1918-02-11 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
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Revenge of Billy the Kid | Gyles MacDonald | 1992-01-01 |
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The Krays | Referee | 1990-04-27 |
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Batman | Scientist | 1989-06-21 |
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The Holcroft Covenant | Hard Hat | 1985-09-20 |
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The Prisoner of Zenda | 1979-08-17 | |
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Resting Rough | 1979-06-01 | |
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The Stick Up | Sam | 1977-04-10 |
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Candleshoe | Mr. McCress | 1977-12-16 |
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Joseph Andrews | Ruffian | 1977-03-09 |
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The Copter Kids | Benny Baker | 1976-02-01 |
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All Coppers Are... | Heart Attack Victim (uncredited) | 1972-01-24 |
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I racconti di Canterbury | The Carpenter | 1972-09-02 |
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Macbeth | First Murderer | 1971-12-20 |
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The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes | Cabby | 1970-10-29 |
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Man of Violence | Cafe Owner | 1970-06-01 |
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The Adventurers | Detective | 1970-03-25 |
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Hoverbug | Mr. Gutteridge | 1969-06-01 |
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The Oblong Box | Ruddock | 1969-06-11 |
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Press for Time | Sewerman | 1966-01-01 |
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Fahrenheit 451 | Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited) | 1966-09-07 |
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Kaleidoscope | Poker Player | 1966-07-01 |
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Strangler's Web | John Vichelski | 1965-08-01 |
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Five Have a Mystery to Solve | Emilio | 1964-05-01 |
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The Rescue Squad | Barrow-Boy | 1963-01-01 |
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Echo of Diana | Newsagent | 1963-05-01 |
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Design for Loving | Bernie | 1962-03-01 |
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She Always Gets Their Man | Runkle | 1962-01-01 |
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The Fast Lady | Bandit | 1962-12-14 |
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The Monster of Highgate Ponds | Bert | 1961-05-01 |
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Pit of Darkness | Fisher | 1961-10-01 |
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The Ship That Couldn't Stop | Mr. Bollanger | 1961-07-02 |
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Carry On Constable | Matt | 1960-02-22 |
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Sink the Bismarck! | Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited) | 1960-02-11 |
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The Flesh and the Fiends | Drunken Sailor | 1960-02-02 |
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Surprise Package | Oscar | 1960-09-29 |
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Too Hot to Handle | Tourist Guide | 1960-12-01 |
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Look Back in Anger | Picky Shopper (uncredited) | 1959-09-15 |
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The Big Money | 'Wilberforce' | 1958-06-09 |
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Fiend Without a Face | Sgt. Kasper | 1958-07-03 |
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The Steel Bayonet | Pte. Thomas | 1958-02-01 |
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Light Fingers | The Major | 1957-08-01 |
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Quatermass 2 | Harry | 1957-05-24 |
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Man from Tangier | Spade | 1957-11-25 |
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Breakaway | Barney | 1956-07-16 |
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The Secret of the Forest | Len | 1956-01-01 |
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The Delavine Affair | Sammy | 1955-01-03 |
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It's a Great Day | Charlie Mead's Mate | 1955-01-01 |
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The Reluctant Bride | Boxer | 1955-08-01 |
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Secret Venture | Stevens | 1955-11-10 |
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Barbados Quest | Barney Wilson | 1955-07-01 |
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River Beat | Adams | 1954-02-01 |
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Devil's Point | Bennett, short henchman | 1954-12-07 |
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Meet Mr. Callaghan | Coffee Stallkeeper | 1954-06-01 |
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The Diamond Wizard | Hoxie | 1954-04-01 |
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Scarlet Web | Barman | 1954-06-01 |
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The Sea Shall Not Have Them | Dray | 1954-06-01 |
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Impulse | uncredited | 1954-01-01 |
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Delayed Action | Honey | 1954-07-01 |
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3 Steps to the Gallows | Carter, boxing fan | 1953-12-01 |
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Recoil | Parkes | 1953-08-01 |
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Love in Pawn | Alaric | 1953-11-23 |
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Park Plaza 605 | Ted Birston | 1953-09-11 |
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The Steel Key | 'The Mae McCleod' Captain | 1953-05-01 |
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Genevieve | Trumpeter (Uncredited) | 1953-05-28 |
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Albert R.N. | Hank | 1953-11-23 |
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The Red Beret | American Sergeant | 1953-08-11 |
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Black 13 | Joe | 1953-11-30 |
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Three's Company | The Drunk | 1953-10-26 |
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Johnny on the Run | 1953-06-01 | |
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Moulin Rouge | Dodo (uncredited) | 1952-12-23 |
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13 East Street | Joey Long | 1952-03-01 |
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Venetian Bird | Moretto | 1952-10-01 |
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Top Secret | Jersey Sailor | 1952-11-10 |
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The Quiet Woman | Lefty Brown | 1951-03-01 |
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A Case For P.C. 49 | Chubby Price | 1951-08-01 |
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Scrapbook for 1933 | (voice) | 1950-02-06 |
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Help Yourself | Charlie | 1950-02-15 |
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Quel bandito sono io | Pete | 1950-05-11 |
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I Was a Male War Bride | Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited) | 1949-08-26 |
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Melody Club | Max | 1949-07-01 |
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Helter Skelter | Barman | 1949-01-07 |
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Don't Ever Leave Me | Jim Kennedy | 1949-07-19 |
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Obsession | American Sailor Promoting Book | 1949-08-03 |
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Stop Press Girl | Crook (uncredited) | 1949-06-02 |
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No Orchids for Miss Blandish | Barney | 1948-04-15 |
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The Small Voice | Frankie | 1948-11-27 |
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William Comes to Town | Stall-holder | 1948-12-31 |
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Sleeping Car to Trieste | Spiegel | 1948-10-06 |
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Woman Hater | Reporter (uncredited) | 1948-10-13 |
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Just William's Luck | Tonks | 1947-12-17 |
