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

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, Leslie Norman,

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and

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. Balfour had parts in many popular TV shows of the era including '' Educated Evans'', '' Mess Mates'', ''

Danger Man ''Danger Man'' (retitled ''Secret Agent'' in the United States for the revived series, and ''Destination Danger'' and ''John Drake'' in other overseas markets) is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again ...

'', '' The Avengers'', ''

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'', ''

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'', '' Rogue's Gallery'', ''

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'', ''

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'', 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.

Selected filmography

* '' Just William's Luck'' (1948) as Jenks * '' No Orchids for Miss Blandish'' (1948) as Barney * '' Sleeping Car to Trieste'' (1948) as Spiegel (uncredited) * '' Woman Hater'' (1948) as Reporter (uncredited) * ''

The Small Voice ''The Small Voice'' (US title: ''The Hideout'') is a 1948 British thriller film directed by Fergus McDonell and starring Valerie Hobson, James Donald and Howard Keel (credited as Harold Keel). The film is part of a group of British film noir ...

'' (1948) as Frankie * '' William Comes to Town'' (1948) as Stall-holder * '' Stop Press Girl'' (1949) as Crook (uncredited) * '' Don't Ever Leave Me'' (1949) as Jim Kennedy * '' Helter Skelter'' (1949) as Barman (uncredited) * '' Melody Club'' (1949) as Max * '' Obsession'' (1949) as American sailor * '' I Was a Male War Bride'' (1949) as Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited) * '' Prelude to Fame'' (1950) as Lucio * '' Cage of Gold'' (1950) as American Soldier (uncredited) * '' Her Favourite Husband'' (1950) as Pete * '' Blackout'' (1950) as Tom (uncredited) * '' The Quiet Woman'' (1951) as Lefty * '' A Case for PC 49'' (1951) as Chubby Price * '' 13 East Street'' (1952) as Joey Long * ''

Venetian Bird ''Venetian Bird'' (U.S. title ''The Assassin'') is a 1952 British thriller film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Richard Todd, Eva Bartok and John Gregson. The screenplay was adapted by Victor Canning from his 1950 Venetian Bird (novel), no ...

'' (1952) as Moretto * ''

Top Secret Classified information is confidential material that a government deems to be sensitive information which must be protected from unauthorized disclosure that requires special handling and dissemination controls. Access is restricted by law or ...

'' (1952) as Jersey Sailor * ''

Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge (, ; ) is a cabaret in Paris, on Boulevard de Clichy, at Place Blanche, the intersection of, and terminus of Rue Blanche. In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was co-founded by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller, who also owned the Olympia (Par ...

'' (1952) as Dodo (uncredited) * '' Hot Ice'' (1952) as Jacobson * '' Three Steps to the Gallows'' (1953) as Carter - boxing fan * ''

Genevieve Genevieve (; ; also called ''Genovefa'' and ''Genofeva''; 419/422 AD – 502/512 AD) was a consecrated virgin, and is one of the two patron saints of Paris in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. Her feast day is on 3 January. Rec ...

'' (1953) as Trumpeter (uncredited) * '' The Steel Key'' (1953) as Sailor (uncredited) * '' The Captain's Paradise'' (1953) as Customs official No. 2 * '' Johnny on the Run'' (1953) as Fingers * '' The Red Beret'' (1953) as American Sergeant * ''

Recoil Recoil (often called knockback, kickback or simply kick) is the rearward thrust generated when a gun is being discharged. In technical terms, the recoil is a result of conservation of momentum, for according to Newton's third law the force requ ...

'' (1953) as Parkes * '' Park Plaza 605'' (1953) as Ted Birston * ''Three's Company'' (1953) as The Drunk (segment "Take a Number' story) * '' Albert R.N.'' (1953) as Hank * '' Black 13'' (1953) as Joe * '' Small Town Story'' (1953) as Turner (uncredited) * '' Love in Pawn'' (1953) as Alaric * '' Escape by Night'' (1953) as Bearded Reporter (uncredited) * '' River Beat'' (1954) as Adams * '' The Diamond'' (1954) as Hoxie * '' The Scarlet Web'' (1954) as Coffee Stallkeeper (uncredited) * '' Delayed Action'' (1954) as Honey * ''

The Belles of St. Trinian's ''The Belles of St Trinian's'' is a 1954 British comedy film, directed by Frank Launder, co-written by Launder and Sidney Gilliat, and starring Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley. Inspired by British cartoonist Ron ...

