Michael Balfour
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 11, 1918
- Died
- October 24, 1997 (aged 79)
- Birthplace
- Dover, Kent, England, UK
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. 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
Revenge of Billy the Kid
Movie · as Gyles MacDonald
The Krays
Movie · as Referee
Batman
Movie · as Scientist
Casanova
Movie
The Holcroft Covenant
Movie · as Hard Hat
Dempsey and Makepeace
TV · as Jim Kelly · 1 ep
The Prisoner of Zenda
Movie
Resting Rough
Movie
Kelly Monteith
TV · 1 ep
The Stick Up
Movie · as Sam
Candleshoe
Movie · as Mr. McCress
Joseph Andrews
Movie · as Ruffian
The Copter Kids
Movie · as Benny Baker
The Canterbury Tales
Movie · as The Carpenter
All Coppers Are...
Movie · as Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)
New Scotland Yard
TV · as Fred Larch · 2 eps
Late Night Theatre
TV · as Alf · 1 ep
Macbeth
Movie · as First Murderer
The Persuaders!
TV · as Donkey Cart Driver · 1 ep
Man of Violence
Movie · as Cafe Owner
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Movie · as Cabby
The Adventurers
Movie · as Detective
The Oblong Box
Movie · as Ruddock
Hoverbug
Movie · as Mr. Gutteridge
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder
TV · as Albert · 1 ep
Department S
TV · as Eccles · 1 ep
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
TV · as Tom Meatyard · 3 eps
Rogues' Gallery
TV · as Tom Meatyard · 6 eps
The Jazz Age
TV · as Porky · 1 ep
Cold Comfort Farm
TV · as Earl P. Neck · 3 eps
The Prisoner
TV · as Will · 1 ep
Mickey Dunne
TV · as Porridge · 1 ep
Escape
TV · as Beaver · 1 ep
Press for Time
Movie · as Sewerman
Fahrenheit 451
Movie · as Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)
Kaleidoscope
Movie · as Poker Player
Strangler's Web
Movie · as John Vichelski
Reluctant Bandit
TV · as Luigi · 5 eps
It's Not Me - It's Them!
TV · as Reginald · 6 eps
Five Have a Mystery to Solve
Movie · as Emilio
Five Have a Mystery to Solve
TV · as Emilio · 6 eps
Echo of Diana
Movie · as Newsagent
The Rescue Squad
Movie · as Barrow-Boy
A Stitch in Time
Movie · as Workman with Mallet (uncredited)
Design for Loving
Movie · as Bernie
The Fast Lady
Movie · as Bandit
She Always Gets Their Man
Movie · as Runkle
Steptoe and Son
TV · as Charlie Miller · 1 ep
The Monster of Highgate Ponds
Movie · as Bert
Pit of Darkness
Movie · as Fisher
The Ship That Couldn't Stop
Movie · as Mr. Bollanger
The Avengers
TV · as Tom · 1 ep
Carry On Constable
Movie · as Matt
Too Hot to Handle
Movie · as Tourist Guide
Sink the Bismarck!
Movie · as Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)
The Flesh and the Fiends
Movie · as Drunken Sailor
Surprise Package
Movie · as Oscar
Danger Man
TV · as Gaston · 1 ep
The Cheaters
TV · as Harry, Freddy · 1 ep
Theatre '70
TV · as Chuck · 1 ep
Look Back in Anger
Movie · as Picky Shopper (uncredited)
Interpol Calling
TV · as Russ, Inspector Hill · 1 ep
The Steel Bayonet
Movie · as Pte. Thomas
Fiend Without a Face
Movie · as Sgt. Kasper
The Big Money
Movie · as 'Wilberforce'
The Larkins
TV · as Sharkey · 1 ep
Man from Tangier
Movie · as Spade
Light Fingers
Movie · as The Major
Quatermass 2
Movie · as Harry
The Secret of the Forest
Movie · as Len
Breakaway
Movie · as Barney
Hancock's Half Hour
TV · 2 eps
Armchair Theatre
TV · as Mr. Bollanger, Ward · 1 ep
Secret Venture
Movie · as Stevens
Barbados Quest
Movie · as Barney Wilson
The Delavine Affair
Movie · as Sammy
The Reluctant Bride
Movie · as Boxer
It's a Great Day
Movie · as Charlie Mead's Mate
One Good Turn
Movie · as Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
Movie · as Stage Doorman
Dixon of Dock Green
TV · as Joe Ward, Pip Rutley, Bill Nelson, Nicky Medwin, Hobbs · 1 ep
Strange Experiences
TV · as Man · 1 ep
Meet Mr. Callaghan
Movie · as Coffee Stallkeeper
Delayed Action
Movie · as Honey
The Diamond Wizard
Movie · as Hoxie
Impulse
Movie · as uncredited
Scarlet Web
Movie · as Barman
River Beat
Movie · as Adams
Devil's Point
Movie · as Bennett, short henchman
The Sea Shall Not Have Them
Movie · as Dray
Recoil
Movie · as Parkes
3 Steps to the Gallows
Movie · as Carter, boxing fan
Park Plaza 605
Movie · as Ted Birston
Black 13
Movie · as Joe
Three's Company
Movie · as The Drunk
Johnny on the Run
Movie
The Red Beret
Movie · as American Sergeant
Albert R.N.
Movie · as Hank
Love in Pawn
Movie · as Alaric
Genevieve
Movie · as Trumpeter (Uncredited)
The Steel Key
Movie · as 'The Mae McCleod' Captain
Hot Ice
Movie · as Jacobson
Small Town Story
Movie · as Turner
Top Secret
Movie · as Jersey Sailor
Moulin Rouge
Movie · as Dodo (uncredited)
13 East Street
Movie · as Joey Long
Venetian Bird
Movie · as Moretto
A Case For P.C. 49
Movie · as Chubby Price
The Quiet Woman
Movie · as Lefty Brown
Scrapbook for 1933
Movie · as (voice)
Help Yourself
Movie · as Charlie
Her Favourite Husband
Movie · as Pete
Prelude to Fame
Movie · as Lucio
Sunday Night Theatre
TV · as Rudolfo · 1 ep
Obsession
Movie · as American Sailor Promoting Book
Melody Club
Movie · as Max
I Was a Male War Bride
Movie · as Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)
Don't Ever Leave Me
Movie · as Jim Kennedy
Helter Skelter
Movie · as Barman (uncredited)
Stop Press Girl
Movie · as Crook (uncredited)
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Movie · as Barney
The Small Voice
Movie · as Frankie
William Comes to Town
Movie · as Stall-holder
Sleeping Car to Trieste
Movie · as Spiegel
Woman Hater
Movie · as Reporter (uncredited)
Just William's Luck
Movie · as Tonks