Michael Balfour
Known for: 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
Filmography
Series
The Avengers
Tom
1961
Series
The Persuaders!
Donkey Cart Driver
1971
Film
Batman
Scientist
1989
Series
Sunday Night Theatre
Rudolfo
1950
Series
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Tom Meatyard
1969
Series
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Meatyard
1969
Series
Danger Man
Gaston
1960
Series
The Prisoner
Will
1967
Series
Dempsey and Makepeace
Jim Kelly
1985
Series
Dixon of Dock Green
Joe Ward
1955
Series
Dixon of Dock Green
Pip Rutley
1955
Series
Dixon of Dock Green
Bill Nelson
1955
Series
Dixon of Dock Green
Nicky Medwin
1955
Series
Dixon of Dock Green
Hobbs
1955
Series
Hancock's Half Hour
1956
Series
New Scotland Yard
Fred Larch
1972
Series
Interpol Calling
Russ
1959
Series
Interpol Calling
Inspector Hill
1959
Series
Department S
Eccles
1969
Series
Steptoe and Son
Charlie Miller
1962
The Jazz Age
Porky
1968
Film
Fahrenheit 451
Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)
1966
Series
The Larkins
Sharkey
1958
Series
The Cheaters
Harry
1960
Series
The Cheaters
Freddy
1960
Theatre '70
Chuck
1960
Series
Sailor of Fortune
Alphonso Italian Ship's Engineer
1957
Series
Strange Experiences
Man
1955
Late Night Theatre
Alf
1972
Film
The Canterbury Tales
The Carpenter
1972
Film
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Cabby
1970
Film
Sink the Bismarck!
Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)
1960
Film
The Krays
Referee
1990
Film
Candleshoe
Mr. McCress
1977
Series
Mickey Dunne
Porridge
1967
Film
Moulin Rouge
Dodo (uncredited)
1952
Film
Venetian Bird
Moretto
1952
Film
Quatermass 2
Harry
1957
Series
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder
Albert
1969
Series
Cold Comfort Farm
Earl P. Neck
1968
Film
Macbeth
First Murderer
1971
Film
The Oblong Box
Ruddock
1969
Film
Casanova
1987
Film
The Adventurers
Detective
1970
Kelly Monteith
1979
Film
The Prisoner of Zenda
1979
Film
Kaleidoscope
Poker Player
1966
Film
I Was a Male War Bride
Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)
1949
Film
The Holcroft Covenant
Hard Hat
1985
Series
Armchair Theatre
Mr. Bollanger
1956
Series
Armchair Theatre
Ward
1956
Series
Armchair Theatre
1956
Film
Barbados Quest
Barney Wilson
1955
Film
Fiend Without a Face
Sgt. Kasper
1958
Rogues' Gallery
Tom Meatyard
1968
Hot Ice
Jacobson
1953
Film
Look Back in Anger
Picky Shopper (uncredited)
1959
Film
One Good Turn
Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
1955
Escape
Beaver
1967
It's Not Me - It's Them!
Reginald
1965
Film
The Red Beret
American Sergeant
1953
Film
The Sea Shall Not Have Them
Dray
1954
Film
Carry On Constable
Matt
1960
Film
Park Plaza 605
Ted Birston
1953
Film
Too Hot to Handle
Tourist Guide
1960
Film
The Flesh and the Fiends
Drunken Sailor
1960
Film
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Barney
1948
Film
Genevieve
Trumpeter (Uncredited)
1953
Resting Rough
1979
Film
The Fast Lady
Bandit
1962
Reluctant Bandit
Luigi
1965
Film
Obsession
American Sailor Promoting Book
1949
Film
Joseph Andrews
Ruffian
1977
Film
The Delavine Affair
Sammy
1955
Film
Woman Hater
Reporter (uncredited)
1948
Film
A Stitch in Time
Workman with Mallet (uncredited)
1963
Film
Surprise Package
Oscar
1960
Film
Albert R.N.
Hank
1953
Film
Just William's Luck
Tonks
1947
Film
Helter Skelter
Barman (uncredited)
1949
Film
The Quiet Woman
Lefty Brown
1951
Film
The Steel Key
'The Mae McCleod' Captain
1953
Film
Top Secret
Jersey Sailor
1952
Film
The Small Voice
Frankie
1948
Film
Man from Tangier
Spade
1957
Film
Scarlet Web
Barman
1954
Film
The Steel Bayonet
Pte. Thomas
1958
Film
The Big Money
'Wilberforce'
1958
Film
Meet Mr. Callaghan
Coffee Stallkeeper
1954
Film
Breakaway
Barney
1956
Film
River Beat
Adams
1954
Film
The Rescue Squad
Barrow-Boy
1963
Film
Press for Time
Sewerman
1966
Three's Company
The Drunk
1953
The Ship That Couldn't Stop
Mr. Bollanger
1961
Film
Her Favourite Husband
Pete
1950
Film
Sleeping Car to Trieste
Spiegel
1948
Film
Prelude to Fame
Lucio
1950
Film
Melody Club
Max
1949
Film
13 East Street
Joey Long
1952
Film
Black 13
Joe
1953
Film
Pit of Darkness
Fisher
1961
Film
3 Steps to the Gallows
Carter, boxing fan
1953
Film
Johnny on the Run
1953
Film
Strangler's Web
John Vichelski
1965
Film
The Stick Up
Sam
1977
Film
Impulse
uncredited
1954
Film
Small Town Story
Turner
1953
Film
Stop Press Girl
Crook (uncredited)
1949
Film
The Monster of Highgate Ponds
Bert
1961
Film
Secret Venture
Stevens
1955
Film
Man of Violence
Cafe Owner
1970
Film
Revenge of Billy the Kid
Gyles MacDonald
1992
Film
Five Have a Mystery to Solve
Emilio
1964
Film
Love in Pawn
Alaric
1953
Film
The Diamond Wizard
Hoxie
1954
Film
A Case For P.C. 49
Chubby Price
1951
Film
The Reluctant Bride
Boxer
1955
Film
All Coppers Are...
Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)
1972
Film
Don't Ever Leave Me
Jim Kennedy
1949
Design for Loving
Bernie
1962
Film
Delayed Action
Honey
1954
Film
It's a Great Day
Charlie Mead's Mate
1955
The Secret of the Forest
Len
1956
Film
Recoil
Parkes
1953
Film
William Comes to Town
Stall-holder
1948
Film
She Always Gets Their Man
Runkle
1962
Film
Devil's Point
Bennett, short henchman
1954
Film
Echo of Diana
Newsagent
1963
Hoverbug
Mr. Gutteridge
1969
Help Yourself
Charlie
1950
Light Fingers
The Major
1957
The Copter Kids
Benny Baker
1976
Scrapbook for 1933
(voice)
1950