'Perfect Strangers'' Balki: Bronson Pinchot On His Passion, Origin of 'Balki Bartokomous''' Name

Bronson Pinchot left Hollywood to restore old homes with salvaged materials.
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[@godisgoodatht]

Did anyone else smile through this entire vid?

[@mobettaloretta44]

I did. Love him and that he didn't let Hollywood change him.

[@SouthTexasGhostRider]

For anybody watching this, Perfect Strangers is now on Hulu. I'm binge watching lol

[@tiffanytripp626]

Robert Stine me too!

[@kingscocal5083]

Same!!#

[@sluggzmcgee7420]

Really?! I'm so happy, I do the dance of joy!!!

[@johnnyappleseed5029]

Love the show, love the guys and love the moment in time. It makes the show even better to know Bronson and Mark are close friends and enjoyed working with each other

[@kevinwright5106]

Man its such a great show, the one show my family will all sit down together and laugh at and enjoy.

[@montebrown54]

Man I loved Perfect Strangers when I was a kid. It was one of my favorite couldn't miss an episode. I'm glad him and Mark stayed friends after the show. 😀

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Passion Card USD SGD

[@jesseowenvillamor6348]

​@@NazriB???

[@fifrox]

Glad to see he chose a life outside Hollywood and he still keeps in contact with Mark. Always wondered if they were still friends.

[@cryler29]

8 years working together. I think YES Of COURSE :)

[@JLvatron]

You mean, ...wondered if they were still Cousins!

[@dbreiden83080]

@@cryler29 You'd be surprised how many long time co-stars hated each other. Supposedly it was so bad between Nathan Fillion and Stan Katic they could not longer co-exist on Castle..

[@kendallrivers1119]

@@dbreiden83080 Very true. Actors say it all the time that it's really rare when a cast genuinely likes each other and get along offscreen. Only a handful of shows actually ever had that.

[@leocouryiii4127]

Supposedly him and his onscreen girlfriend hated each other towards the end cause he was such a jerk. But I refuse to believe that Balky could be that guy :)

[@LozadaLourdes]

Bronson Pinchot is a beautiful person being himself. To be able to work at what you love is everybody's dream. He's a gorgeous man with a gift for architecture. Wishing him all things good.

[@nebchic]

He is still good looking!

[@davemustaki134]

He tanked and went bankrupt I read somewhere online

[@jamiedale5785]

I am so happy to hear that he and Mark still have a friendship!!!

[@TheGonzoArt]

I love this man, and i was honored to meet him in person. I didn't bombard him with a hundred questions but i did have a couple. He was kind, soft spoken, and very much a gentleman who remembered my name later when i came back to meet Mark Linn Baker.

[@trawlins396]

Wow. That's amazing. I can tell he's a nice guy. It would be tempting to ask him question after question but you don't want to gush.

[@marioiacolucci]

I used to watch this show tgif nights!

[@biobelewilliam-west1310]

Mario Iacolucci me too....good times

[@lillianwalton8562]

Mario Iacolucci me too

[@earl77]

I loved Perfect Strangers, first time I've seen Bronson not in character, cool that he's a small town guy instead of a Hollywood type.

[@karenstepp669]

Balki seemed to have an overflow of internal joy. It looks like that came naturally to Bronson Pinchot, and that makes me happy. I'm delighted to see him doing something he really loves! I love it that he and Mark are still close friends. They had such a bond on the show, and apparently that came naturally too.

[@knightrcer]

I know what he means when he says fans feel a disconnect when they meet him and don't see the character they seen on television for years. I grew up on Balki Bartchamus and cousin Larry Appleton at such a young impressionable age. I didn't realize until a decade later, on my 27th birthday how much these characters have influenced my personality. I'm a little bit neurotic from Larry but glad to be the noble, friendly, kind, and sensitive soul Balki was portrayed as. Thanks for one of the greatest shows this Mypiot has ever seen. Have some Chalki Deekees and Bibbi babkas on the way out and don't forget to pet demetree. Say hello to uncle Stabros and mamma. Bye bye babe.

