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Acting
February 25, 1912
February 1, 1975
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.
Self (archive material)
1981
Emperor Nanki
1974
Carole's Father
1974
Sir Charles Furness
1973
Sir Hilary Stanton
1973
Presenter
1972
Simmonds
1972
Charles Brown
1972
1971
Mr. Lothran
1971
as Self (archive material)
as Emperor Nanki
as Carole's Father
as Sir Charles Furness
as Sir Hilary Stanton
as Presenter
as Simmonds
as Charles Brown
as Mr. Lothran
as Narrator
as Elroy
as TV Show Host
as Secretary at Sweet Factory (uncredited)
as Secretary at Sweet Factory (Uncredited)
as Perkins
as Fotheringay
as British Army Officer
as Mr. Wentworth
as Manton Bassett
as Wolf
as Lever, Music Publisher
as Flying Instructor
as Shipping Clerk
as Parkins
as Travel Agent
as Sir Charles Sims
as Narrator
as Cobley
as Sanders
as Oliver Garson
as British Paratrooper
as Ebblington
as Party Guest
as Nervous Man
as Macreedy
as Wagstaffe
as Woodcock, Entertainments Officer
as Clarke
as Hubert Fry
as The Judge
as Barclay
as Harding-Pratt
as Major Haven
as Prittlewell
as Dr. W. Chatterway
as Mr. Murfin
as Registrar of Shipping
as Manton Bassett
as Wilson
as Dr. Peter Fox
as Northbrook
as Bill Turner
as Doctor
as Worthington
as Purchase
as Lingerie Clerk
as Harold
as Anaesthetist
as Assistant Manager
as Shop Assistant
as Arthur Cabot
as Carruthers
as Hoskins
as Controller of Television Drama
as Bespectacled Man at Book Launch (uncredited)
as Hippodrome Stage Manager
as Richard Gordon
as Boone
as Edgar
as Solicitor
as Mr. Christopher
as Manton Bassett
as Albert Prosser
as Medical Book Salesman (uncredited)
as Marsh
as David Wallace
as School Master
as Detective Inspector MacLeod
as Theodore Feather
as Wilkinson
as Cabot
as Cricket Fan
as Pascal
as Barnes
as The vicar
as P.C. Freddie
as Editor
as Seton
as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
as Carter
as Casting Director
as Carruthers - Higher Executive
as Employment Agent
as Arnold Billings: Staff of Nutbourne
as Vicar (uncredited)
as Defence Counsel (uncredited)
as Minor Role (uncredited)
as Compere of Nick Nack Show
as Latin Speaker at Dinner (uncredited)