Duke Crocker - Eric Balfour

 

 

Duke is a charming young rogue who runs a shady import/export business from his boat, the Cape Rouge, no questions asked. He will move things for most people if the price is right and he doesn't care to know what it is he is moving. The police, including Nathan, believe him to be a smuggler. People of questionable repute sometimes come to him to get quiet passage out of the country. Recently, with The Troubles and with his acquisition of the Grey Gull restaurant, he has taken on a more civic attitude to his business affairs.

Duke was also the little boy in the 'Colorado Kid' picture. He and Nathan do not get along and he seems to have taken a liking to Audrey, to Nathan's annoyance. He has taken over the diner formerly owned by a friend who was forced out of business by an affliction that is part of the recent recurrence of The Troubles. Vanessa Stanley, afflicted with the sight of a person's death when she touches them, told Duke he would die at the hand of someone with the same maze tattoo as the person who killed the Colorado Kid. In "A Tale Of Two Audreys", it is revealed that he is married to a woman named Evi.

Duke has come back to Haven because of his father, Simon Crocker, who had made him promise to return if The Troubles ever broke out again. He didn't tell Duke why before he died, but Duke has fulfilled the promise. Duke discovers his father was killed during the previous outbreak of The Troubles. The Rev. Ed Driscoll has been using Evi to manipulate Duke who he believes will be important in dealing with The Troubles.

After a lengthy search, Duke eventually unravels the mystery of a silver box he and Evi found. It contains a number of artifacts and weapons, as well as a family journal. In his father's entries Duke discovers why his father wanted him to return to Haven: to kill the woman now known as Audrey Parker. Duke then learns that he has inherited his father's trouble: the power to 'destroy' other troubles (which his father refers to as 'curses') so that they will no longer be passed down to the next generation. The catch is that he must kill the person currently exhibiting a trouble to destroy that trouble permanently. When a Crocker injures or kills someone with a Trouble, contact with their blood causes him to enter a partially enraged state, which also dramatically enhances his strength. Duke, however, refuses to give in to his Trouble and buries the box at his father's grave. He avoids using his Trouble except when it can be beneficial, for example when he rescued Daphne (Over My Head).

Duke has always had an affinity for Audrey and, while Nathan was involved with Jordan McKee, it almost blossomed into a physical relationship, but, after a heavy kiss in Colorado, Audrey thought it wiser not to go further (Magic Hour). In "Thanks for the Memories" Duke dives into the barn as it disappears, shortly after admitting to Nathan that he indeed has feelings for Audrey. Duke emerges from the barn to discover that six months have passed and most in Haven believe him dead. He helps Nathan get back to the town to help out the Troubled and is surprised to find that in his absence, his brother Wade has taken over the bar. When Wade discovers his wife has been cheating on him, he decides to stay in the town with Duke helping his brother out.

 

 

Eric Salter Balfour (born April 24, 1977) is an American actor and singer. He is the lead singer of Born As Ghosts, formerly known as Fredalba. His roles include Milo Pressman on the action-thriller TV series 24 and Duke Crocker in the supernatural series Haven.

Balfour appeared on the kids TV show Kids Incorporated for one season in 1991. In 1997, he appeared in the pilot for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as one of the show's first victims, Jesse McNally. He appeared as a regular cast member in three short-lived TV shows. ABC's Veritas: The Quest was cancelled after four episodes in 2003, NBC's Hawaii was canceled after seven episodes in 2004, UPN's Sex, Love & Secrets was canceled after four episodes. Also in 2005, Balfour starred in the sexually explicit Canadian drama Lie with Me opposite Lauren Lee Smith. In March 2006, Balfour debuted as Brian Peluso on producer Dick Wolf's short-lived NBC crime drama, Conviction, which lasted one season. Balfour was also a guest star on the hit show Dawson's Creek, in the ninth episode of the first season.

He starred in the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre opposite Jessica Biel. He played a minor character in several episodes of The O.C., as Eddie, Theresa's fiancé, and in the hit HBO show Six Feet Under, as Claire's troubled boyfriend, Gabriel Dimas, during most of the show's first two seasons.

Balfour appeared in seven episodes of the first season of 24 as computer technician Milo Pressman in 2001. Five years later, Balfour reprised the role for nineteen episodes of 24's sixth season before leaving the show by his own request. Balfour appeared in ABC's Life on Mars as Eddie Carling, the brother of detective Ray Carling, as played by Michael Imperioli.

He was the face for the new Valentino male fragrance, Valentino V. In September 2009, Balfour appeared in an episode of Monk. In that same month, Balfour booked a recurring role on the new CW drama show The Beautiful Life, but the show was canceled after its second episode and production was shut down immediately. In 2010, he starred in the Strause Brothers thriller film Skyline. He stars as Duke Crocker on the Syfy drama Haven. Balfour co-starred in Missy Peregrym and Jeff Roop, in the creature film Backcountry.