Who Is the Demon Balthazar?
References to a demon named Balthazar are limited to pop culture, such as the 2005 film, “Constantine,” the television shows “Charmed” and “Supernatural” and perhaps most popularly in World of Warcraft, an Internet-based role-playing game. The name Balthazar appears throughout history in the Bible and throughout pop-culture, but there is no substantial information about a demon in religious texts or demonology references.
Balthazar may be most well-known as a character in the fantasy, role-playing game World of Warcraft. The Dark Grimoire describes the Demon Lord Balthazar as the last of a race of evil creatures bent on destroying the kingdom of Valorn.
Balthazar is traditionally thought to be one of the three magi, or wise men, in the gospel of Matthew. Chapter two describes the visit from three wise men, who are thought to be Balthazar, Gaspar and Melchior, to honor the infant Jesus Christ with the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Balthazar is also a character in various movies and television shows. In the supernatural thriller movie, “Constantine,” Gavin Rossdale plays a half-demon named Balthazar, who is working with the son of Satan to take over Earth. In the long-running WB television series, “Charmed, Belthazor (a different spelling with the same pronunciation) is the demon alter-ego of Cole Turner, a love interest of series star, Alyssa Milano. Belthazor was played by Michael Bailey Smith from 2000 to 2003, according to Internet Movie Database. Another version of Balthazar appears on another WB series, “Supernatural.” Portrayed by Sebastian Roche, the show’s Balthazar is a fallen angel who appears in six episodes in 2010 and 2011.
