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Michael Balfour
Actor

Michael Balfour

11 Feb 1918Born
24 Oct 1997Died
79Age at death
125Credits

Biography

Michael Creighton Balfour (11 February 1918 – 24 October 1997) was an English actor, working mainly in British films and TV, following his TV debut in the BBC's The Marvellous History of St Bernard, in 1938.

Read the full biography

He was a recognisable face, often in small character parts and supporting roles, in nearly two hundred films and TV shows, from the 1940s to the 1990s, often playing comical heavies or otherwise shady characters notable for their "loud" clothes, sometimes convincingly cast as an American.

He worked for a roll call of film directors, including Tony Richardson, Pete Walker, Billy Wilder, Lewis Gilbert, Roman Polanski, Leslie Norman, Tim Burton, John Frankenheimer, François Truffaut, John Gilling, Stanley Donen, Ken Annakin, Cavalcanti, Lance Comfort, Terence Young, Gerald Thomas, Pasolini, John Paddy Carstairs, Terence Fisher, Val Guest, Frank Launder, John Huston, Basil Dearden and Howard Hawks.

Balfour had parts in many popular TV shows of the era including Educated Evans, Mess Mates, Danger Man, The Avengers, Hancock's Half Hour, Dixon of Dock Green, Rogue's Gallery, Z-Cars, The Onedin Line, and the detective drama The Vise, playing Saber's assistant Barney O'Keefe.

Balfour was also known as the passenger in a Jaguar XK120 car driven by actor Bonar Colleano when it crashed, killing Colleano. Balfour's injuries required him to have 98 stitches, but he was released from hospital in time to attend Colleano's funeral.

As his screen career began to slow down in the late 1970s, Michael Balfour went on tour with European circuses, as a clown. He founded Circus Hazzard, and created his own clown character. His son later became a circus manager.

As well as performing, Balfour was a dedicated painter and sculptor, and in later years turned increasingly to sculpture and the arts, even running his own gallery for a while. For his subjects, he frequently drew on his own family career as a circus clown

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 125 credits.

  1. 1992Revenge of Billy the KidFilm: Gyles MacDonald
  2. 1990The KraysFilm: Referee
  3. 1989BatmanFilm: Scientist
  4. 1987CasanovaFilm
  5. 1985The Holcroft CovenantFilm: Hard Hat
  6. 1985Dempsey and MakepeaceSeries: Jim Kelly (1 episode)
  7. 1979Kelly MonteithSeries (1 episode)
  8. 1979The Prisoner of ZendaFilm
  9. 1979Resting RoughFilm
  10. 1977CandleshoeFilm: Mr. McCress
  11. 1977The Stick UpFilm: Sam
  12. 1977Joseph AndrewsFilm: Ruffian
  13. 1976The Copter KidsFilm: Benny Baker
  14. 1972The Canterbury TalesFilm: The Carpenter
  15. 1972New Scotland YardSeries: Fred Larch (2 episodes)
  16. 1972Late Night TheatreSeries: Alf (1 episode)
  17. 1972All Coppers Are...Film: Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)
  18. 1971MacbethFilm: First Murderer
  19. 1971The Persuaders!Series: Donkey Cart Driver (1 episode)
  20. 1970The Private Life of Sherlock HolmesFilm: Cabby
  21. 1970Man of ViolenceFilm: Cafe Owner
  22. 1970The AdventurersFilm: Detective
  23. 1969Department SSeries: Eccles (1 episode)
  24. 1969The Oblong BoxFilm: Ruddock
  25. 1969HoverbugFilm: Mr. Gutteridge
  26. 1969The Mind of Mr. J.G. ReederSeries: Albert (1 episode)
  27. 1969ITV Saturday Night TheatreSeries: Tom Meatyard (3 episodes)
  28. 1968The Jazz AgeSeries: Porky (1 episode)
  29. 1968Cold Comfort FarmSeries: Earl P. Neck (3 episodes)
  30. 1968Rogues' GallerySeries: Tom Meatyard (6 episodes)
  31. 1967The PrisonerSeries: Will (1 episode)
  32. 1967EscapeSeries: Beaver (1 episode)
  33. 1967Mickey DunneSeries: Porridge (1 episode)
  34. 1966Press for TimeFilm: Sewerman
  35. 1966Fahrenheit 451Film: Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)
  36. 1966KaleidoscopeFilm: Poker Player
  37. 1965Strangler's WebFilm: John Vichelski
  38. 1965It's Not Me - It's Them!Series: Reginald (6 episodes)
  39. 1965Reluctant BanditSeries: Luigi (5 episodes)
  40. 1964Five Have a Mystery to SolveFilm: Emilio
  41. 1963The Rescue SquadFilm: Barrow-Boy
  42. 1963A Stitch in TimeFilm: Workman with Mallet (uncredited)
  43. 1963Echo of DianaFilm: Newsagent
  44. 1962The Fast LadyFilm: Bandit
  45. 1962Design for LovingFilm: Bernie
  46. 1962Steptoe and SonSeries: Charlie Miller (1 episode)
  47. 1962She Always Gets Their ManFilm: Runkle
  48. 1961Pit of DarknessFilm: Fisher
  49. 1961The Ship That Couldn't StopFilm: Mr. Bollanger
  50. 1961The Monster of Highgate PondsFilm: Bert
  51. 1961The AvengersSeries: Tom (1 episode)
  52. 1960The CheatersSeries: Harry, Freddy (1 episode)
  53. 1960Too Hot to HandleFilm: Tourist Guide
  54. 1960Surprise PackageFilm: Oscar
  55. 1960Danger ManSeries: Gaston (1 episode)
  56. 1960Theatre '70Series: Chuck (1 episode)
  57. 1960Carry On ConstableFilm: Matt
  58. 1960Sink the Bismarck!Film: Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)
  59. 1960The Flesh and the FiendsFilm: Drunken Sailor
  60. 1959Look Back in AngerFilm: Picky Shopper (uncredited)
  61. 1959Interpol CallingSeries: Russ, Inspector Hill (1 episode)
  62. 1958The LarkinsSeries: Sharkey (1 episode)
  63. 1958Fiend Without a FaceFilm: Sgt. Kasper
  64. 1958The Big MoneyFilm: 'Wilberforce'
  65. 1958The Steel BayonetFilm: Pte. Thomas
  66. 1957Man from TangierFilm: Spade
  67. 1957Light FingersFilm: The Major
  68. 1957Quatermass 2Film: Harry
  69. 1956BreakawayFilm: Barney
  70. 1956Armchair TheatreSeries: Ward, Mr. Bollanger (1 episode)
  71. 1956Hancock's Half HourSeries (2 episodes)
  72. 1956The Secret of the ForestFilm: Len
  73. 1955Secret VentureFilm: Stevens
  74. 1955Gentlemen Marry BrunettesFilm: Stage Doorman
  75. 1955Strange ExperiencesSeries: Man (1 episode)
  76. 1955The Reluctant BrideFilm: Boxer
  77. 1955Dixon of Dock GreenSeries: Joe Ward, Pip Rutley, Bill Nelson, Nicky Medwin, Hobbs (1 episode)
  78. 1955Barbados QuestFilm: Barney Wilson
  79. 1955One Good TurnFilm: Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
  80. 1955The Delavine AffairFilm: Sammy

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.