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