Richard Wattis

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Richard Cameron Wattis (February 25, 1912 in Staffordshire, England — February 1, 1975), was an English character actor.

His first appearance in a film was A Yank At Oxford in 1938, but war service interrupted his career as an actor. Wattis served as a Second Lieutenant with the Arms Section of Special Operations Executive at Station VI during World War II.

He is best known for his appearances in innumerable British comedies of the 1950s and 1960s, including in 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", who is a Civil Servant in the Ministry of Education

Other films included Hay Fever, The Colditz Story, Dentist on the Job, Very Important Person, The Happiest Days of Your Life and even The Longest Day, among many others.

Richard Wattis also appeared on television, including a long-running role opposite Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques in Sykes as their next-door neighbour, as well as appearances in Dangerman, The Goodies and Father, Dear Father, among others.

A gay man in an era when this was a taboo subject, he died of a heart attack while visiting a restaurant.

[edit] External links

• Richard Wattis at IMDb
• Richard Wattis - The New York Times
• Richard Wattis - Answers.com
• Richard Wattis page - Cult TV
• Richard Wattis - The CMT Shop