Richard Wattis was one of the most familiar faces in 50s cinema. With his beanpole figure, owlish features and fussy mannerisms, Wattis was first choice whenever the script called for an officious civil servant or a snooty neighbour. Despite his annoying screen persona, audiences loved him.
He was born in Staffordshire and got his first professional work with Croydon Rep in 1934. His acting career grew steadily through the 30s, and he was just starting to break into films when the war interrupted. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corp for the duration.
He resumed his career after the war. He got back into filming towards the end of the decade and suddenly he was in demand, for films, TV and stage work. The 50s were an incredibly busy period for him and this success was carried over through the 60s. It's alleged that he was unhappy with the state of his career, wanting more dramatic roles, and he left the sitcom Sykes for a period anxious not to be typecast in comic roles.
He died suddenly in a restaurant in the middle of his favourite meal.
| 1938 | A Yank at Oxford |
| 1949 | Kind Hearts and Coronets |
| 1949 | The Chiltern Hundreds |
| 1950 | The Happiest Days of Your Life |
| 1950 | Your Witness |
| 1951 | Clouded Yellow |
| 1951 | Appointment with Venus |
| 1951 | Lady Godiva Rides Again |
| 1952 | Colonel March Investigates |
| 1952 | Mother Riley Meets the Vampire |
| 1952 | Made in Heaven |
| 1952 | Appointment in London |
| 1952 | The Happy Family |
| 1952 | Derby Day |
| 1952 | Stolen Face |
| 1952 | Penny Princess |
| 1952 | The Importance of Being Earnest |
| 1952 | Top Secret |
| 1953 | Small Town Story |
| 1953 | Background |
| 1953 | The Final Test |
| 1953 | Top of the Form |
| 1953 | Innocents in Paris |
| 1953 | Park Plaza 605 |
| 1953 | Blood Orange |
| 1954 | Crowded Day |
| 1954 | The Intruder |
| 1954 | Doctor in the House |
| 1954 | Hobson's Choice |
| 1954 | The Belles of St Trinian's |
| 1954 | Lease of Life |
| 1955 | See How They Run |
| 1955 | Simon and Laura |
| 1955 | A Yank in Ermine |
| 1955 | The Colditz Story |
| 1955 | As Long As They're Happy |
| 1955 | An Alligator named Daisy |
| 1956 | The Green Man |
| 1956 | Eyewitness |
| 1956 | Jumping for Joy |
| 1956 | The Man Who Never Was |
| 1956 | It's a Wonderful World |
| 1956 | The Silken Affair |
| 1956 | Around the World in Eighty Days |
| 1956 | A Touch of the Sun |
| 1956 | The Iron Petticoat |
| 1957 | Second Fiddle |
| 1957 | Blue Murder at St Trinian's |
| 1957 | The Prince and the Showgirl |
| 1957 | The Abominable Snowman |
| 1957 | High Flight |
| 1957 | Barnacle Bill |
| 1958 | Inn of the Seventh Happiness |
| 1959 | Follow a Star |
| 1959 | Left, Right and Centre |
| 1959 | The Captain's Table |
| 1959 | Ten Seconds to Hell |
| 1959 | The Ugly Duckling |
| 1959 | Libel |
| 1960 | Follow That Horse! |
| 1960 | Your Money or Your Life |
| 1961 | Dentist on the Job |
| 1961 | Nearly a Nasty Accident |
| 1961 | Very Important Person |
| 1962 | Play it Cool |
| 1962 | Bon Voyage |
| 1962 | I Thank a Fool |
| 1962 | The Longest Day |
| 1962 | Venus Fra Vesto |
| 1963 | Come Fly With Me |
| 1962 | The VIPs |
| 1962 | Carry On Spying |
| 1965 | The Bargain |
| 1965 | Up Jumped a Swagman |
| 1965 | Operation Crossbow |
| 1965 | The Battle of the Villa Fiorita |
| 1965 | The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders |
| 1965 | You Must Be Joking |
| 1965 | Bunny Lake is Missing |
| 1965 | The Liquidator |
| 1965 | The Alphabet Murders |
| 1966 | The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery |
| 1967 | The Troublesome Double |
| 1967 | Casino Royale |
| 1968 | Wonderwall |
| 1968 | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
| 1969 | Monte Carlo or Bust |
| 1970 | Egghead's Robot |
| 1970 | Games that Lovers Play |
| 1970 | Tam Lin |
| 1972 | Sex and the Other Woman |
| 1972 | That's Your Funeral |
| 1973 | Take Me High |
| 1974 | Confessions of a Window Cleaner |
