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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Joseph Andrews | Ruffian | 1977-03-09 |
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Candleshoe | Mr. McCress | 1977-12-16 |
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The Copter Kids | Benny Baker | 1976-02-01 |
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I racconti di Canterbury | The Carpenter | 1972-09-02 |
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All Coppers Are... | Heart Attack Victim (uncredited) | 1972-01-24 |
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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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The Adventurers | Detective | 1970-03-25 |
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Man of Violence | Cafe Owner | 1970-06-01 |
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The Oblong Box | Ruddock | 1969-06-11 |
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Hoverbug | Mr. Gutteridge | 1969-06-01 |
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Kaleidoscope | Poker Player | 1966-07-01 |
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Press for Time | Sewerman | 1966-12-08 |
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Fahrenheit 451 | Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited) | 1966-09-07 |
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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 | 1963-12-12 |
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A Stitch in Time | Workman with Mallet (uncredited) | 1963-12-01 |
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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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The Fast Lady | Bandit | 1962-12-14 |
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She Always Gets Their Man | Runkle | 1962-01-01 |
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Pit of Darkness | Fisher | 1961-10-01 |
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The Monster of Highgate Ponds | Bert | 1961-05-01 |
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The Ship That Couldn't Stop | Mr. Bollanger | 1961-07-02 |
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Sink the Bismarck! | Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited) | 1960-02-11 |
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Carry On Constable | Matt | 1960-02-22 |
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Too Hot to Handle | Tourist Guide | 1960-12-01 |
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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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Look Back in Anger | Picky Shopper (uncredited) | 1959-09-15 |
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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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The Big Money | 'Wilberforce' | 1958-06-09 |
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Quatermass 2 | Harry | 1957-06-17 |
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Light Fingers | The Major | 1957-08-01 |
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Man from Tangier | Spade | 1957-11-25 |
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The Secret of the Forest | Len | 1956-01-01 |
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Breakaway | Barney | 1956-07-16 |
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Barbados Quest | Barney Wilson | 1955-07-01 |
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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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The Delavine Affair | Sammy | 1955-01-03 |
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Secret Venture | Stevens | 1955-11-10 |
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One Good Turn | Boxing Spectator (uncredited) | 1955-01-04 |
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The Sea Shall Not Have Them | Dray | 1954-06-01 |
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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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Devil's Point | Bennett, short henchman | 1954-12-07 |
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Delayed Action | Honey | 1954-07-01 |
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Impulse | uncredited | 1954-01-01 |
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River Beat | Adams | 1954-02-01 |
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Scarlet Web | Barman | 1954-06-01 |
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Park Plaza 605 | Ted Birston | 1953-09-11 |
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Genevieve | Trumpeter (Uncredited) | 1953-05-28 |
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Black 13 | Joe | 1953-11-30 |
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3 Steps to the Gallows | Carter, boxing fan | 1953-12-01 |
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The Steel Key | 'The Mae McCleod' Captain | 1953-05-01 |
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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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Hot Ice | Jacobson | 1953-02-23 |
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Small Town Story | Turner | 1953-12-21 |
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Love in Pawn | Alaric | 1953-11-23 |
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Recoil | Parkes | 1953-08-01 |
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The Red Beret | American Sergeant | 1953-08-11 |
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Albert R.N. | Hank | 1953-11-23 |
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Moulin Rouge | Dodo (uncredited) | 1952-12-23 |
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Top Secret | Jersey Sailor | 1952-11-10 |
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Venetian Bird | Moretto | 1952-10-01 |
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13 East Street | Joey Long | 1952-03-01 |
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A Case For P.C. 49 | Chubby Price | 1951-08-01 |
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The Quiet Woman | Lefty Brown | 1951-03-01 |
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Scrapbook for 1933 | (voice) | 1950-02-06 |
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Prelude to Fame | Lucio | 1950-05-02 |
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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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Obsession | American Sailor Promoting Book | 1949-08-03 |
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Melody Club | Max | 1949-07-01 |
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Stop Press Girl | Crook (uncredited) | 1949-06-02 |
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Helter Skelter | Barman (uncredited) | 1949-08-07 |
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I Was a Male War Bride | Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited) | 1949-08-26 |
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Don't Ever Leave Me | Jim Kennedy | 1949-07-19 |
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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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The Small Voice | Frankie | 1948-11-27 |
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No Orchids for Miss Blandish | Barney | 1948-04-15 |
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Woman Hater | Reporter (uncredited) | 1948-10-13 |
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Just William's Luck | Tonks | 1947-12-17 |
