**Michael Bates (1920-1978)** was a British actor, renowned for his versatile career in film and television. His filmography is characterized by roles of characters who were often authoritarian, unyielding, or comically grotesque, yet always possessing a distinctive screen presence.

Among his most memorable film performances is that of the Chief Guard in Stanley Kubrick's **"A Clockwork Orange" (1971)**, a role that conveyed contained menace and mocking authority. He also portrayed Field Marshal Montgomery in **"Patton" (1970)**. Other significant films include Alfred Hitchcock's **"Frenzy" (1972)**, and war films such as **"Battle of Britain" (1969)** and **"Oh! What a Lovely War" (1969)**. His ability to transition from comedy to drama, often with a subtle humor or a latent unease, made him a recognizable face of British cinema.