Actor. He was best known for playing the character roles of priests, lawyers, old men, dukes, doctors, and farmers. He will be best remembered for playing the role of the 'Duke of Dornheim' in the film drama, "The Pride Of Jennico" (1914). The film which was directed by J. Searle Dawley, which was based on the novel by Grace Livingston Furniss and Abby Sage Richardson, and which also starred House Peters, George Moss, and Marie Leonard, tells the story of the days of romance when fortune and glory were carved by the sword, Basil Jennico, the descendant of a proud and haughty house, walking among the old ancestral chambers, dreams of his gallant forebears and their daring deeds performed for the smile of a lady fair. Inspired by his lofty heritage and the atmosphere of nobility and bravery in which he has been reared, Basil longs for love and adventure. At this romantic period of Basil's life, his aged uncle, the lineal head of his house, dies and makes Basil swear by the sword that he will always uphold the pride of Jennico. Basil becomes Lord of Tollendhall and master of the broad acres of the Duchy of Lausitz, but titles, estates, and splendor do not compensate for the absence of love. Princess Ottilie, a beautiful, whimsical maiden, is urged by her guardian, the Earl of Dornheim, to marry Prince Eugen, a worthless rogue, whom Ottilie fears and loathes. To avoid marrying Eugen, the Princess affects her escape from the castle in the guise of her maid, Marie, who follows after her mistress. The two are overtaken by a storm and seek the shelter of Jennico Castle. Marie is introduced to Jennico as the Princess, but Jennico falls madly in love with Ottilie, whom he believes to be the maid. Love and pride struggle for supremacy. Jennico is heartbroken because his sworn duty to maintain the dignity of his house prohibits his marriage to the maid. The willful, fascinating maid intimates to Jennico that the Princess admires him, and, repressing love for duty, he courts the "princess." The marriage is arranged. Princess Ottilie and her maid confer and arrange to change places at the altar. Jennico greets his bride, heavily veiled, but when at last he looks upon her face he sees the piquant, mocking Ottilie and thinks he has married the maid. Love bids him accept his happiness, but his pride asserts itself and he resents the supposed deception. Ottilie, noticing his anger and piqued because he is not content with her, regardless of her apparent low rank, leaves him. Desperate for the love of the absent and tantalizing beauty, he seeks the supposed maid, and encounters the bitter enmity and jealousy of the defeated Prince Eugen and his trusted force; but, despite all opposition and against all odds, he wins his way to Ottilie's heart at his sword's point, to find that valor has not only won him a heart of gold but a title that adds luster to the pride of Jennico. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to William T. Balfour and his wife Margaret Balfour on July 12, 1866. He was educated locally and he began his acting career on the stage. He appeared on Broadway in New York City, New York, in the stage productions of such plays as, "The Proud Laird (April 24, 1905, to April 29, 1905), which was also his actual stage debut. During his time on the Broadway stage, he worked with the likes of John Bunny, Charles Burbidge, Catherine Cameron, Robson Dalton, Frederick Edwards, Robert Loraine, May Lyn, Nina Lyn, Edmund D. Lyons, Zongetta Mack, Martha McGraw, Elspeth G. McNeill, Hassard Short, Sydney Smith, Lucy Spencer, Thomas H. Thorne, Ida Vernon, Adelyn Wesley, Charles Frohman, Ricca Allen, John Costello, J. Carlin Crandel, Alberta Davidson, Richard Farrell, Jane Meredith, Emilie Montrose, Kate Pierce Roemer, Charles Wagenheim, George Wellington, and Dorothy Yates. During this time, he also made the transition to films. He made his actual film debut playing the role of 'Father Malone' in the short film drama, "Shamus O'Brien" (1912). The film which was directed by Otis Turner, which was based on the poem by Sheridan Le Fanu and which was written for the screen by Herbert Brenon, and which also starred King Baggot, Vivian Prescott, and William Robert Daly, tells the story of Shamus O'Brien was a patriot and in fighting for his country places himself in the position of a rebel with a price on his head. He is hiding in the hills, but anxious to attend a dance, at which his friends and sweetheart will be present, sends word that he will be there. Arrangements are made for the dance, and Shamus surprises the guests by appearing in a surprising manner. Michael O'Farrell, who has not met with success in his suit for the hand of Aileen Brennan, the sweetheart of Shamus, learns of his whereabouts and notifies the Redcoats. They reach the barn, where the dance is taking place, too late to capture the patriot, who escapes to the loft, only to return as the girl of his heart is being insulted by Captain McDonald. O'Brien floors the officer and makes a thrilling escape, only to be again given up by O'Farrell when he is visiting his mother. He is then taken to prison and stands trial. He is convicted and the day of the execution is set. As this draws near, his mother makes a plea to the parish priest for help which is readily given, and through a ruse, Shamas is saved, and the picture closes as the mother, son, and sweetheart sail for America. Besides, playing the role of 'Father Malone' in the short film drama, "Shamus O'Brien" (1912), and playing the role of the 'Duke of Dornheim' in the film drama, "The Pride Of Jennico" (1914), his many other film credits include, "The Man From The West" (1912), "All Of Her" (1912), "Breach Of Promise" (1912), "The World Weary Man" (1912), "The Big Boss" (1913), "The Port Of Missing Men" (1914), "The Lost Paradise" (1914), "The Fortunes Of Margaret" (1914), "The Curious Conduct Of Judge Legarde" (1915), "The Runaway Wife' (1915), "The Ruling Passion" (1916), "Passion Flower" (1921), "The Sign On The Door" (1921), and "Any Wife" (1922). His last film role was playing the 'Stage Manager' in the biographical film drama, "A Stage Romance" (1922). The film which was directed by Herbert Brenon, which was based on the play, "Kean,' by Alexandra Dumas and which was written for the screen by Paul Sloane, and which also starred William Farnum, Peggy Shaw, and Holmes Herbert, tells the story of Edmund Kean, the nineteenth-century English tragedian, saves a young woman from a fortune-hunting adventurer. He also saves a nobleman's wife from being led astray by the Prince of Wales. When Kean publicly denounces the Prince from the stage, he is exiled to America. The young girl he rescued becomes his wife and sails with him. He retired from films shortly thereafter. His last Broadway stage production was the play, as 'Doctor Kerr' in "Blind Alleys" (November 17, 1924, to November 1924). He retired from acting shortly thereafter. He passed away in Manhattan, New York, on January 6, 1940, at the age of 73, and he was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, Queens, New York. He was married to Susan Foley Balfour.