View for person of id: 18763
Michael Balfour
Born: 11th Feb 1918 Dover, Kent, England, UK - Died 24th Oct 1997
Dept: 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
[ToDo] Show list of extra photos here.
Film and Tv Credits
Total number of credits listed: 117
Film: 95 (81%)
Television: 22 (19%)
Remaining genres not in graph: Science Fiction, Fantasy, History, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Documentary
Filmography
1992
The horny farmer McDonald has his wicked way with a goat. Life returns to normal for the family, until the goat gives birth! The mutant off spring, ca ... view
Character:
Gyles MacDonald
1990
Twins Ronnie and Reggie Kray are raised in east London, under the influence of their hateful but doting mother Violet. As they grow up, Ronnie's viole ... view
Character:
Referee
1989
Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a cost ... view
Character:
Scientist
1985
A man who was a confidant of Adolf Hitler dies and leaves a fortune to make amends for his Nazi past—but his son has to search the world to find it. ... view
Character:
Hard Hat
Jan 1985 (first aired)
Dempsey and Makepeace is a British television crime drama made by London Weekend Television for ITV, created and produced by Ranald Graham. The leadin ... view
Character:
Jim Kelly (1 ep.)
1979
Anthony Hope's classic tale gets a decidedly 'un-classic' treatment at the hands of Peter Sellers. Following the story somewhat, friends of the new Ki ... view
Character:
1979
An old mattress is thrown away but plays an unlikely part in the lives of those people who come across it. ... view
Character:
1977
When ex-con artist Harry claims that a secret treasure is hidden inside Candleshoe, an English estate, he creates an elaborate plan to find and steal ... view
Character:
Mr. McCress
1977
Duke Turnbeau (David Soul) has come to England, in the 1930s, as a way to improve his fortunes. For some reason, he believes that his larcenous ways w ... view
Character:
Sam
1977
Lady Booby alias 'Belle', the lively wife of the fat landed squire Sir Thomas Booby, has a lusty eye on the attractive, intelligent villager Joseph An ... view
Character:
Ruffian
Character:
Benny Baker
Original title: I racconti di Canterbury
1972
Glimpses of Chaucer penning his famous work are sprinkled through this re-enactment of several of his stories. ... view
Character:
The Carpenter
1972
A young policeman and a small-time crook are both involved with the same girl. ... view
Character:
Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)
1971
Scotland, 11th century. Driven by the twisted prophecy of three witches and the ruthless ambition of his wife, warlord Macbeth, bold and brave, but al ... view
Character:
First Murderer
Sep 1971 (first aired)
An English aristocrat and an American millionaire come together to tackle crime. ... view
Character:
Donkey Cart Driver (1 ep.)
1970
When a bored Sherlock eagerly takes the case of Gabrielle Valladon following an attempt on her life, the search for her missing husband leads to Loch ... view
Character:
Cabby
1970
Moon is a mercenary who joins forces with two crooked cops in an attempt to steal $90 million in gold from an Arab country decimated by political chao ... view
Character:
Cafe Owner
1970
The wealthy playboy son of an assassinated South American diplomat discovers that his father was murdered on orders of the corrupt president of the co ... view
Character:
Detective
Sep 1969 (first aired)
Department S is a United Kingdom spy-fi adventure series produced by ITC Entertainment. The series consists of 28 episodes which originally aired in 1 ... view
Character:
Eccles (1 ep.)
1969
Evil lurks in the gloomy house at Markham Manor where a deranged Sir Edward is the chained prisoner of his brother Julian. When Sir Edward escapes, he ... view
Character:
Ruddock
1969
The young inventors Dick and Jenny Brewster, build their own 'Hoverbug' and hope to win the race which has been organised for home-made Hovercraft, bu ... view
Character:
Mr. Gutteridge
Apr 1969 (first aired)
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder is based on a character created by Edgar Wallace in a series of 1925 short stories of the same name, Hugh Burden played th ... view
Character:
Albert (1 ep.)
Sep 1968 (first aired)
An anthology of 1920s set plays and musicals, transmissioned from 10 September to 10 December 1968 on BBC One. ... view
Character:
Porky (1 ep.)
Jun 1968 (first aired)
Adaptation of Stella Gibbons's comic novel of the same name. Following the death of her parents, 20-year-old Flora Poste (Sarah Badel) finds herself a ... view
Character:
Earl P. Neck (3 ep.)
Jan 1968 (first aired)
Rogues' Gallery was a British television series which first aired on ITV between 1968 and 1969. It was set around London's Newgate Prison in the 18th ... view
Character:
Tom Meatyard (6 ep.)
Sep 1967 (first aired)
After resigning, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is really a bizarre Kafkaesque prison. His warders de ... view
Character:
Will (1 ep.)
