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Michael Balfour

Michael Balfour

Known for: Acting

Born 11/02/1918
Died 1997-10-24
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

Filmography

The Avengers Series ★ 7,8

The Avengers

Tom

1961

Batman Film ★ 7,2

Batman

Scientist

1989

The Persuaders! Series ★ 7,6

The Persuaders!

Donkey Cart Driver

1971

Sunday Night Theatre Series ★ 3,5

Sunday Night Theatre

Rudolfo

1950

Dempsey and Makepeace Series ★ 6,7

Dempsey and Makepeace

Jim Kelly

1985

Danger Man Series ★ 7,3

Danger Man

Gaston

1960

ITV Saturday Night Theatre Series ★ 7,0

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

Tom Meatyard

1969

ITV Saturday Night Theatre Series ★ 7,0

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

Meatyard

1969

The Prisoner Series ★ 7,7

The Prisoner

Will

1967

New Scotland Yard Series ★ 6,3

New Scotland Yard

Fred Larch

1972

Hancock's Half Hour Series ★ 7,4

Hancock's Half Hour

1956

Dixon of Dock Green Series ★ 6,0

Dixon of Dock Green

Joe Ward

1955

Dixon of Dock Green Series ★ 6,0

Dixon of Dock Green

Pip Rutley

1955

Dixon of Dock Green Series ★ 6,0

Dixon of Dock Green

Bill Nelson

1955

Dixon of Dock Green Series ★ 6,0

Dixon of Dock Green

Nicky Medwin

1955

Dixon of Dock Green Series ★ 6,0

Dixon of Dock Green

Hobbs

1955

Interpol Calling Series ★ 7,3

Interpol Calling

Russ

1959

Interpol Calling Series ★ 7,3

Interpol Calling

Inspector Hill

1959

Department S Series ★ 5,5

Department S

Eccles

1969

Steptoe and Son Series ★ 7,8

Steptoe and Son

Charlie Miller

1962

Fahrenheit 451 Film ★ 7,1

Fahrenheit 451

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

1966

The Larkins Series ★ 7,6

The Larkins

Sharkey

1958

The Cheaters Series ★ 8,0

The Cheaters

Harry

1960

The Cheaters Series ★ 8,0

The Cheaters

Freddy

1960

Sailor of Fortune Series

Sailor of Fortune

Alphonso Italian Ship's Engineer

1957

Series

The Jazz Age

Porky

1968

The Canterbury Tales Film ★ 6,1

The Canterbury Tales

The Carpenter

1972

Series

Theatre '70

Chuck

1960

Series

Late Night Theatre

Alf

1972

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Film ★ 6,8

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Cabby

1970

The Krays Film ★ 6,0

The Krays

Referee

1990

Sink the Bismarck! Film ★ 6,8

Sink the Bismarck!

Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)

1960

Strange Experiences Series

Strange Experiences

Man

1955

Candleshoe Film ★ 6,9

Candleshoe

Mr. McCress

1977

Moulin Rouge Film ★ 6,6

Moulin Rouge

Dodo (uncredited)

1952

Macbeth Film ★ 7,1

Macbeth

First Murderer

1971

The Oblong Box Film ★ 5,8

The Oblong Box

Ruddock

1969

Mickey Dunne Series

Mickey Dunne

Porridge

1967

Quatermass 2 Film ★ 6,4

Quatermass 2

Harry

1957

I Was a Male War Bride Film ★ 6,9

I Was a Male War Bride

Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)

1949

Venetian Bird Film ★ 6,2

Venetian Bird

Moretto

1952

The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder Series ★ 5,0

The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder

Albert

1969

Kaleidoscope Film ★ 5,3

Kaleidoscope

Poker Player

1966

Fiend Without a Face Film ★ 6,1

Fiend Without a Face

Sgt. Kasper

1958

Casanova Film ★ 4,1

Casanova

1987

Barbados Quest Film ★ 5,1

Barbados Quest

Barney Wilson

1955

Cold Comfort Farm Series ★ 8,0

Cold Comfort Farm

Earl P. Neck

1968

The Holcroft Covenant Film ★ 5,5

The Holcroft Covenant

Hard Hat

1985

Look Back in Anger Film ★ 6,7

Look Back in Anger

Picky Shopper (uncredited)

1959

The Adventurers Film ★ 4,7

The Adventurers

Detective

1970

Series ★ 6,0

Kelly Monteith

1979

The Prisoner of Zenda Film ★ 5,7

The Prisoner of Zenda

1979

The Flesh and the Fiends Film ★ 6,6

The Flesh and the Fiends

Drunken Sailor

1960

Series ★ 9,5

Rogues' Gallery

Tom Meatyard

1968

Carry On Constable Film ★ 6,3

Carry On Constable

Matt

1960

Series

Escape

Beaver

1967

The Sea Shall Not Have Them Film ★ 7,3

The Sea Shall Not Have Them

Dray

1954

Armchair Theatre Series ★ 6,0

Armchair Theatre

Mr. Bollanger

1956

Armchair Theatre Series ★ 6,0

Armchair Theatre

Ward

1956

Armchair Theatre Series ★ 6,0

Armchair Theatre

1956

Series

It's Not Me - It's Them!

Reginald

1965

The Red Beret Film ★ 6,7

The Red Beret

American Sergeant

1953

Genevieve Film ★ 6,7

Genevieve

Trumpeter (Uncredited)

1953

One Good Turn Film ★ 6,2

One Good Turn

Boxing Spectator (uncredited)

1955

Joseph Andrews Film ★ 5,2

Joseph Andrews

Ruffian

1977

Film ★ 7,0

Hot Ice

Jacobson

1953

Top Secret Film ★ 8,0

Top Secret

Jersey Sailor

1952

Albert R.N. Film ★ 7,3

Albert R.N.

Hank

1953

Too Hot to Handle Film ★ 4,7

Too Hot to Handle

Tourist Guide

1960

Film ★ 7,0

Resting Rough

1979

Obsession Film ★ 6,8

Obsession

American Sailor Promoting Book

1949

Helter Skelter Film ★ 6,4

Helter Skelter

Barman (uncredited)

1949

The Fast Lady Film ★ 5,8

The Fast Lady

Bandit

1962

No Orchids for Miss Blandish Film ★ 6,1

No Orchids for Miss Blandish

Barney

1948

Park Plaza 605 Film ★ 4,7

Park Plaza 605

Ted Birston

1953

Woman Hater Film ★ 7,7

Woman Hater

Reporter (uncredited)

1948

A Stitch in Time Film ★ 7,4

A Stitch in Time

Workman with Mallet (uncredited)

1963

Surprise Package Film ★ 6,6

Surprise Package

Oscar

1960

Series ★ 9,0

Reluctant Bandit

Luigi

1965

The Delavine Affair Film ★ 5,5

The Delavine Affair

Sammy

1955

Press for Time Film ★ 5,9

Press for Time

Sewerman

1966

Man of Violence Film ★ 5,5

Man of Violence

Cafe Owner

1970

Her Favourite Husband Film ★ 6,0

Her Favourite Husband

Pete

1950

Small Town Story Film ★ 5,9

Small Town Story

Turner

1953

Melody Club Film ★ 7,3

Melody Club

Max

1949

Breakaway Film ★ 5,5

Breakaway

Barney

1956

The Quiet Woman Film ★ 6,2

The Quiet Woman

Lefty Brown

1951

Just William's Luck Film ★ 7,8

Just William's Luck

Tonks

1947

Scarlet Web Film ★ 5,7

Scarlet Web

Barman

1954

Impulse Film ★ 4,6

Impulse

uncredited

1954

The Steel Key Film ★ 6,5

The Steel Key

'The Mae McCleod' Captain

1953

Black 13 Film ★ 7,0

Black 13

Joe

1953

The Steel Bayonet Film ★ 5,7

The Steel Bayonet

Pte. Thomas

1958

She Always Gets Their Man Film ★ 6,0

She Always Gets Their Man

Runkle

1962

Meet Mr. Callaghan Film ★ 6,5

Meet Mr. Callaghan

Coffee Stallkeeper

1954

Prelude to Fame Film ★ 6,8

Prelude to Fame

Lucio

1950

Stop Press Girl Film ★ 5,9

Stop Press Girl

Crook (uncredited)

1949

Secret Venture Film ★ 6,5

Secret Venture

Stevens

1955

The Small Voice Film ★ 6,4

The Small Voice

Frankie

1948

The Stick Up Film ★ 5,6

The Stick Up

Sam

1977

3 Steps to the Gallows Film ★ 6,7

3 Steps to the Gallows

Carter, boxing fan

1953

Johnny on the Run Film ★ 8,3

Johnny on the Run

1953

The Rescue Squad Film ★ 6,0

The Rescue Squad

Barrow-Boy

1963

River Beat Film ★ 6,3

River Beat

Adams

1954

Film ★ 9,0

Three's Company

The Drunk

1953

The Big Money Film ★ 7,0

The Big Money

'Wilberforce'

1958

Sleeping Car to Trieste Film ★ 6,8

Sleeping Car to Trieste

Spiegel

1948

Man from Tangier Film ★ 5,1

Man from Tangier

Spade

1957

Film

The Ship That Couldn't Stop

Mr. Bollanger

1961

Strangler's Web Film ★ 7,7

Strangler's Web

John Vichelski

1965

Don't Ever Leave Me Film ★ 7,7

Don't Ever Leave Me

Jim Kennedy

1949

Revenge of Billy the Kid Film ★ 4,9

Revenge of Billy the Kid

Gyles MacDonald

1992

The Diamond Wizard Film ★ 5,9

The Diamond Wizard

Hoxie

1954

The Reluctant Bride Film ★ 6,3

The Reluctant Bride

Boxer

1955

Delayed Action Film ★ 5,8

Delayed Action

Honey

1954

Love in Pawn Film ★ 7,2

Love in Pawn

Alaric

1953

The Monster of Highgate Ponds Film ★ 6,7

The Monster of Highgate Ponds

Bert

1961

Devil's Point Film ★ 7,0

Devil's Point

Bennett, short henchman

1954

William Comes to Town Film ★ 9,0

William Comes to Town

Stall-holder

1948

13 East Street Film ★ 6,0

13 East Street

Joey Long

1952

Pit of Darkness Film ★ 6,2

Pit of Darkness

Fisher

1961

Recoil Film ★ 5,8

Recoil

Parkes

1953

Film ★ 6,7

Design for Loving

Bernie

1962

Five Have a Mystery to Solve Film ★ 7,0

Five Have a Mystery to Solve

Emilio

1964

Film ★ 10,0

The Secret of the Forest

Len

1956

All Coppers Are... Film ★ 7,1

All Coppers Are...

Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)

1972

Echo of Diana Film ★ 5,8

Echo of Diana

Newsagent

1963

Film ★ 9,0

Light Fingers

The Major

1957

A Case For P.C. 49 Film ★ 7,0

A Case For P.C. 49

Chubby Price

1951

It's a Great Day Film ★ 6,4

It's a Great Day

Charlie Mead's Mate

1955

Film ★ 9,0

Hoverbug

Mr. Gutteridge

1969

Film

Help Yourself

Charlie

1950

Film ★ 6,0

Scrapbook for 1933

(voice)

1950

Film ★ 10,0

The Copter Kids

Benny Baker

1976