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Richard Wattis | |
|---|---|
 Wattis circa 1955 | |
| Born | Richard Cameron Wattis (1912-02-25)25 February 1912 Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England |
| Died | 1 February 1975(1975-02-01) (aged 62) Kensington, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
Richard Cameron Wattis (25 February 1912 – 1 February 1975) was an English actor, co-starring in many popular Britishcomedies of the 1950s and 1960s.[1]
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Richard Cameron Wattis was born on 25 February 1912 inWednesbury, Staffordshire, the elder of two sons born to Cameron Tom Wattis and Margaret Janet, née Preston.[citation needed] He attendedKing Edward's School andBromsgrove School, after which he worked for the electrical engineering firm William Sanders & Co (Wednesbury) Ltd.[citation needed] His uncle,William Preston (1874–1941), was the managing director and was theConservativeMP forWalsall from 1924 to 1929.[citation needed]
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After leaving the family business, Wattis became an actor.[citation needed] His debut was withCroydon Repertory Theatre, and he made many stage appearances in theWest End in London. His first appearance in a film wasA Yank at Oxford (1938).[citation needed]
War service interrupted his career as an actor.[citation needed] He served as asecond lieutenant in the Small Arms Section ofSpecial Operations Executive atStation VI during theSecond World War (James Bond authorIan Fleming worked in the same section).[2]
Wattis 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.[citation needed] Such appearances included theSt Trinian's films (The Belles of St. Trinian's,Blue Murder at St Trinian's, andThe Great St Trinian's Train Robbery) as Manton Bassett, a civil servant who was the Deputy Director of Schools in theMinistry of Education, where he was often seen frowning and expressing indignation at the outrageous behaviour of other characters.[citation needed] To American audiences, Wattis is probably best known for his performance as the British civil servant Northbrook inThe Prince and the Showgirl (1957).[citation needed] He broke from this typecasting in his later films, such as his starring role inGames That Lovers Play.[citation needed]
Wattis's other films includedHobson's Choice,The Inn of the Sixth Happiness,Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,Carry On Spying,[3]The Colditz Story,Dentist on the Job,Very Important Person,The Happiest Days of Your Life, andThe Longest Day.[citation needed] Operation Crossbow as Sir Charles Sims. He also appeared on television, including a long-running role inSykes and as a storyteller on the BBC children's programmeJackanory, narrating in14 episodes between 1971 and 1972.[citation needed] Other television credits include appearances inDanger Man,The Prisoner,The Goodies,Hancock's Half Hour, andFather, Dear Father.[3] From 1957 to 1958, he appeared as Peter Jamison in three episodes of the American sitcomDick and the Duchess.[citation needed]
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On 1 February 1975, Wattis suffered a heart attack while dining at Berwick's Restaurant inWalton Street, London.[citation needed] He was taken to hospital, but was dead on arrival. He was 62 years old. A memorial service was held for him atSt Paul's, Covent Garden, the "Actor's Church", and a plaque near his grave.[4]
In 1999, twenty-four years after Wattis' death, it emerged that Wattis was gay.[5]
Wattis was played by Richard Clifford in the 2011 filmMy Week with Marilyn, which depicts the making of the 1957 filmThe Prince and the Showgirl.[6]
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