1966
Norman is quite happy selling newspapers outside Westminster station but his Grandfather (the Prime Minister) wants to get him "a more responsible job ... view
Character:
Sewerman
Character:
Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)
1966
Barney Lincoln is a rambling gambling man who scores sensational wins at poker and chemin de fer because he has succeeded in marking the original plat ... view
Character:
Poker Player
1965
What appears to be a cut-and-dried case of murder of an aging one time showgirl on Hampstead Heath by her lover is complicated by several factors, inc ... view
Character:
John Vichelski
Jul 1965 (first aired)
Comedy following Albert Curfew, a man for whom unemployability appears to be no object whatsoever. Stars Donald Churchill, Norman Bird and Dilys Laye. ... view
Character:
Reginald (6 ep.)
Feb 1965 (first aired)
A British officer who served in Sicily during the Second World War returns to find himself embroiled in Mafia activities. ... view
Character:
Luigi (2 ep.)
1964
Four cousins meet a new friend who has strange powers over all the animals on Whispering Island. After discovering the crusader's treasure, they are i ... view
Character:
Emilio
1963
A party of children playing on a moor lose their toy aeroplane which flies through the window of a lonely tower. A multitude of objects found in the t ... view
Character:
Barrow-Boy
1963
An accident in the butchers shop leads Norman Pitkin and Mr Grimsdale to the hospital where, after causing the normal amount of chaos, Pitkin finds Li ... view
Character:
Workman with Mallet (uncredited)
1963
When a woman begins to investigate her husband's mysterious death in a plane accident she discovers the involvement of a woman known simply as Diana. ... view
Character:
Newsagent
1962
A Scottish civil servant must learn how to drive a Bentley to impress his girlfriend's tycoon father. ... view
Character:
Bandit
1962
Follows a beatnik artist who becomes a top fashion designer. ... view
Character:
Bernie
1962
The longtime tenants at a London women's hotel decide to take action when the newest resident, a sexy young flirt, begins stealing everyone's boyfrien ... view
Character:
Runkle
1961
When Richard Logan, the partner in a safe making firm, is found unconscious, on an old deserted bomb site, he finds that he has no recollection of the ... view
Character:
Fisher
1961
A ship powered by a nuclear reactor, is heading for the port of New York and is unable to slow down. ... view
Character:
Mr. Bollanger
1961
The story of three children who find themselves with a friendly monster that grows at an alarming rate. ... view
Character:
Bert
Jan 1961 (first aired)
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners. Jonathan Steed - an urbane, ... view
Character:
Tom (1 ep.)
1960
A French reporter working on a steamy story about the secret strip joints found in London's Soho district becomes involved in the lives of the owner a ... view
Character:
Tourist Guide
1960
Comic crime caper, set on a Greek island, starring Yul Brynner and Mitzi Gaynor. ... view
Character:
Oscar
Sep 1960 (first aired)
Danger Man is a British television series which was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGo ... view
Character:
Gaston (1 ep.)
1960
With a flu epidemic running rife, three new bumbling recruits are assigned to Inspector Mills police station. With help from Special Constable Gorse, ... view
Character:
Matt
1960
The story of the breakout of the German battleship Bismarck—accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen—during the early days of World War II. Th ... view
Character:
Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)
1960
Edinburgh surgeon Dr. Robert Knox requires cadavers for his research into the functioning of the human body; local ne'er-do-wells Burke and Hare find ... view
Character:
Drunken Sailor
1959
A disillusioned, angry university graduate comes to terms with his grudge against middle-class life and values. ... view
Character:
Picky Shopper (uncredited)
Sep 1959 (first aired)
The adventures of Interpol policemen Duval and Mornay as they fought against international drug-running, homicide, robbery and forgery. ... view
Character:
Russ (1 ep.)
Inspector Hill (1 ep.)
Sep 1958 (first aired)
'The Larkins' is a British television sitcom which was produced by Associated Television and aired on ITV. It aired for four series between 1958 to 19 ... view
Character:
Sharkey (1 ep.)
1958
An American airbase in Canada provokes resentment from the nearby residents after fallout from nuclear experiments at the base are blamed for a recent ... view
Character:
Sgt. Kasper
1958
Petty thief Willie Frith steals a suitcase full of bank notes, only to find out that they have been given all the same serial number. But this is only ... view
Character:
'Wilberforce'
1958
Tunis, 1943. Battle-weary troops of Company C have orders to occupy a derelict Tunisian farmhouse. They are to establish an artillery observation post ... view
Character:
Pte. Thomas
1957
International crook Armstrong flees post-war Tangier with priceless forgery plates and is pursued to London where he accidentally swaps coats in a bar ... view
Character:
Spade
1957
Humphrey assigns a "watchdog" to keep an eye on his wife Rose, whom he thinks is a thief. She isn't - but the watchdog is. ... view
Character:
The Major
1957
In England, a group of space scientists led by Bernard Quatermass, who have developed plans for the first Moon colony, learn that a secret, ostensibly ... view
Character:
Harry
May 1957 (first aired)
Captain of 'The Shipwreck' Grant Mitchell runs a cargo business, but finds himself often called on for help against problems, intrigue, and villainy o ... view
Character:
Alphonso Italian Ship's Engineer (22 ep.)
