archytele The Vault

Richard Wattis

Acting Born Feb 25, 1912 Died Feb 1, 1975 Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England, UK 111 credits

Biography

Richard Wattis was an English actor born on February 25, 1912, in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England, UK. He made his stage debut at the Croydon Repertory Theatre and went on to appear in many West End productions in London. Wattis's film debut was in A Yank at Oxford in 1938. His acting career was interrupted by war service, during which he served as a second lieutenant in the Small Arms Section of Special Operations Executive. Wattis is best known for his appearances in British comedies of the 1950s and 1960s, often playing a character known as the "Man from the Ministry." He died on February 1, 1975, at the age of 62.

Sources & verification Richard Wattis — The Movie Database (TMDB) Richard Wattis - Wikipedia Richard Wattis | ČSFD.cz Richard Wattis - filmserver.cz How Archytele verifies pages
Advertisement
Career

Career overview

Richard Wattis began his acting career after leaving his family business. He made his stage debut at the Croydon Repertory Theatre and went on to appear in numerous productions in the West End in London. His first film appearance was in A Yank at Oxford in 1938.

Wattis's career as an actor was interrupted by war service. He served as a second lieutenant in the Small Arms Section of Special Operations Executive at Station VI during World War II. Following the war, Wattis resumed his acting career, becoming known for his appearances in British comedies of the 1950s and 1960s. He often played a character type, frequently wearing his distinctive thick-rimmed round spectacles.

Wattis's acting credits include appearances in many popular British comedies of the 1950s and 1960s. He co-starred in a number of these productions, although specific titles are not mentioned in the available sources. Wattis's acting career spanned several decades, with a total of 111 known credits.

Ask the Vault

Ask anything about Richard Wattis.

Known for

Film

Confessions of a Window Cleaner

as Mr. Prendergast

Centre Play

as Arthur
Film

Trinity Is Still My Name

as Charles Brown

The Goodies

as TV Show Host
Film

Wonderwall

as Perkins
Film

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

as Secretary at Sweet Factory (uncredited)

The Prisoner

as Fotheringay
Film

Casino Royale

as British Army Officer

The Lieutenant

as Manton Bassett
Film

Bunny Lake Is Missing

as Clerk in Shipping Office
Film

Operation Crossbow

as Sir Charles Sims
Film

The Alphabet Murders

as Wolf

Frequent co-stars

Lionel Murton 3 shared titles
John Mills 3 shared titles
George Cole 3 shared titles
Eric Sykes 2 shared titles
Deryck Guyler 2 shared titles
Hattie Jacques 2 shared titles
Joan Sims 2 shared titles
Sam Kydd 2 shared titles
Joan Young 2 shared titles
Rita Webb 2 shared titles

Career timeline

The Prince, The Showgirl and Me
Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
Confessions of a Window CleanerAladdin
Centre PlayDiamonds on WheelsTake Me High
SykesThat's Your FuneralSex and the Other Woman
Coppers EndGames That Lovers PlayToo Close for Comfort
The GoodiesThe Ballad of Tam LinEgghead's Robot
Wonderwall
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
The PrisonerCasino RoyaleThe Troublesome Double
The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery
Bunny Lake Is MissingOperation CrossbowThe LiquidatorThe Alphabet MurdersThe Bargain
Carry On Spying
The V.I.P.sCome Fly with Me
The Longest DayBon Voyage!I Thank a FoolPlay It CoolVenus fra Vestø
The AvengersVery Important PersonDentist on the JobNearly a Nasty Accident
Danger ManThe Dickie Henderson ShowSykes and a...Your Money or Your WifeFollow That Horse!
Ten Seconds to HellLeft Right and CentreLibelThe Captain's TableFollow a Star
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
Second FiddleThe Prince and the ShowgirlThe Abominable SnowmanBarnacle BillBlue Murder at St. Trinian's
Hancock's Half HourColonel March of Scotland YardThe Man Who Knew Too MuchThe Man Who Never WasIt's a Wonderful World
The Colditz StoryI Am a CameraThe Time of His LifeSimon and LauraAn Alligator Named Daisy
Hobson's ChoiceDoctor in the HouseThe Belles of St Trinian'sThe Crowded DayLease of Life
Innocents in ParisAppointment in LondonTop of the FormThe IntruderThe Final Test
The Liberace ShowThe Importance of Being EarnestPenny PrincessTop SecretMade in Heaven
Lady Godiva Rides AgainAppointment with Venus
The Happiest Days of Your LifeThe Clouded Yellow
Kind Hearts and CoronetsHelter SkelterMarry MeThe Chiltern Hundreds
A Yank at Oxford

