Michael Balfour
Acting
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
Acting124
movieRevenge of Billy the Kid
1992
Gyles MacDonald
movieThe Krays
1990
Referee
movieBatman
1989
Scientist
movieThe Holcroft Covenant
1985
Hard Hat
tvDempsey and Makepeace
1985
Jim Kelly
movieCandleshoe
1977
Mr. McCress
movieJoseph Andrews
1977
Ruffian
The Copter Kids
1976
Benny Baker
movieThe Canterbury Tales
1972
The Carpenter
tvNew Scotland Yard
1972
Fred Larch
movieAll Coppers Are...
1972
Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)
movieMacbeth
1971
First Murderer
tvThe Persuaders!
1971
Donkey Cart Driver
movieMan of Violence
1970
Cafe Owner
movieThe Adventurers
1970
Detective
tvDepartment S
1969
Eccles
movieThe Oblong Box
1969
Ruddock
Hoverbug
1969
Mr. Gutteridge
tvITV Saturday Night Theatre
1969
Tom Meatyard / Meatyard
tvCold Comfort Farm
1968
Earl P. Neck
Rogues' Gallery
1968
Tom Meatyard
Escape
1967
Beaver
tvMickey Dunne
1967
Porridge
moviePress for Time
1966
Sewerman
movieFahrenheit 451
1966
Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)
movieKaleidoscope
1966
Poker Player
movieStrangler's Web
1965
John Vichelski
movieThe Rescue Squad
1963
Barrow-Boy
movieA Stitch in Time
1963
Workman with Mallet (uncredited)
movieEcho of Diana
1963
Newsagent
movieThe Fast Lady
1962
Bandit
moviePit of Darkness
1961
Fisher
tvThe Cheaters
1960
Harry / Freddy
movieToo Hot to Handle
1960
Tourist Guide
tvDanger Man
1960
Gaston
movieSink the Bismarck!
1960
Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)
movieThe Flesh and the Fiends
1960
Drunken Sailor
movieLook Back in Anger
1959
Picky Shopper (uncredited)
tvInterpol Calling
1959
Russ / Inspector Hill
tvThe Larkins
1958
Sharkey
movieFiend Without a Face
1958
Sgt. Kasper
movieThe Big Money
1958
'Wilberforce'
movieThe Steel Bayonet
1958
Pte. Thomas
Light Fingers
1957
The Major
tvSailor of Fortune
1957
Alphonso Italian Ship's Engineer
movieBreakaway
1956
Barney
tvArmchair Theatre
1956
Ward / Mr. Bollanger
movieSecret Venture
1955
Stevens
tvDixon of Dock Green
1955
Joe Ward / Pip Rutley / Bill Nelson / Nicky Medwin / Hobbs
movieBarbados Quest
1955
Barney Wilson
movieOne Good Turn
1955
Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
movieIt's a Great Day
1955
Charlie Mead's Mate
movieDevil's Point
1954
Bennett, short henchman
movieMeet Mr. Callaghan
1954
Coffee Stallkeeper
movieScarlet Web
1954
Barman
movieRiver Beat
1954
Adams
movieImpulse
1954
uncredited
movie3 Steps to the Gallows
1953
Carter, boxing fan
movieLove in Pawn
1953
Alaric
moviePark Plaza 605
1953
Ted Birston
movieThe Red Beret
1953
American Sergeant
movieRecoil
1953
Parkes
movieGenevieve
1953
Trumpeter (Uncredited)
movieThe Steel Key
1953
'The Mae McCleod' Captain
Hot Ice
1953
Jacobson
movieTop Secret
1952
Jersey Sailor
movieMoulin Rouge
1952
Dodo (uncredited)
movieVenetian Bird
1952
Moretto
movie13 East Street
1952
Joey Long
movieA Case For P.C. 49
1951
Chubby Price
movieThe Quiet Woman
1951
Lefty Brown
tvSunday Night Theatre
1950
Rudolfo
movieI Was a Male War Bride
1949
Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)
movieHelter Skelter
1949
Barman (uncredited)
movieObsession
1949
American Sailor Promoting Book
movieDon't Ever Leave Me
1949
Jim Kennedy
movieStop Press Girl
1949
Crook (uncredited)
movieWilliam Comes to Town
1948
Stall-holder
movieThe Small Voice
1948
Frankie
movieWoman Hater
1948
Reporter (uncredited)
