Cast & creator
Michael Balfour
Best known for The Avengers, ITV Saturday Night Theatre, ITV Saturday Night Theatre
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
Also known as: Michael S. Creighton-Balfour, Michael Creighton Balfour
97
film credits
37
television credits
134
1947–1992 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (134)
Showing 134 of 134 credits
The Avengers
Tom
1961
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Tom Meatyard
1969ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Meatyard
1969
Sunday Night Theatre
Rudolfo
1950
Danger Man
Gaston
1960
The Persuaders!
Donkey Cart Driver
1971
New Scotland Yard
Fred Larch
1972
Dixon of Dock Green
Joe Ward
1955Dixon of Dock Green
Pip Rutley
1955Dixon of Dock Green
Bill Nelson
1955Dixon of Dock Green
Nicky Medwin
1955Dixon of Dock Green
Hobbs
1955
The Prisoner
Will
1967
Batman
Scientist
1989
Hancock's Half Hour
1956
Dempsey and Makepeace
Jim Kelly
1985
Interpol Calling
Russ
1959Interpol Calling
Inspector Hill
1959
Department S
Eccles
1969
Steptoe and Son
Charlie Miller
1962
The Larkins
Sharkey
1958The Jazz Age
Porky
1968Theatre '70
Chuck
1960Late Night Theatre
Alf
1972
Fahrenheit 451
Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)
1966
The Cheaters
Harry
1960The Cheaters
Freddy
1960
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder
Albert
1969
The Canterbury Tales
The Carpenter
1972
Armchair Theatre
1956Armchair Theatre
Ward
1956Armchair Theatre
Mr. Bollanger
1956
Quatermass 2
Harry
1957
Mickey Dunne
Porridge
1967
Macbeth
First Murderer
1971
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Cabby
1970Kelly Monteith
1979
Strange Experiences
Man
1955
Moulin Rouge
Dodo (uncredited)
1952It's Not Me - It's Them!
Reginald
1965
Look Back in Anger
Picky Shopper (uncredited)
1959
Sink the Bismarck!
Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)
1960
Too Hot to Handle
Tourist Guide
1960
The Oblong Box
Ruddock
1969
Cold Comfort Farm
Earl P. Neck
1968
The Prisoner of Zenda
1979Rogues' Gallery
Tom Meatyard
1968
The Adventurers
Detective
1970
The Krays
Referee
1990Reluctant Bandit
Luigi
1965
Candleshoe
Mr. McCress
1977
The Holcroft Covenant
Hard Hat
1985
The Flesh and the Fiends
Drunken Sailor
1960
Sleeping Car to Trieste
Spiegel
1948
Fiend Without a Face
Sgt. Kasper
1958Escape
Beaver
1967
Kaleidoscope
Poker Player
1966
I Was a Male War Bride
Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)
1949
Casanova
1987
Venetian Bird
Moretto
1952
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
Barney
1948
The Sea Shall Not Have Them
Dray
1954
Barbados Quest
Barney Wilson
1955
Helter Skelter
Barman (uncredited)
1949
One Good Turn
Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
1955
A Stitch in Time
Workman with Mallet (uncredited)
1963
Obsession
American Sailor Promoting Book
1949
3 Steps to the Gallows
Carter, boxing fan
1953
Carry On Constable
Matt
1960
Her Favourite Husband
Pete
1950
The Big Money
'Wilberforce'
1958
Joseph Andrews
Ruffian
1977
Surprise Package
Oscar
1960
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
Stage Doorman
1955Resting Rough
1979
Woman Hater
Reporter (uncredited)
1948
The Red Beret
American Sergeant
1953
Don't Ever Leave Me
Jim Kennedy
1949
A Case For P.C. 49
Chubby Price
1951
Top Secret
Jersey Sailor
1952The Ship That Couldn't Stop
Mr. Bollanger
1961
Just William's Luck
Tonks
1947The Secret of the Forest
Len
1956
She Always Gets Their Man
Runkle
1962
Press for Time
Sewerman
1966Hot Ice
Jacobson
1953
Revenge of Billy the Kid
Gyles MacDonald
1992
Melody Club
Max
1949
The Fast Lady
Bandit
1962
Five Have a Mystery to Solve
Emilio
1964
Johnny on the Run
1953
The Stick Up
Sam
1977
It's a Great Day
Charlie Mead's Mate
1955
Impulse
uncredited
1954
Park Plaza 605
Ted Birston
1953
Love in Pawn
Alaric
1953
The Small Voice
Frankie
1948
Prelude to Fame
Lucio
1950
Albert R.N.
Hank
1953
William Comes to Town
Stall-holder
1948Three's Company
The Drunk
1953
The Diamond Wizard
Hoxie
1954
Meet Mr. Callaghan
Coffee Stallkeeper
1954Scrapbook for 1933
(voice)
1950
The Delavine Affair
Sammy
1955
Genevieve
Trumpeter (Uncredited)
1953
The Steel Key
'The Mae McCleod' Captain
1953
Strangler's Web
John Vichelski
1965
Delayed Action
Honey
1954
River Beat
Adams
1954
All Coppers Are...
Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)
1972
Secret Venture
Stevens
1955
Stop Press Girl
Crook (uncredited)
1949
Scarlet Web
Barman
1954
Recoil
Parkes
1953
The Quiet Woman
Lefty Brown
1951
The Monster of Highgate Ponds
Bert
1961
Pit of Darkness
Fisher
1961
Man from Tangier
Spade
1957
Man of Violence
Cafe Owner
1970
The Rescue Squad
Barrow-Boy
1963Design for Loving
Bernie
1962
Echo of Diana
Newsagent
1963
The Steel Bayonet
Pte. Thomas
1958
Small Town Story
Turner
1953
Devil's Point
Bennett, short henchman
1954
Black 13
Joe
1953
The Reluctant Bride
Boxer
1955The Copter Kids
Benny Baker
1976
Breakaway
Barney
1956Light Fingers
The Major
1957
13 East Street
Joey Long
1952Help Yourself
Charlie
1950Hoverbug
Mr. Gutteridge
1969