'' (1954) as Bus Driver (uncredited) * '' The Sea Shall Not Have Them'' (1954) as Dray * '' Devil's Point'' (1954) as Bennett, short henchman * '' Impulse'' (1954) as Sailor (uncredited) * '' Delavine Affair'' (1955) as Sammy * '' One Good Turn'' (1955) as Boxing Booth Spectator (uncredited) * '' The Gilded Cage'' (1955) as USAF staff (uncredited) * '' Track the Man Down'' (1955) (uncredited) * '' Barbados Quest'' (1955) as Barney Wilson * '' Reluctant Bride'' (1955) as Boxer * '' Gentlemen Marry Brunettes'' (1955) as Stage Doorman * '' Secret Venture'' (1955) as Stevens * '' It's a Great Day'' (1956) as Charlie Mead's Mate * '' The Secret of the Forest'' (1956) as Len * '' Reach for the Sky'' (1956) as Orderly (uncredited) * '' Breakaway'' (1956) as Barney * '' The Big Money'' (1956) as 'Wilberforce' * '' Hour of Decision'' (1957) as Barman * '' Quatermass 2'' (1957) as Harry * '' The Steel Bayonet'' (1957) as Pvt. Thomas * ''Light Fingers'' (1957) as The Major * '' Man from Tangier'' (1957) as Spade Murphy * '' Fiend Without a Face'' (1958) as Sgt. Kasper * '' Look Back in Anger'' (1959) as Picky Shopper (uncredited) * ''

The Flesh and the Fiends ''The Flesh and the Fiends'' (US title ''Mania''; also known as ''The Fielndish Ghouls'' and ''Psycho Killers'') is a 1960 British horror film directed by John Gilling and starring Peter Cushing, June Laverick and Donald Pleasence. It was w ...

'' (1960) as Drunken Sailor * '' Sink the Bismarck!'' (1960) as Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited) * '' Carry On Constable'' (1960) as Matt * '' Too Hot to Handle'' (1960) as Tourist guide * '' Make Mine Mink'' (1960) as Rowson's Butler * '' Surprise Package'' (1960) as Oscar (uncredited) * '' The Hellfire Club'' (1961) as John - Juggler (uncredited) * ''The Monster of Highgate Ponds'' (1961) as Bert * '' The Treasure of Monte Cristo'' (1961) as Pepe * ''

Pit of Darkness ''Pit of Darkness'' is a 1961 British thriller second feature ('B') film, directed and written by Lance Comfort and starring William Franklyn and Moira Redmond. It is based on the 1960 novel ''To Dusty Death'' by Hugh McCutcheon.The film is ...

'' (1961) as Fisher * '' Design for Loving'' (1962) as Bernie * '' She Always Gets Their Man'' (1962) as Runkle * '' The Fast Lady'' (1962) as Bandit #2 * ''The Rescue Squad'' (1963) as Barrow-Boy * '' Echo of Diana'' (1963) as Newsagent * '' A Stitch in Time'' (1963) as Workman with Mallet (uncredited) * '' Five Have a Mystery to Solve'' (1964) as Emilio * '' The Sicilians'' (1964) as Stage Door Keeper * '' Strangler's Web'' (1965) as John Vichelski * '' The Sandwich Man'' (1966) as Workman (uncredited) * ''

Kaleidoscope A kaleidoscope () is an optical instrument with two or more reflecting surfaces (or mirrors) tilted to each other at an angle, so that one or more (parts of) objects on one end of these mirrors are shown as a symmetrical pattern when viewed fro ...

'' (1966) as Poker Player #4 * '' Where the Bullets Fly'' (1966) as Band Leader * ''

Fahrenheit 451 ''Fahrenheit 451'' is a 1953 Dystopian fiction, dystopian novel by American writer Ray Bradbury. It presents a future American society where books have been outlawed and "firemen" Book burning, burn any that are found. The novel follows in the ...

'' (1966) as Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited) * '' Press for Time'' (1966) as Sewerman * ''Trouble with Junia'' (1967) as Joe Pennyworth * '' The Fixer'' (1968) as Boatman (uncredited) * '' The Oblong Box'' (1969) as Ruddock * ''Hoverbug'' (1969) as Mr. Gutteridge * '' The Adventurers'' (1970) as Detective * '' The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes'' (1970) as Cabby * ''

Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...

'' (1971) as First Murderer * '' Man of Violence'' (1971) as Cafe Owner * '' All Coppers Are...'' (1972) as Heart Attack Victim (uncredited) * ''

The Canterbury Tales ''The Canterbury Tales'' () is a collection of 24 stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. The book presents the tales, which are mostly written in verse, as part of a fictional storytelling contest held ...

'' (1972) as The Carpenter (segment the Miller's Tale) * ''Wreck Raisers'' (1972) as Mr. Trevor * ''The Copter Kids'' (1976) as Benny Baker * ''

Joseph Andrews ''The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams'', was the first full-length novel by the English author Henry Fielding to be published and among the early novels in the English language. Appearing in 1742 ...

'' (1977) as Ruffian * '' Come Play with Me'' (1977) as Nosher * '' Candleshoe'' (1977) as Mr. McCress * '' The Stick Up'' (1977) as Sam * '' The Prisoner of Zenda'' (1979) as Luger * '' The Holcroft Covenant'' (1985) as Hard Hat * ''

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

'' (1989) as Axis Chemicals scientist * '' The Krays'' (1990) as Referee * ''Revenge of Billy the Kid'' (1992) as Gyles MacDonald (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Balfour, Michael 20th-century English male actors English male film actors English male television actors English male stage actors Actors from Dover, Kent Male actors from Kent 1918 births 1997 deaths Deaths from cancer in England 20th-century English sculptors English male sculptors