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Richard Wattis
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…
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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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2004
The Prince, The Showgirl and Me
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1981
Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
Movie Self (archive material)
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1974
Aladdin
Movie Emperor Nanki
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1974
Confessions of a Window Cleaner
Movie Mr. Prendergast
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1973
Take Me High
Movie Sir Charles Furness
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1973
Diamonds on Wheels
Movie Sir Hilary Stanton
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1973
Centre Play
TV show Arthur
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1972
Sex and the Other Woman
Movie Presenter
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1972
That's Your Funeral
Movie Simmonds
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1972
Sykes
TV show Charles Brown
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1971
Coppers End
TV show PC Eddie Edwards
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1971
Games That Lovers Play
Movie Mr. Lothran
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1971
Too Close for Comfort
Movie Narrator
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1970
The Ballad of Tam Lin
Movie Elroy
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1970
The Goodies
TV show TV Show Host
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1970
Egghead's Robot
Movie
More credits
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1969
Wonderwall
Movie Perkins
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1968
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Movie Secretary at Sweet Factory (uncredited)
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1967
The Prisoner
TV show Fotheringay
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1967
Misleading Cases
TV show Mr Grout
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1967
Casino Royale
Movie British Army Officer
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1967
The Troublesome Double
Movie Mr. Wentworth
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1966
The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery
Movie Manton Bassett
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1965
The Alphabet Murders
Movie Wolf
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1965
Up Jumped a Swagman
Movie Lever, Music Publisher
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1965
The Liquidator
Movie Flying Instructor
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1965
Bunny Lake Is Missing
Movie Clerk in Shipping Office
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1965
You Must Be Joking
Movie Parkins
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1965
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita
Movie Travel Agent
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1965
Operation Crossbow
Movie Sir Charles Sims
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1965
The Bargain
Movie Narrator
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1964
Carry On Spying
Movie Cobley
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1963
The V.I.P.s
Movie Sanders
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1963
Come Fly with Me
Movie Oliver Garson
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1962
Venus fra Vestø
Movie
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1962
The Longest Day
Movie British Paratrooper
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1962
I Thank a Fool
Movie Ebblington
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1962
Play It Cool
Movie Nervous Man
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1962
Bon Voyage!
Movie Party Guest
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1961
Dentist on the Job
Movie Macreedy
