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
Tom
Donkey Cart Driver
Scientist
Bert
Gaston
Dodo (uncredited)
Will
Spiegel
Jim Kelly
Sewerman
Pete
Emilio
Russ
Inspector Hill
Rudolfo
Joe Ward
Pip Rutley
Bill Nelson
Nicky Medwin
Hobbs
Eccles
Oscar
Cafe Owner
Chubby Price
Referee
Matt
Lefty Brown
American Sailor Promoting Book
Lucio
First Murderer
Barney
Harry
Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)
'The Mae McCleod' Captain
Ted Birston
Coffee Stallkeeper
Joe
Pte. Thomas
The Major
Barman
Mr. McCress
Bandit
Reporter (uncredited)
Hard Hat
Trumpeter (Uncredited)
Joey Long
Stevens
Dray
Ruddock
Fisher
Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)
Sharkey
Adams
Parkes
Alaric
Porky
Jim Kennedy
Workman with Mallet (uncredited)
Charlie
Gyles MacDonald
The Drunk
(voice)
The Carpenter
Spade
Sam
Stall-holder
Max
uncredited
Hank
Harry
Freddy
Tourist Guide
Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)
American Sergeant
Frankie
Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)
Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
Mr. Gutteridge
Poker Player
Barney Wilson
Cabby
Bennett, short henchman
Detective
Moretto
Alphonso Italian Ship's Engineer
Carter, boxing fan
Tom Meatyard
Sgt. Kasper
Benny Baker
John Vichelski
'Wilberforce'
Drunken Sailor
Charlie Mead's Mate
Jersey Sailor
Albert
Bernie
Tonks
Crook (uncredited)
Sammy
Hoxie
Barman (uncredited)
Ward
Mr. Bollanger
Luigi
Reginald
Boxer
Ruffian
Runkle
Picky Shopper (uncredited)
Barrow-Boy
Mr. Bollanger
Len
Barney
Newsagent
Honey
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