Eric Balfour: Movies & Box Office

Eric Salter Balfour is an American actor whose career spans more than three decades, marked by a blend of television and film roles that showcase his versatility and dedication to the craft. Born on April 24, 1977 in Los Angeles, California, Balfour grew up in a creative Jewish household where his parents, David Balfour, a chiropractor, and Sharon Salter, a marriage and family counselor, encouraged artistic exploration, even taking family trips to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur. He entered the entertainment world in 1991 with a season on Kids Incorporated and quickly accumulated a variety of juvenile parts on shows such as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Boy Meets World, and Step by Step. In 1997, he made a memorable early‑screen appearance as Jesse McNally in the opening episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, foreshadowing a career that would later include both cult classics and mainstream hits. Balfour’s breakout television role came as Gabriel Dimas on HBO’s critically acclaimed Six Feet Under (2001), after which he became a familiar face on network dramas, including a recurring stint as Milo Pressman on 24 (2001, 2006‑2007) and as Eddie on The O.C.. He also portrayed Duke Crocker in the Syfy series Haven, demonstrating his capacity for genre‑spanning performances.

Beyond television, Balfour has built a solid film résumé, beginning with the 1996 Lifetime movie No One Would Tell and advancing to notable titles such as What Women Want (2000), the 2003 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake starring alongside Jessica Biel, and the thriller Skyline (2010). He tackled challenging material in the sexually explicit Canadian drama Lie with Me (2005) and the survival horror Backcountry (2014). His willingness to explore diverse characters is further evidenced by guest spots on Monk, Chicago P.D., and Life on Mars. In addition to his acting pursuits, Balfour was the face of Valentino V, the male fragrance from Valentino, reflecting his appeal in both entertainment and fashion circles.