Birth Name
      Eric Salter Balfour
     
      24 April 1977
      Los Angeles, California, USA

     
      While his standout performance as Gabe, the troubled boyfriend of Claire
      Fisher (Lauren Ambrose), on the acclaimed HBO series Six Feet Under may
      have made a striking first impression on many viewers, the truth is that
      Eric Balfour had been acting in television for nearly a decade following
      his small-screen debut as a member of Kids Incorporated in 1991. A Los
      Angeles native whose spiritual family used to hold Lakota Indian sweat
      lodges in their backyard, Balfour is also a talented musician who once
      took to the stage with fellow actor Brittany Murphy as members of the band
      Blessed With Soul. Rising through the television ranks after his debut on
      Kids Incorporated, Balfour made his feature debut in the 1996 film
      Shattered Image.

      Supporting roles in such teen-oriented films as Trojan War (1997) and
      Can't Hardly Wait (1998) were quick to follow, and a key performance in
      the 1999 family drama Scrapbook gave audiences their first true look at
      his dramatic abilities. Though subsequent supporting roles in What Women
      Want (2000) and America's Sweethearts (2001) didn't find Balfour climbing
      the credits as much as he may have deserved, his breakthrough role in Six
      Feet Under gave his feature career a notable shot in the arm. After
      appearing in the short-lived television series Veritas: The Quest and the
      feature Secondhand Lions, Balfour could be seen running scared in the
      Hollywood horror remake The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003). In addition to
      his film career, Balfour frequently performs with the band Fredalba.
    
Tall, lanky and perpetually goateed, Eric Balfour rose to fame in guest spots on
HBO’s critically acclaimed series “Six Feet Under” (2001-05) and FOX’s “24”
(2001- ). Also a talented vocalist for the band Fredalba, Balfour starred in the
horror remake “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2003) and landed a lead in the hit
NBC crime drama “Conviction” (2006- ).
Born April 24, 1977 in Los Angeles, CA to a psychologist mother and
holistic-healer father, Balfour grew up and attended high school in nearby
Burbank. He began performing at a young age, making his professional acting
debut as a teenager on Disney’s “Kids Incorporated” in 1991. After a year on the
show, Balfour left to pursue other television work, appearing in episodes of
“Step by Step” (CBS, 1991-98), “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” (CBS, 1993-2001), and
“Boy Meets World” (ABC, 1993-2000). In 1997, Balfour landed a recurring role on
the popular WB series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003), playing Xander’s
best friend, Jesse McNally.
Balfour received his biggest break thus far by next landing a minor role on the
pilot for HBO’s series “Six Feet Under” (HBO, 2001-05); as Lauren Ambrose’s
meth-smoking boyfriend, Gabriel. Though Balfour was initially hired on for only
one episode, show creator Alan Ball was impressed with the chemistry between
Balfour and Ambrose and decided to keep the actor on in a recurring role.
Balfour appeared on the critically lauded series for two years, on and off.
It was not long before Balfour scored another recurring role – this time on
FOX’s popular action series “24” (2001- ); portraying Milo, CTU’s resident
computer expert, on the series’ first season. After garnering attention for his
work on two such high profile series, Balfour soon landed his first leading role
on the big screen – opposite Jessica Biel in the horror remake of “The Texas
Chainsaw Massacre” (2003). With the film a minor success, Balfour began to get
series regular offers pouring in. First up – the FBI series “Fearless” (2004),
followed by NBC’s “Hawaii” (2004). Though both shows had great potential,
neither got picked up due to low ratings. “Hawaii” lasted only seven episodes
and “Fearless” quickly got lost in the midseason shuffle. Down but not out,
Balfour soon found more recurring work, portraying Eddie, Theresa’s boyfriend,
on FOX’s popular teen drama “The OC” (2003- ).
Balfour went on to appear in more feature films, including “In Her Shoes” (2005)
with Cameron Diaz and the sexually explicit “Lie with Me” (2005) opposite Lauren
Lee Smith. The latter film, which explored the psychological aspects of sex and
intimacy, required Balfour to be nude for many of his scenes, no doubt
delighting the fan contingent. After appearing in “Sex, Love & Secrets” (UPN,
2005), which was cancelled after only four episodes, Balfour landed a regular
role on NBC’s hip law drama “Conviction” in 2006. Centered on the lives of young
Manhattan prosecutors, Balfour portrayed Assistant District Attorney Brian
Peluso. Also a talented musician and vocalist for the band Fredalba, Balfour
released his first record, Uptown Music for Downtown Kids in 2006.