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Michael Balfour

Michael Balfour

Actor · Died October 24, 1997, aged 79 · 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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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 11, 1918
Died
October 24, 1997 (aged 79)
From
Dover, Kent, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 124 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 43% in 30 days

What are Michael Balfour's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
28%
Morality
22%
Society
21%
Survival
12%
Power
9%
Ideas
5%
Self
3%
Community4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 4 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 5 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 3
Shadow
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Warm
3
Joyful
3
Contemplative
3
Thrilling
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic1
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Michael Balfour's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michael Balfour's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

124 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page.

  • Revenge of Billy the Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Gyles MacDonald

  • The Krays(1990)

    as Referee

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Batman(1989)

    as Scientist

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Casanova(1987)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Holcroft Covenant(1985)

    as Hard Hat

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Dempsey and Makepeace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Kelly

  • Kelly Monteith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Prisoner of Zenda(1979)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Resting Rough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • Candleshoe(1977)

    as Mr. McCress

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Stick Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Sam

  • Joseph Andrews (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Ruffian

  • The Copter Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Benny Baker

  • The Canterbury Tales(1972)

    as The Carpenter

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • New Scotland Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · as Fred Larch

  • Late Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Alf

  • All Coppers Are... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Heart Attack Victim (uncredited)

  • Macbeth(1971)

    as First Murderer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Persuaders!(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Donkey Cart Driver

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes(1970)

    as Cabby

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Man of Violence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Cafe Owner

  • The Adventurers(1970)

    as Detective

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Department S (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Eccles

  • The Oblong Box(1969)

    as Ruddock

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Hoverbug (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Mr. Gutteridge

  • The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 3 episodes · as Meatyard · as Tom Meatyard

  • The Jazz Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Porky

  • Cold Comfort Farm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 3 episodes · as Earl P. Neck

  • Rogues' Gallery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 6 episodes · as Tom Meatyard

  • The Prisoner(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Will

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Beaver

  • Mickey Dunne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Porridge

  • Press for Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Sewerman

  • Fahrenheit 451(1966)

    as Book Person: Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Kaleidoscope(1966)

    as Poker Player

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Strangler's Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as John Vichelski

  • It's Not Me - It's Them! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 6 episodes · as Reginald

  • Reluctant Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 5 episodes · as Luigi

  • Five Have a Mystery to Solve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Emilio

  • The Rescue Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Barrow-Boy

  • A Stitch in Time(1963)

    as Workman with Mallet (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Echo of Diana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Newsagent

  • The Fast Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Bandit

  • Design for Loving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Bernie

  • Steptoe and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Miller

  • She Always Gets Their Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Runkle

  • Pit of Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Fisher

  • The Ship That Couldn't Stop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Mr. Bollanger

  • The Monster of Highgate Ponds(1961)

    as Bert

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Avengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom

  • The Cheaters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Freddy · as Harry

  • Too Hot to Handle(1960)

    as Tourist Guide

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Surprise Package (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Oscar

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Gaston

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Theatre '70 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Chuck

  • Carry On Constable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Matt

  • Sink the Bismarck!(1960)

    as Able Seaman - Lookout on 'Suffolk' (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Flesh and the Fiends(1960)

    as Drunken Sailor

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Look Back in Anger(1959)

    as Picky Shopper (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Interpol Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Hill · as Russ

  • The Larkins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Sharkey

  • Fiend Without a Face(1958)

    as Sgt. Kasper

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Big Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as 'Wilberforce'

  • The Steel Bayonet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Pte. Thomas

  • Man from Tangier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Spade

  • Light Fingers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as The Major

  • Quatermass 2(1957)

    as Harry

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Breakaway(1956)

    as Barney

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Bollanger · as Ward

  • Hancock's Half Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Secret of the Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Len

  • Secret Venture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Stevens

  • Strange Experiences (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Man

  • The Reluctant Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Boxer

  • Dixon of Dock Green (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Nelson · as Hobbs · as Joe Ward · as Nicky Medwin · as Pip Rutley

  • Murder on Approval(1955)

    as Barney Wilson

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • One Good Turn(1955)

    as Boxing Spectator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Delavine Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Sammy

  • It's a Great Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Charlie Mead's Mate

  • Devil's Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Bennett, short henchman

  • Delayed Action (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Honey

  • Meet Mr. Callaghan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Coffee Stallkeeper

  • Scarlet Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Barman

  • The Sea Shall Not Have Them(1954)

    as Dray

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Diamond Wizard(1954)

    as Hoxie

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • River Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Adams

  • Impulse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as uncredited

  • Small Town Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Turner

  • White Fire(1953)

    as Carter, boxing fan

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Black 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Joe

  • Break to Freedom(1953)

    as Hank

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Love in Pawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Alaric

  • Three's Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as The Drunk

  • Park Plaza 605 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Ted Birston

  • The Red Beret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as American Sergeant

  • Recoil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Parkes

  • Johnny on the Run(1953)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Genevieve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Trumpeter (Uncredited)

  • The Steel Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as 'The Mae McCleod' Captain

  • Hot Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Jacobson

  • Top Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Jersey Sailor

  • Moulin Rouge(1952)

    as Dodo (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Assassin(1952)

    as Moretto

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • 13 East Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Joey Long

  • A Case For P.C. 49 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Chubby Price

  • The Quiet Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Lefty Brown

  • Her Favourite Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Pete

  • Prelude to Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Lucio

  • Help Yourself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Charlie

  • Scrapbook for 1933 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as (voice)

  • Sunday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Rudolfo

  • I Was a Male War Bride(1949)

    as Male Billet Sergeant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Helter Skelter(1949)

    as Barman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Obsession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as American Sailor Promoting Book

  • Don't Ever Leave Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Jim Kennedy

  • Melody Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Max

  • Stop Press Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Crook (uncredited)

  • William Comes to Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Stall-holder

  • The Small Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Frankie

  • Woman Hater(1948)

    as Reporter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Sleeping Car to Trieste(1948)

    as Spiegel

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • No Orchids for Miss Blandish(1948)

    as Barney

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Just William's Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Tonks

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 124 titles from 1947 to 1992; peak year 1971.

Biggest box office

Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

$872 worldwide

Highest rated

Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

Midcredits 85th

Film career

19471992

Peak 1971 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1948Screen debut· No Orchids for Miss Blandish
  • 1966Career best· Fahrenheit 451

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting124 of 124: 124 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rd

By decade

1940s12 · acting1950s53 · acting1960s37 · acting1970s16 · acting1980s4 · acting1990s2 · acting

Billing

usually 17th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
485868

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Michael Balfour's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

The Adventurers (1970)

60th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Batman (1989)

Midcredits 93rd · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 36. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Michael Balfour work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michael Balfour's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Monty Berman shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers