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
Revenge of Billy the Kid
Gyles MacDonald
The Krays
Referee
Batman
Scientist
The Holcroft Covenant
Hard Hat
The Prisoner of Zenda
Resting Rough
Candleshoe
Mr. McCress
The Stick Up
Sam
Joseph Andrews
Ruffian
The Copter Kids
Benny Baker
The Canterbury Tales
The Carpenter
All Coppers Are...
Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)
Macbeth
First Murderer
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Cabby
Man of Violence
Cafe Owner
The Adventurers
Detective
The Oblong Box
Ruddock
Hoverbug
Mr. Gutteridge
Press for Time
Sewerman
Fahrenheit 451
Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)
Kaleidoscope
Poker Player
Strangler's Web
John Vichelski
Five Have a Mystery to Solve
Emilio
The Rescue Squad
Barrow-Boy
A Stitch in Time
Workman with Mallet (uncredited)
Echo of Diana
Newsagent
The Fast Lady
Bandit
Design for Loving
Bernie
She Always Gets Their Man
Runkle
Pit of Darkness
Fisher
The Ship That Couldn't Stop
Mr. Bollanger
The Monster of Highgate Ponds
Bert
Too Hot to Handle
Tourist Guide
Surprise Package
Oscar
Carry On Constable
Matt
Sink the Bismarck!
Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)
The Flesh and the Fiends
Drunken Sailor
Look Back in Anger
Picky Shopper (uncredited)
Fiend Without a Face
Sgt. Kasper
The Big Money
'Wilberforce'
The Steel Bayonet
Pte. Thomas
Man from Tangier
Spade
Light Fingers
The Major
Quatermass 2
Harry
Breakaway
Barney
The Secret of the Forest
Len
Secret Venture
Stevens
The Reluctant Bride
Boxer
Barbados Quest
Barney Wilson
One Good Turn
Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
The Delavine Affair
Sammy
It's a Great Day
Charlie Mead's Mate
Devil's Point
Bennett, short henchman
Delayed Action
Honey
The Sea Shall Not Have Them
Dray
Scarlet Web
Barman
Meet Mr. Callaghan
Coffee Stallkeeper
The Diamond Wizard
Hoxie
River Beat
Adams
Impulse
uncredited
Small Town Story
Turner
3 Steps to the Gallows
Carter, boxing fan
Black 13
Joe
Love in Pawn
Alaric
Albert R.N.
Hank
Three's Company
The Drunk
Park Plaza 605
Ted Birston
The Red Beret
American Sergeant
Recoil
Parkes
Johnny on the Run
Genevieve
Trumpeter (Uncredited)
The Steel Key
'The Mae McCleod' Captain
Hot Ice
Jacobson
Moulin Rouge
Dodo (uncredited)
Top Secret
Jersey Sailor
Venetian Bird
Moretto
13 East Street
Joey Long
A Case For P.C. 49
Chubby Price
The Quiet Woman
Lefty Brown
Her Favourite Husband
Pete
Prelude to Fame
Lucio
Help Yourself
Charlie
Scrapbook for 1933
(voice)
I Was a Male War Bride
Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)
Helter Skelter
Barman (uncredited)
Obsession
American Sailor Promoting Book
Don't Ever Leave Me
Jim Kennedy
Melody Club
Max
Stop Press Girl
Crook (uncredited)
William Comes to Town
Stall-holder
The Small Voice
Frankie
Woman Hater
Reporter (uncredited)
Sleeping Car to Trieste
Spiegel
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Barney
Just William's Luck
Tonks