Michael Balfour
Born
February 11, 1918
Died
October 24, 1997 (79 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Dover, Kent, England, UK
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
Revenge of Billy the Kid
Gyles MacDonald
1992
The Krays
Referee
1990
Batman
Scientist
1989
The Holcroft Covenant
Hard Hat
1985
Dempsey and Makepeace
Jim Kelly · (1 episode)
1985
Kelly Monteith
(1 episode)
1979
The Prisoner of Zenda
1979
Resting Rough
1979
Candleshoe
Mr. McCress
1977
The Stick Up
Sam
1977
Joseph Andrews
Ruffian
1977
The Copter Kids
Benny Baker
1976
The Canterbury Tales
The Carpenter
1972
All Coppers Are...
Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)
1972
Macbeth
First Murderer
1971
The Persuaders!
Donkey Cart Driver · (1 episode)
1971
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Cabby
1970
Man of Violence
Cafe Owner
1970
The Adventurers
Detective
1970
Department S
Eccles · (1 episode)
1969
The Oblong Box
Ruddock
1969
Hoverbug
Mr. Gutteridge
1969
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder
Albert · (1 episode)
1969
The Jazz Age
Porky · (1 episode)
1968
Rogues' Gallery
Tom Meatyard · (6 episodes)
1968
The Prisoner
Will · (1 episode)
1967
Fahrenheit 451
Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)
1966
Kaleidoscope
Poker Player
1966
Press for Time
Sewerman
1966
Strangler's Web
John Vichelski
1965
It's Not Me - It's Them!
Reginald · (6 episodes)
1965
Reluctant Bandit
Luigi · (2 episodes)
1965
Five Have a Mystery to Solve
Emilio
1964
Echo of Diana
Newsagent
1963
The Rescue Squad
Barrow-Boy
1963
The Fast Lady
Bandit
1962
Design for Loving
Bernie
1962
She Always Gets Their Man
Runkle
1962
Pit of Darkness
Fisher
1961
The Ship That Couldn't Stop
Mr. Bollanger
1961
The Monster of Highgate Ponds
Bert
1961
The Avengers
Tom · (1 episode)
1961
The Cheaters
Harry · (1 episode)
1960
The Cheaters
Freddy · (1 episode)
1960
Too Hot to Handle
Tourist Guide
1960
Surprise Package
Oscar
1960
Danger Man
Gaston · (1 episode)
1960
Carry On Constable
Matt
1960
Sink the Bismarck!
Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)
1960
The Flesh and the Fiends
Drunken Sailor
1960
Look Back in Anger
Picky Shopper (uncredited)
1959
Interpol Calling
Russ · (1 episode)
1959
Interpol Calling
Inspector Hill · (1 episode)
1959
The Larkins
Sharkey · (1 episode)
1958
Fiend Without a Face
Sgt. Kasper
1958
The Big Money
'Wilberforce'
1958
The Steel Bayonet
Pte. Thomas
1958
Man from Tangier
Spade
1957
Light Fingers
The Major
1957
Sailor of Fortune
Alphonso Italian Ship's Engineer · (22 episodes)
1957
Quatermass 2
Harry
1957
Breakaway
Barney
1956
Armchair Theatre
(1 episode)
1956
Armchair Theatre
Ward · (1 episode)
1956
Armchair Theatre
Mr. Bollanger · (1 episode)
1956
Hancock's Half Hour
(2 episodes)
1956
The Secret of the Forest
Len
1956
Secret Venture
Stevens
1955
The Reluctant Bride
Boxer
1955
Dixon of Dock Green
Joe Ward · (1 episode)
1955
Dixon of Dock Green
Pip Rutley · (1 episode)
1955
Dixon of Dock Green
Bill Nelson · (1 episode)
1955
Dixon of Dock Green
Nicky Medwin · (1 episode)
1955
Dixon of Dock Green
Hobbs · (1 episode)
1955
Barbados Quest
Barney Wilson
1955
The Delavine Affair
Sammy
1955
It's a Great Day
Charlie Mead's Mate
1955
Devil's Point
Bennett, short henchman
1954
Delayed Action
Honey
1954
Meet Mr. Callaghan
Coffee Stallkeeper
1954
Scarlet Web
Barman
1954
The Sea Shall Not Have Them
Dray
1954
The Diamond Wizard
Hoxie
1954
River Beat
Adams
1954
Impulse
uncredited
1954
3 Steps to the Gallows
Carter, boxing fan
1953
Black 13
Joe
1953
Albert R.N.
Hank
1953
Love in Pawn
Alaric
1953
Three's Company
The Drunk
1953
Park Plaza 605
Ted Birston
1953
The Red Beret
American Sergeant
1953
Recoil
Parkes
1953
Johnny on the Run
1953
Genevieve
Trumpeter (Uncredited)
1953
The Steel Key
'The Mae McCleod' Captain
1953
Moulin Rouge
Dodo (uncredited)
1952
Top Secret
Jersey Sailor
1952
Venetian Bird
Moretto
1952
13 East Street
Joey Long
1952
A Case For P.C. 49
Chubby Price
1951
The Quiet Woman
Lefty Brown
1951
Her Favourite Husband
Pete
1950
Help Yourself
Charlie
1950
Scrapbook for 1933
(voice)
1950
Sunday Night Theatre
Rudolfo · (1 episode)
1950
I Was a Male War Bride
Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)
1949
Obsession
American Sailor Promoting Book
1949
Don't Ever Leave Me
Jim Kennedy
1949
Melody Club
Max
1949
Stop Press Girl
Crook (uncredited)
1949
Helter Skelter
Barman
1949
William Comes to Town
Stall-holder
1948
The Small Voice
Frankie
1948
Woman Hater
Reporter (uncredited)
1948
Sleeping Car to Trieste
Spiegel
1948
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Barney
1948
Just William's Luck
Tonks
1947