Biography
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.
Acted in 101
1970s
- 1974
- 1973
Take Me High
Sir Charles Furness
Diamonds on Wheels
Sir Hilary Stanton
- 1972
Sex and the Other Woman
Presenter
That's Your Funeral
Simmonds
- 1971
Games That Lovers Play
Mr. Lothran
- 1970
The Ballad of Tam Lin
Elroy
Egghead's Robot
Movie
1960s
- 1969
- 1968
- 1967
- 1966
The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery
Manton Bassett
- 1965
The Alphabet Murders
Wolf
Up Jumped a Swagman
Lever, Music Publisher
The Liquidator
Flying Instructor
Bunny Lake Is Missing
Clerk in Shipping Office
You Must Be Joking
Parkins
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita
Travel Agent
- 1964
Carry On Spying
Cobley
- 1963
The V.I.P.s
Sanders
Come Fly with Me
Oliver Garson
- 1962
Venus fra Vestø
Movie
I Thank a Fool
Ebblington
Play It Cool
Nervous Man
Bon Voyage!
Party Guest
- 1961
Dentist on the Job
Macreedy
Nearly a Nasty Accident
Wagstaffe
Very Important Person
Entertainments Officer Woodcock
- 1960
Your Money or Your Wife
Hubert Fry
Sykes and a...
TV
1950s
- 1959
Libel
The Judge
The Ugly Duckling
Barclay
Left Right and Centre
Harding-Pratt
The Captain's Table
Chief Purser Herbert Prittlewell
Follow a Star
Dr. W. Chatterway
- 1958
- 1957
Barnacle Bill
Registrar of Shipping
Hancock's Half Hour: Volume 1
Hotelier
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's
Manton Bassett
High Flight
Wilson
The Prince and the Showgirl
Northbrook
Second Fiddle
Bill Turner
- 1956
The Green Man
Doctor
The Silken Affair
Worthington
A Touch of the Sun
Purchase
The Iron Petticoat
Lingerie Clerk
It's a Wonderful World
Harold
Eyewitness
Anaesthetist
Jumping for Joy
Carruthers
- 1955
An Alligator Named Daisy
Hoskins
Simon and Laura
Controller of Television Drama
I Am a Camera
Bespectacled Man at Book Launch (uncredited)
As Long As They're Happy
Hippodrome Stage Manager
The Colditz Story
Richard Gordon
The Time of His Life
Edgar
- 1954
Lease of Life
Solicitor
The Crowded Day
Mr. Christopher
The Belles of St Trinian's
Manton Bassett
Doctor in the House
Medical Book Salesman (uncredited)
- 1953
Small Town Story
Marsh
Background
David Wallace
The Intruder
School Master
Blood Orange
Detective Inspector MacLeod
Park Plaza 605
Theodore Feather
Innocents in Paris
Wilkinson
Colonel March Investigates
Cabot
The Final Test
Cricket Fan
Appointment in London
Pascal
Top of the Form
Willoughby-Gore
- 1952
Top Secret
Barnes
Made in Heaven
The vicar
Mother Riley Meets the Vampire
P.C. Freddie
Derby Day
Editor
Penny Princess
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Song of Paris
Carter
- 1951
Lady Godiva Rides Again
Casting Director
Appointment with Venus
Carruthers - Higher Executive
- 1950
The Clouded Yellow
Employment Agent
The Happiest Days of Your Life
Arnold Billings: Staff of Nutbourne
1940s
- 1949
The Chiltern Hundreds
Vicar (uncredited)
Helter Skelter
Compere of Nick Nack Show (uncredited)
Marry Me
Minor Role (uncredited)
Appearances3
2000s
- 2004
The Prince, The Showgirl and Me
Self (archive footage)
1980s
- 1981
Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
Self (archive material)
1970s
- 1971
Too Close for Comfort
Narrator