1956
When Johnny Matlock whisks away a cold war secret from under the noses of Berlin's top secret agents, his every move is followed when he returns to En ... view
Character:
Barney
Jul 1956 (first aired)
Armchair Theatre is a British television drama anthology series of single plays that ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produ ... view
Character:
Unknown/various (1 ep.)
Ward (1 ep.)
Mr. Bollanger (1 ep.)
Jul 1956 (first aired)
Hancock's Half Hour is a BBC television comedy series of the 1950s and 60s written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. The series starred Tony Hancock wit ... view
Character:
Unknown/various (2 ep.)
1956
Two children dig up an old Viking treasure ship and become involved with crooks who have buried their loot on the site. Specially made for children. ... view
Character:
Len
1955
An American is visiting Britain and finds himself in possession of a briefcase full of secret documents that the spies of many different countries see ... view
Character:
Stevens
Sep 1955 (first aired)
A series of three minute strange tales narrated by Peter Williams. ... view
Character:
Man (1 ep.)
1955
A money-to-burn and girl-chasing Texas oilman, and a sensitive, dignified entomologist find themselves in charge of a brood of wild kids whose parent ... view
Character:
Boxer
Jul 1955 (first aired)
Dixon of Dock Green was a BBC television series following the activities of police officers at a fictional Metropolitan Police station in the East End ... view
Character:
Joe Ward (1 ep.)
Pip Rutley (1 ep.)
Bill Nelson (1 ep.)
Nicky Medwin (1 ep.)
Hobbs (1 ep.)
1955
Special investigator Duke Martin is in London to investigate the authenticity of a rare postage stamp called the Barbados Overplate. Someone is willin ... view
Character:
Barney Wilson
1955
Norman is the oldest orphan at Greenwood Children's Home and now acts as their caretaker. All the orphans are very happy and well cared for. The adven ... view
Character:
Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
1955
Peter Reynolds stars as Rex Banner, a newspaperman who makes it his life's mission to track down a vicious gang of thieves. When his informant winds u ... view
Character:
Sammy
1955
Big screen spin off from the BBC TV series The Grove Family, ostensibly the first British soap opera. Bob Grove, a builder has problems with the counc ... view
Character:
Charlie Mead's Mate
1954
A Thames River barge operator finds a mysterious package dropped by smugglers. ... view
Character:
Bennett, short henchman
1954
Robert Ayres plays a moody author with a suicide complex. Ayres' melancholia plays right into the hands of a gang of thieves. For a lofty fee, they co ... view
Character:
Honey
1954
During the autumn of 1944, RAF Hudson, carrying a VIP passenger in possession of highly secret information, is shot down and ditches in the North Sea. ... view
Character:
Dray
1954
A young woman is framed for the murder of a wealthy man who met his death at the hands of his heirs. ... view
Character:
Coffee Stallkeeper
1954
An insurance investigator is framed for murder after a pretty woman hires him to recover a letter from a man who wants to blackmail her. ... view
Character:
Barman
1954
While in London trying to nab several fugitives who stole a million dollars from a U.S. Treasury vault, American federal agent Dennison (Dennis O'Keef ... view
Character:
Hoxie
1954
British diamond smugglers use the radiowoman (Phyllis Kirk) from a freighter docked on the Thames to unwittingly "mule" their swag, hidden in cigarett ... view
Character:
Adams
1954
An American realtor living in England is dissatisfied with what he believes to be his humdrum life. One weekend while his wife is out of town, he give ... view
Character:
uncredited
1953
Canadian ex-serviceman Bob Regan returns to Oldchester, the English town where he was posted during the war. Meeting up with his friend Mike, now mana ... view
Character:
Turner
1953
A U.S. sailor docks in London and in three days tries to save his brother from the gallows. ... view
Character:
Carter, boxing fan
1953
The son of a college professor who turns to a life of crime after killing a pedestrian in an automobile accident. ... view
Character:
Joe
1953
A British comedy about a struggling artist and his wife living on a houseboat. To raise money she pawns him! His new family takes a liking to him part ... view
Character:
Alaric
1953
The British inmates of a POW camp think they have an informer among them after several escape attempts fail. One of the prisoners constructs a dummy w ... view
Character:
Hank
1953
Compilation of 3 episodes of the TV series "Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Presents ...". "The Surgeon", "Take A Number" and "The Scream". ... view
Character:
The Drunk
1953
