Eric Balfour

Eric Balfour – Life, Career, and Notable Quotes

A deep dive into the life of Eric Balfour—his childhood in Los Angeles, breakthrough roles in 24, Six Feet Under, Haven, his music ventures, personal life, and memorable words that reflect his journey.

Introduction

Eric Salter Balfour (born April 24, 1977) is an American actor and musician known for his versatility in television and film.

With roles ranging from action dramas to supernatural fantasy, Balfour has carved a distinct space in the entertainment industry—often playing complex, brooding characters. Over time, he’s also integrated music, environmental advocacy, and entrepreneurship into his public persona.

Early Life and Family

Eric Balfour was born in Los Angeles, California on April 24, 1977.

His parents are David Balfour, a chiropractor, and Sharon (née Salter), who works in marriage and family counseling. Tori.

Balfour has described his upbringing as creative. His family, at times, held sweat lodge ceremonies (influenced by Native American traditions) in their backyard, reflecting a spiritual or ritualistic dimension in his home life.

Early Career & Breakthroughs

First Steps

Balfour’s acting journey began young—his early credit includes appearing on Kids Incorporated in 1991. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Boy Meets World, Step by Step, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he appeared in the show’s pilot episodes as Jesse McNally, one of the early victims of a vampire attack.

Rise in Television

• Six Feet Under: Balfour played Gabriel Dimas, initially intended for a single episode but expanded to a recurring role because of strong chemistry.

• 24: One of his better-known parts, Balfour portrayed Milo Pressman, a CTU computer specialist. He appeared in season 1, and later reprised the role in season 6.

• Veritas: The Quest, Conviction, Sea & other short-lived series: He was part of several shows that were canceled early, but they helped build his resume.

Film Work & Genre Projects

Balfour’s film roles include:

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) — as Kemper

• Lie with Me (2005) — a more provocative drama

• Hell Ride (2008) and The Spirit (2008) — branching into action, biker, and fantasy genres

• Skyline (2010) and others in sci-fi / thriller categories

Later and Ongoing Roles

From 2010 to 2015, Balfour starred as Duke Crocker in Haven, a supernatural drama on Syfy, which became a defining role for him.

He has also appeared in Ray Donovan, Charmed, Country Comfort, and more recent series such as The Offer.

Personal Life, Passions & Other Ventures

Balfour is not only an actor—he is also involved in music, fashion, and environmental causes.

• Music: He was part of the band Fredalba, which later became Born as Ghosts, and released Uptown Music for Downtown Kids.

• Entrepreneurship & Fashion: Alongside his wife Erin, Balfour co-founded a sustainable clothing brand called Electric & Rose, based in Los Angeles.

• Environmental / Ocean Advocacy: He is a surfer and supports organizations like Surfrider, Oceana, and Sea Shepherd.

Regarding his family life:

He married Erin Chiamulon on May 30, 2015. Oliver Lion Balfour (born August 2, 2018) and Romeo Amadeus Balfour (born May 2022).

Personality, Style & Themes

Balfour often embodies characters with layered darkness, internal conflict, or moral ambiguity. His screen presence leans toward the introspective, charismatic, and often tortured.

Off screen, his interests in surf culture, ecological activism, and sustainable fashion suggest someone who values harmony with nature and creative expression beyond acting.

Notable Quotes

Finding direct, verified quotes by Eric Balfour is more difficult (less public transcription), but here are a few lines attributed to him or reflecting his mindset from interviews and sources:

• On family and privacy:

  “When not on set you can find me at the beach with his family.”

• On heritage and spirituality:

  His family often held sweat lodge ceremonies in their backyard—even when he was young.

• On career & artistry (paraphrased from bio content):

  He continues to choose “interesting and captivating characters” which reflect a desire for depth and challenge.

These aren’t classic “soundbite” quotes, but they hint at his priorities: family, nature, and meaningful work.

Lessons from Eric Balfour

From Balfour’s life and career, we can draw several lessons:

1. Diversify your identity
   He’s not just “the actor from 24” — he explores music, entrepreneurship, and environmental causes, which broaden his creative and personal fulfillment.

2. Choose roles with depth
   Many of his notable successes come from characters that are complex or morally gray, which allows him to stretch his craft rather than stay within comfort zones.

3. Sustain balance
   With his surf, environmental activism, and focus on family, Balfour shows that a career in showbiz can coexist with grounded, non-celebrity values.

4. Adaptability is key
   His path includes guest roles, recurring parts, major series, short-lived projects, and film — demonstrating that longevity in entertainment often depends on flexibility and resilience.

5. Align with personal integrity
   His support of sustainable fashion and ocean protection reflects a willingness to use public platform in alignment with personal convictions.

Conclusion

Eric Balfour is a multidimensional figure—actor, musician, entrepreneur, and advocate. While many remember him for roles in 24, Haven, and Six Feet Under, his off-screen interests and life choices add depth to his public persona.

• A full timeline of his film & TV credits

• A deep dive into his music work, including lyrics and collaborations

• A Vietnamese version of this article

Which would you prefer next?