Michael Balfour

Acting

Born February 11, 1918 — Died October 24, 1997 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

Movies(95)

Revenge of Billy the Kid

Gyles MacDonald

1992

The Krays

Referee

1990

Batman

Scientist

1989

The Holcroft Covenant

Hard Hat

1985

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 Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Cabby

1970

Man of Violence

Cafe Owner

1970

The Adventurers

Detective

1970

The Oblong Box

Ruddock

1969

Hoverbug

Mr. Gutteridge

1969

Press for Time

Sewerman

1966

Fahrenheit 451

Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)

1966

Kaleidoscope

Poker Player

1966

Strangler's Web

John Vichelski

1965

Five Have a Mystery to Solve

Emilio

1964

The Rescue Squad

Barrow-Boy

1963

A Stitch in Time

Workman with Mallet (uncredited)

1963

Echo of Diana

Newsagent

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

Too Hot to Handle

Tourist Guide

1960

Surprise Package

Oscar

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

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

Quatermass 2

Harry

1957

Breakaway

Barney

1956

The Secret of the Forest

Len

1956

Secret Venture

Stevens

1955

The Reluctant Bride

Boxer

1955

Barbados Quest

Barney Wilson

1955

One Good Turn

Boxing Spectator (uncredited)

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

Small Town Story

Turner

1953

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

Hot Ice

Jacobson

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

Prelude to Fame

Lucio

1950

Help Yourself

Charlie

1950

Scrapbook for 1933

(voice)

1950

I Was a Male War Bride

Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)

1949

Helter Skelter

Barman (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

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

Michael Balfour

TV Shows(23)

Movies(95)