Suave private investigator Norman Conquest intercepts a secret message and meets a beautiful but foreign blonde lady in room 605 of the Park Plaza hot ... view
Character:
Ted Birston
1953
Steve MacKendrick resigns from the US Army after causing the needless death of a fellow officer. Wanting to serve in the war, he enlists as a Canadian ... view
Character:
American Sergeant
1953
A jeweller is killed in a gang robbery leaving the daughter as the only witness. When the police can't build a case against him she decides to go unde ... view
Character:
Parkes
1953
A Polish boy runs away from his unkind foster mother in Edinburgh and finds a new home in a lakeside village for orphans of all nations, after encount ... view
Character:
1953
Two friends driving in the London to Brighton vintage car rally bet on which of them will be the first to arrive back home. ... view
Character:
Trumpeter (Uncredited)
1953
An adventurer investigates the theft of a formula for hardened steel, assisted by his girlfriend. ... view
Character:
'The Mae McCleod' Captain
1953
An eccentric jewel-thief invites an assortment of people for a country house week-end, then keeps them prisoner after his plans to steal their jewels ... view
Character:
Jacobson
1952
In 1890 Paris, Moulin Rouge is a nightclub where crippled artist Toulouse-Lautrec feels like he fits in. In the following years, he meets two women wh ... view
Character:
Dodo (uncredited)
1952
A British Sanitary Engineer, goes on holiday with a set of plans for a new secret weapon which he has mistaken for his new plumbing invention. Everyon ... view
Character:
Jersey Sailor
1952
Private eye Edward Mercer travels to Venice to locate a man due a reward for his aid in the war. Shortly after arriving, he becomes the prime suspect ... view
Character:
Moretto
1952
When police inspector Gerald Blake wants to infiltrate a London stolen-goods gang, he does a thorough job of it. First, he robs a jewelry store, gets ... view
Character:
Joey Long
1951
A model’s scheme to murder a millionaire with the intention of inheriting his fortune is uncovered by a police constable. ... view
Character:
Chubby Price
1951
The former wife of a criminal moves to a coastal town and takes over the running of a bar known as The Quiet Woman. She becomes outraged when she disc ... view
Character:
Lefty Brown
Original title: Quel bandito sono io
1950
While casing a bank he intends to rob, gangster Leo discovers one of the clerks, Antonio, is his exact double. He kidnaps Antonio and robs the bank, p ... view
Character:
Pete
1950
While holidaying in Italy, Nick Morell, son of John Morell, a famous English philosopher and amateur musician, becomes friendly with young Guido, and ... view
Character:
Lucio
1950
Joe the Burglar explains how he goes about his job for the benefit of the audience, providing a lesson in how to avoid being broken into. ... view
Character:
Charlie
1950
A BAFTA nominated documentary reviewing news, sporting and royal events from 1933. ... view
Character:
(voice)
Jan 1950 (first aired)
Sunday Night Theatre was a long-running series of televised live television plays screened by BBC Television from early 1950 until 1959.
The producti ... view
Character:
Rudolfo (1 ep.)
1949
After marrying an American lieutenant with whom he was assigned to work in post-war Germany, a French captain attempts to find a way to accompany her ... view
Character:
Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)
1949
A detective gets involved with a wealthy socialite who can't seem to stop hiccuping. ... view
Character:
Barman (uncredited)
1949
A British psychiatrist devises a devilish revenge plot against his wife's lover. ... view
Character:
American Sailor Promoting Book
1949
Elderly crook Harry Denton, when challenged to prove he is "not past it," decides to kidnap Sheila Farlane, the 16 year old daughter of a famous actor ... view
Character:
Jim Kennedy
1949
Customers at the Melody Club are burgled while attending the the club. A detective investigates. ... view
Character:
Max
1949
A young woman leaves her backwards hometown to go to London to find a runaway suitor. What she doesn't know is that she has inherited a strange abili ... view
Character:
Crook (uncredited)
1948
William Brown attempts to secure more pay and shorter hours for schoolboys. ... view
Character:
Stall-holder
1948
A man and his wife take to their house some men they rescue from a road crash and then find they have picked up some dangerous criminals. ... view
Character:
Frankie
1948
An English lord who dislikes women meets a French movie star who dislikes men. ... view
Character:
Reporter (uncredited)
1948
Spies pursue a stolen diary aboard the Orient Express. ... view
Character:
Spiegel
1948
A sheltered heiress is abducted on her wedding night by a trio of cheap hoods. ... view
Character:
Barney
1947
Comic adventures of an 11-year-old boy and his neighborhood pals. ... view
Character:
Tonks