RW
Richard Wattis
Actor
Born February 25, 1912Died February 1, 1975 (62 years)
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 1974 | Confessions of a Window Cleaner · as Carole's Father |
| 1973 | Take Me High · as Sir Charles Furness |
| 1973 | Diamonds on Wheels · as Sir Hilary Stanton |
| 1972 | Sex and the Other Woman · as Presenter |
| 1972 | That's Your Funeral · as Simmonds |
| 1972 | Sykes (TV Series) · as Charles Brown |
| 1971 | Lady Chatterly Versus Fanny Hill · as Mr. Lothran |
| 1970 | Tam Lin · as Elroy |
| 1970 | The Goodies (TV Series) · as Tv Show Host |
| 1970 | |
| 1969 | Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies · as Golf Club Secretary |
| 1968 | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang · as Secretary At Sweet Factory (uncredited) |
| 1968 | Father, Dear Father (TV Series) · as Domestic Agency Manager |
| 1968 | Wonderwall · as Perkins |
| 1967 | The Prisoner (1967) (TV Series) · as Fotheringay |
| 1967 | Casino Royale · as British Army Officer |
| 1967 | CBS Children's Film Festival (TV Series) · as Mr. Robert Wentworth |
| 1966 | The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery · as Manton Bassett |
| 1965 | The Alphabet Murders · as Wolf |
| 1965 | Up Jumped a Swagman · as Lever, Music Publisher |
| 1965 | Jackanory (TV Series) · as Storyteller |
| 1965 | Bunny Lake Is Missing · as Shipping Clerk |
| 1965 | The Liquidator · as Flying Instructor |
| 1965 | The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders · as Jeweller |
| 1965 | The Battle of the Villa Fiorita · as Travel Agent |
| 1965 | You Must Be Joking! · as Parkins |
| 1965 | Operation Crossbow · as Sir Charles Sims |
| 1964 | Carry on Spying · as Cobley |
| 1963 | The V.I.P.s · as Sanders |
| 1963 | Come Fly with Me · as Oliver Garson |
| 1962 | |
| 1962 | The Longest Day · as British Paratrooper |
| 1962 | I Thank a Fool · as Ebblington |
| 1962 | Play It Cool · as Nervous Man |
| 1962 | Bon Voyage! · as Party Guest |
| 1961 | Nearly a Nasty Accident · as Wagstaffe |
| 1961 | A Coming-Out Party · as Woodcock, Entertainments Officer |
| 1961 | Dentist on the Job · as Macreedy |
| 1961 | The Avengers (TV Series) · as Clarke |
| 1960 | Danger Man (TV Series) · as Hardy |
| 1960 | |
| 1960 | Your Money or Your Wife · as Hubert Fry |
| 1959 | Follow a Star · as Dr. W. Chatterway |
| 1959 | Libel · as The Judge |
| 1959 | The Ugly Duckling · as Barclay |
| 1959 | Left Right and Centre · as Harding-Pratt |
| 1959 | Ten Seconds to Hell · as Major Haven |
| 1959 | The Captain's Table · as Prittlewell |
| 1958 | The Inn of the Sixth Happiness · as Mr. Murfin |
| 1957 | High Flight · as Wilson |
| 1957 | All at Sea · as Registrar Of Shipping |
| 1957 | Blue Murder at St. Trinian's · as Manton Bassett |
| 1957 | The Abominable Snowman · as Dr. Peter Fox |
| 1957 | The Little Hut · as Official |
| 1957 | The Prince and the Showgirl · as Northbrook |
| 1957 | Second Fiddle · as Bill Turner |
| 1956 | The Green Man · as Doctor |
| 1956 | The Iron Petticoat · as Lingerie Clerk |
| 1956 | It's a Wonderful World · as Harold |
| 1956 | Around the World in 80 Days · as Inspector Hunter |
| 1956 | The Silken Affair · as Worthington |
| 1956 | A Touch of the Sun · as Purchase |
| 1956 | Eyewitness · as Anaesthetist |
| 1956 | Hancock's Half Hour (TV Series) |
| 1956 | The Man Who Knew Too Much · as Assistant Manager |
| 1956 | The Man Who Never Was · as Shop Assistant |
| 1956 | Jumping for Joy · as Carruthers |
| 1955 | An Alligator Named Daisy · as Hoskins |
| 1955 | Simon and Laura · as Controller Of Television Drama |
| 1955 | ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) · as Archdeacon Smelton |
| 1955 | Escapade · as Peace Committee Member |
| 1955 | I Am a Camera · as Bespectacled Man At Book Launch (uncredited) |
| 1955 | As Long as They're Happy · as Hippodrome Stage Manager |
| 1955 | The Colditz Story · as Richard Gordon |
| 1955 | The Time of His Life · as Edgar |
| 1955 | A Yank in Ermine · as Boone |
| 1954 | Colonel March of Scotland Yard (TV Series) · as Arthur Cabot |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Sir Hilary Stanton |
| 1954 | Lease of Life · as Solicitor |
| 1954 | The Belles of St. Trinian's · as Manton Bassett |
| 1954 | Shop Spoiled · as Mr. Christopher |
| 1954 | Doctor in the House · as Medical Book Salesman |
| 1954 | Hobson's Choice · as Albert Prosser |
| 1953 | Small Town Story · as Marsh |
| 1953 | Innocents in Paris · as Wilkinson |
| 1953 | Edge of Divorce · as David Wallace |
| 1953 | The Intruder · as School Master |
| 1953 | Three Stops to Murder · as Detective Inspector Macleod |
| 1953 | Make Room for Daddy (TV Series) · as Sir Daniel |
| 1953 | Norman Conquest · as Theodore Feather |
| 1953 | Colonel March Investigates · as Cabot |
| 1953 | The Final Test · as Cricket Fan |
| 1953 | Raiders in the Sky · as Pascal |
| 1953 | |
| 1952 | Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow · as Barnes |
| 1952 | Made in Heaven · as The Vicar |
| 1952 | Penny Princess · as Hotel Desk Clerk |
| 1952 | Derby Day · as Editor |
| 1952 | The Importance of Being Earnest · as Seton |
| 1952 | Vampire Over London · as P.c. Freddie |
| 1952 | The Liberace Show (TV Series) |
| 1952 | Stolen Face · as Mr. Wentworth, Store Manager |
| 1952 | Mr. Lord Says No · as M.p. |
| 1952 | Bachelor in Paris · as Carter |
| 1951 | Island Rescue · as Carruthers - Higher Executive |
| 1951 | Bikini Baby · as Casting Director |
| 1951 | The Lavender Hill Mob · as Opposition Mp |
| 1951 | Flesh and Blood · as Bespectacled Man On Phone And Lab Technician |
| 1950 | The Clouded Yellow · as Employment Agent |
| 1950 | The Happiest Days of Your Life · as Arnold Billings: Staff Of Nutbourne |
| 1950 | Eye Witness · as Minor Role |
| 1950 | Sunday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Mr. Hayter |
| 1949 | The Amazing Mr. Beecham · as Vicar (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Helter Skelter · as Compere Of Nick Nack Show |
| 1949 | Kind Hearts and Coronets · as Defence Counsel (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Marry Me · as Minor Role (uncredited) |
| 1938 | A Yank at Oxford · as Latin Speaker At Dinner (uncredited) |