant Manager
1956
Film
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Secretary at Sweet Factory (uncredited)
1968
Film
Operation Crossbow
Sir Charles Sims
1965
Series
Sykes and a...
1960
Film
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Defence Counsel (uncredited)
1949
Film
Bunny Lake Is Missing
Clerk in Shipping Office
1965
Film
Hobson's Choice
Albert Prosser
1954
Film
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
Mr. Murfin
1958
Film
The Man Who Never Was
Shop Assistant
1956
Film
The Prince and the Showgirl
Northbrook
1957
The Liberace Show
1952
Film
Confessions of a Window Cleaner
Mr. Prendergast
1974
Film
The Colditz Story
Richard Gordon
1955
Coppers End
PC Eddie Edwards
1971
Film
The Alphabet Murders
Wolf
1965
Film
The Abominable Snowman
Dr. Peter Fox
1957
Film
The V.I.P.s
Sanders
1963
Film
Ten Seconds to Hell
Major Haven
1959
Film
The Iron Petticoat
Lingerie Clerk
1956
Film
The Liquidator
Flying Instructor
1965
Film
A Yank at Oxford
Latin Speaker at Dinner (uncredited)
1938
Film
The Belles of St Trinian's
Manton Bassett
1954
Film
Barnacle Bill
Registrar of Shipping
1957
Film
Doctor in the House
Medical Book Salesman (uncredited)
1954
Film
Carry On Spying
Cobley
1964
Film
The Final Test
Cricket Fan
1953
Film
Second Fiddle
Bill Turner
1957
Film
Innocents in Paris
Wilkinson
1953
Film
The Importance of Being Earnest
Seton
1952
Film
The Green Man
Doctor
1956
Film
Top Secret
Barnes
1952
Film
Wonderwall
Perkins
1969
Film
Lady Godiva Rides Again
Casting Director
1951
Film
The Clouded Yellow
Employment Agent
1950
Film
Bon Voyage!
Party Guest
1962
Film
You Must Be Joking
Parkins
1965
Film
The Captain's Table
Chief Purser Herbert Prittlewell
1959
Film
Blood Orange
Detective Inspector MacLeod
1953
Film
Penny Princess
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
1952
Film
I Thank a Fool
Ebblington
1962
Film
The Crowded Day
Mr. Christopher
1954
Film
The Ballad of Tam Lin
Elroy
1970
Film
Park Plaza 605
Theodore Feather
1953
Film
Egghead's Robot
1970
Film
The Intruder
School Master
1953
The Prince, The Showgirl and Me
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery
Manton Bassett
1966
Film
Come Fly with Me
Oliver Garson
1963
Film
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita
Travel Agent
1965
Film
A Yank in Ermine
Boone
1955
Film
Simon and Laura
Controller of Television Drama
1955
Film
The Happiest Days of Your Life
Arnold Billings: Staff of Nutbourne
1950
Film
Helter Skelter
Compere of Nick Nack Show (uncredited)
1949
Film
An Alligator Named Daisy
Hoskins
1955
Film
The Silken Affair
Worthington
1956
Film
Marry Me
Minor Role (uncredited)
1949
Film
Up Jumped a Swagman
Lever, Music Publisher
1965
Film
Dentist on the Job
Macreedy
1961
Film
Appointment with Venus
Carruthers - Higher Executive
1951
Film
Very Important Person
Entertainments Officer Woodcock
1961
Film
Play It Cool
Nervous Man
1962
Film
As Long as They're Happy
Hippodrome Stage Manager
1955
Film
Libel
The Judge
1959
Film
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's
Manton Bassett
1957
Film
Left Right and Centre
Harding-Pratt
1959
Film
The Chiltern Hundreds
Vicar (uncredited)
1949
Film
I Am a Camera
Bespectacled Man at Book Launch (uncredited)
1955
Film
Sex and the Other Woman
Presenter
1972
Film
High Flight
Wilson
1957
Film
Follow a Star
Dr. W. Chatterway
1959
Film
Jumping for Joy
Carruthers
1956
Film
Bachelor in Paris
Carter
1952
Film
Diamonds on Wheels
Sir Hilary Stanton
1973
Film
It's a Wonderful World
Harold
1956
Film
That's Your Funeral
Simmonds
1972
Film
Lease of Life
Solicitor
1954
Film
A Touch of the Sun
Purchase
1956
Film
Appointment in London
Pascal
1953
Film
Colonel March Investigates
Cabot
1953
The Bargain
Narrator
1965
Film
Nearly a Nasty Accident
Wagstaffe
1961
Film
Derby Day
Editor
1952
Film
Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
Self (archive material)
1981
Film
Eyewitness
Anaesthetist
1956
Film
Top of the Form
Willoughby-Gore
1953
Aladdin
Emperor Nanki
1974
Film
Background
David Wallace
1953
Film
Hancock's Half Hour: Volume 1
Hotelier
1957
Film
Venus fra Vestø
1962
Film
Mother Riley Meets the Vampire
P.C. Freddie
1952
Film
The Ugly Duckling
Barclay
1959
Film
Made in Heaven
The vicar
1952
Film
Games That Lovers Play
Mr. Lothran
1971
Follow That Horse!
1960
Film
Your Money or Your Wife
Hubert Fry
1960
Film
Small Town Story
Marsh
1953
Film
Take Me High
Sir Charles Furness
1973
Film
The Time of His Life
Edgar
1955
Film
Too Close for Comfort
Narrator
1971
The Troublesome Double
Mr. Wentworth
1967