Richard Wattis
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.
Known for
Acting111
movieEric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
1981
Self (archive material)
Aladdin
1974
Emperor Nanki
movieConfessions of a Window Cleaner
1974
Mr. Prendergast
movieTake Me High
1973
Sir Charles Furness
movieDiamonds on Wheels
1973
Sir Hilary Stanton
tvCentre Play
1973
Arthur
movieSex and the Other Woman
1972
Presenter
movieThat's Your Funeral
1972
Simmonds
tvSykes
1972
Charles Brown
Coppers End
1971
PC Eddie Edwards
movieGames That Lovers Play
1971
Mr. Lothran
movieToo Close for Comfort
1971
Narrator
tvThe Goodies
1970
TV Show Host
movieWonderwall
1969
Perkins
movieChitty Chitty Bang Bang
1968
Secretary at Sweet Factory (uncredited)
tvThe Prisoner
1967
Fotheringay
movieCasino Royale
1967
British Army Officer
movieThe Great St Trinian's Train Robbery
1966
Manton Bassett
movieUp Jumped a Swagman
1965
Lever, Music Publisher
movieThe Liquidator
1965
Flying Instructor
movieBunny Lake Is Missing
1965
Clerk in Shipping Office
movieYou Must Be Joking
1965
Parkins
movieThe Battle of the Villa Fiorita
1965
Travel Agent
movieOperation Crossbow
1965
Sir Charles Sims
The Bargain
1965
Narrator
movieCarry On Spying
1964
Cobley
movieThe V.I.P.s
1963
Sanders
movieCome Fly with Me
1963
Oliver Garson
movieThe Longest Day
1962
British Paratrooper
movieI Thank a Fool
1962
Ebblington
moviePlay It Cool
1962
Nervous Man
movieBon Voyage!
1962
Party Guest
movieDentist on the Job
1961
Macreedy
movieNearly a Nasty Accident
1961
Wagstaffe
movieVery Important Person
1961
Entertainments Officer Woodcock
tvThe Avengers
1961
Clarke
tvDanger Man
1960
Hardy
movieYour Money or Your Wife
1960
Hubert Fry
movieLibel
1959
The Judge
movieThe Ugly Duckling
1959
Barclay
movieLeft Right and Centre
1959
Harding-Pratt
movieTen Seconds to Hell
1959
Major Haven
movieThe Captain's Table
1959
Chief Purser Herbert Prittlewell
movieFollow a Star
1959
Dr. W. Chatterway
movieThe Inn of the Sixth Happiness
1958
Mr. Murfin
movieBarnacle Bill
1957
Registrar of Shipping
movieBlue Murder at St. Trinian's
1957
Manton Bassett
movieHigh Flight
1957
Wilson
movieThe Abominable Snowman
1957
Dr. Peter Fox
movieThe Prince and the Showgirl
1957
Northbrook
movieSecond Fiddle
1957
Bill Turner
movieThe Green Man
1956
Doctor
movieThe Silken Affair
1956
Worthington
movieA Touch of the Sun
1956
Purchase
movieThe Iron Petticoat
1956
Lingerie Clerk
movieEyewitness
1956
Anaesthetist
movieThe Man Who Knew Too Much
1956
Assistant Manager
movieThe Man Who Never Was
1956
Shop Assistant
tvColonel March of Scotland Yard
1956
Arthur Cabot
movieJumping for Joy
1956
Carruthers
movieSimon and Laura
1955
Controller of Television Drama
movieI Am a Camera
1955
Bespectacled Man at Book Launch (uncredited)
movieAs Long as They're Happy
1955
Hippodrome Stage Manager
movieThe Colditz Story
1955
Richard Gordon
movieLease of Life
1954
Solicitor
movieThe Crowded Day
1954
Mr. Christopher
movieThe Belles of St Trinian's
1954
Manton Bassett
movieHobson's Choice
1954
Albert Prosser
movieDoctor in the House
1954
Medical Book Salesman (uncredited)
movieBackground
1953
David Wallace
movieThe Intruder
1953
School Master
movieBlood Orange
1953
Detective Inspector MacLeod
moviePark Plaza 605
1953
Theodore Feather
movieInnocents in Paris
1953
Wilkinson
movieThe Final Test
1953
Cricket Fan
movieTop of the Form
1953
Willoughby-Gore
movieTop Secret
1952
Barnes
movieMade in Heaven
1952
The vicar
movieMother Riley Meets the Vampire
1952
P.C. Freddie
movieDerby Day
1952
Editor
moviePenny Princess
1952
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
movieLady Godiva Rides Again
1951
Casting Director
movieAppointment with Venus
1951
Carruthers - Higher Executive
movieThe Clouded Yellow
1950
Employment Agent
movieThe Happiest Days of Your Life
1950
Arnold Billings: Staff of Nutbourne
movieThe Chiltern Hundreds
1949
Vicar (uncredited)
movieHelter Skelter
1949
Compere of Nick Nack Show (uncredited)
movieKind Hearts and Coronets
1949
Defence Counsel (uncredited)
movieMarry Me
1949
Minor Role (uncredited)
movieA Yank at Oxford
1938
Latin Speaker at Dinner (uncredited)