Full filmography

  • The Prince, The Showgirl and Me (2004) as Self (archive footage)
  • Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers (1981) as Self (archive material)
  • Confessions of a Window Cleaner (1974) as Mr. Prendergast
  • Aladdin (1974) as Emperor Nanki
  • Centre Play (1973) as Arthur
  • Diamonds on Wheels (1973) as Sir Hilary Stanton
  • Take Me High (1973) as Sir Charles Furness
  • Sykes (1972) as Charles Brown
  • That's Your Funeral (1972) as Simmonds
  • Sex and the Other Woman (1972) as Presenter
  • Coppers End (1971) as PC Eddie Edwards
  • Games That Lovers Play (1971) as Mr. Lothran
  • Too Close for Comfort (1971) as Narrator
  • The Goodies (1970) as TV Show Host
  • The Ballad of Tam Lin (1970) as Elroy
  • Egghead's Robot (1970)
  • Wonderwall (1969) as Perkins
  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) as Secretary at Sweet Factory (uncredited)
  • The Prisoner (1967) as Fotheringay
  • Casino Royale (1967) as British Army Officer
  • The Troublesome Double (1967) as Mr. Wentworth
  • The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) as Manton Bassett
  • Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) as Clerk in Shipping Office
  • Operation Crossbow (1965) as Sir Charles Sims
  • The Liquidator (1965) as Flying Instructor
  • The Alphabet Murders (1965) as Wolf
  • The Bargain (1965) as Narrator
  • The Battle of the Villa Fiorita (1965) as Travel Agent
  • Up Jumped a Swagman (1965) as Lever, Music Publisher
  • You Must Be Joking (1965) as Parkins
  • Carry On Spying (1964) as Cobley
  • The V.I.P.s (1963) as Sanders
  • Come Fly with Me (1963) as Oliver Garson
  • The Longest Day (1962) as British Paratrooper
  • Bon Voyage! (1962) as Party Guest
  • I Thank a Fool (1962) as Ebblington
  • Play It Cool (1962) as Nervous Man
  • Venus fra Vestø (1962)
  • The Avengers (1961) as Clarke
  • Very Important Person (1961) as Entertainments Officer Woodcock
  • Dentist on the Job (1961) as Macreedy
  • Nearly a Nasty Accident (1961) as Wagstaffe
  • Danger Man (1960) as Hardy
  • The Dickie Henderson Show (1960)
  • Sykes and a... (1960)
  • Your Money or Your Wife (1960) as Hubert Fry
  • Follow That Horse! (1960)
  • Ten Seconds to Hell (1959) as Major Haven
  • Left Right and Centre (1959) as Harding-Pratt
  • Libel (1959) as The Judge
  • The Captain's Table (1959) as Chief Purser Herbert Prittlewell
  • Follow a Star (1959) as Dr. W. Chatterway
  • The Ugly Duckling (1959) as Barclay
  • The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) as Mr. Murfin
  • Second Fiddle (1957) as Bill Turner
  • The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) as Northbrook
  • The Abominable Snowman (1957) as Dr. Peter Fox
  • Barnacle Bill (1957) as Registrar of Shipping
  • Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957) as Manton Bassett
  • Hancock's Half Hour: Volume 1 (1957) as Hotelier
  • High Flight (1957) as Wilson
  • Hancock's Half Hour (1956)
  • Colonel March of Scotland Yard (1956) as Arthur Cabot
  • The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) as Assistant Manager
  • The Man Who Never Was (1956) as Shop Assistant
  • It's a Wonderful World (1956) as Harold
  • The Silken Affair (1956) as Worthington
  • The Iron Petticoat (1956) as Lingerie Clerk
  • The Green Man (1956) as Doctor
  • A Touch of the Sun (1956) as Purchase
  • Jumping for Joy (1956) as Carruthers
  • Eyewitness (1956) as Anaesthetist
  • The Colditz Story (1955) as Richard Gordon
  • I Am a Camera (1955) as Bespectacled Man at Book Launch (uncredited)
  • The Time of His Life (1955) as Edgar
  • Simon and Laura (1955) as Controller of Television Drama
  • An Alligator Named Daisy (1955) as Hoskins
  • A Yank in Ermine (1955) as Boone
  • As Long as They're Happy (1955) as Hippodrome Stage Manager
  • Hobson's Choice (1954) as Albert Prosser
  • Doctor in the House (1954) as Medical Book Salesman (uncredited)
  • The Belles of St Trinian's (1954) as Manton Bassett
  • The Crowded Day (1954) as Mr. Christopher
  • Lease of Life (1954) as Solicitor
  • Innocents in Paris (1953) as Wilkinson
  • Appointment in London (1953) as Pascal
  • Top of the Form (1953) as Willoughby-Gore
  • The Intruder (1953) as School Master
  • The Final Test (1953) as Cricket Fan
  • Blood Orange (1953) as Detective Inspector MacLeod
  • Background (1953) as David Wallace
  • Park Plaza 605 (1953) as Theodore Feather
  • Colonel March Investigates (1953) as Cabot
  • Small Town Story (1953) as Marsh
  • The Liberace Show (1952)
  • The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) as Seton
  • Penny Princess (1952) as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
  • Top Secret (1952) as Barnes
  • Made in Heaven (1952) as The vicar
  • Mother Riley Meets the Vampire (1952) as P.C. Freddie
  • Bachelor in Paris (1952) as Carter
  • Derby Day (1952) as Editor
  • Lady Godiva Rides Again (1951) as Casting Director
  • Appointment with Venus (1951) as Carruthers - Higher Executive
  • The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) as Arnold Billings: Staff of Nutbourne
  • The Clouded Yellow (1950) as Employment Agent
  • Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) as Defence Counsel (uncredited)
  • Helter Skelter (1949) as Compere of Nick Nack Show (uncredited)
  • Marry Me (1949) as Minor Role (uncredited)
  • The Chiltern Hundreds (1949) as Vicar (uncredited)
  • A Yank at Oxford (1938) as Latin Speaker at Dinner (uncredited)