[@ErikaTBus]

I got to meet him a few years ago and I showed him a scrapbook of everything I collected on him (and Mark). Not just PS related, but other movies he did, interviews and articles. I think it meant something to know I was a fan of his and not just the character. He gave me a big hug too! Such an amazing moment and a truly amazing guy. :)

[@jjjuhg]

Best comment ever. I keep watching all the episodes almost every year . I wish i meet these two actors and weird...i consider them my friends. My kids and my wifelove perfect strangers too.

[@trawlins396]

@@ErikaTBus that's really cool. Was he nice in real life?

[@davemustaki134]

I loved him in Beverly Hills cop also

[@knightrcer]

@@davemustaki134 I never knew there could actually be a person who pronounces their name surge u til i met a coworker named surge. I always thought it was Serguei.

[@WyattHD]

TMZ had an article about him not paying 2 mortgages and losing 2 of those very homes to the bank. I LOVED Perfect Strangers and just wrapped up re-watching the entire series. Brings back floods of wonderful childhood memories!

[@trawlins396]

It's sad that he ended losing the properties. Hopefully he gets back on his feet.

[@mairidonnelly7692]

He's gorgeous!

[@stevegreen9460]

just love these old little american country towns, thay look so beautiful. loverly old buidlings and look so quiyet and calm. wish i could live in one some day.

[@CadeD679]

I love the Balki voice and accent, but, Pinchot's natural voice is really nice, too. Very resonant!

[@nonfikshen]

the man is beautiful. and sweet... which makes him even more beautiful.

[@Chocobear555]

I'm so happy that the name of his, "Perfect Strangers," character was changed to Balki. His character was adorable, and I think he needed an adorable name. :)

[@BruceBanner]

I can still hear his Balki accent.

[@calvinjones3978]

We've been rewatching Perfect Strangers for the past year or so on Friday and Saturday nights. We've also introduced our nieces who are too young to remember it when it aired to it. They love it as well.

[@daveheel]

nice to know when he left hollywood he was still grounded.

[@CDash162]

It's great to see him so happy and doing what he loves. Bless him he was so entertaining as Balky.

[@TonyHickschick]

I am glad to know this guy chose this life style over the party type etc. Hollywood life. Much safer I believe.

[@stndrds79]

TonyHickschick good for him!!

[@SoledadGooner]

This guy is literally awesome!

[@emmarose4234]

Awww, he's so ADORABLE!

[@sweetemotion2501]

My favorite episode on Perfect Strangers is when Larry and Balki encounter one disaster after anothe on the roof of Mr. Twinacettie's house.

[@trawlins396]

What episode is that??

[@ghostrepublic]

This video gives the wrong impression when it says how he gave up Hollywood. He moved to Harford, PA in 1999 and has acted in lots of movies and tv shows since then. He gave up Hollywood on a geographical basis, but not on an acting job basis. Like he says in the video: he never loved hollywood. he just loved the work.

[@superbird6176]

Very nice interview by Lara Spencer. Perfect Strangers was my favourite show growing up!

[@ultrainstinctgoku9321]

Super Cat mine too. laughed from ear to ear everytime with Balki and Larry on every episode

[@superbird6176]

Good news! They will finally be releasing the complete series!

[@maximus1024215]

I stopped by Harford, PA on my way to Philadelphia a few days ago and saw the house, it is sooo beautiful, I wanted to knock on the door but was afraid I would get beat up by Bronson.

[@trawlins396]

He lost it to foreclosure 😢

[@tomlarkin5656]

ABC needs to release a complete series box set of Perfect Strangers!

[@bayer54]

I love Balky !

[@terrisilaphoenix3695]

Great story. I admire his talent on and off screen. He chose a new life and passion and did it!

[@rebeccahoffman2901]

Holy sh*t! He actually talks English!!!!! I was so thinking his accent was for real😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲

[@Linda-hs1lk]

Wow, love those houses.

[@eujeeves]

That is the true meaning of "follow your dreams".

[@kellie77381]

I love seeing the work he has done. But I would also LOVE to see a Perfect Strangers reunion. That would be so awesome!!

[@vivianhayes6865]

I loved this character Balki❤

[@Tarmac76]

We need that Perfect Strangers DVD series set! And yes do the reunion, please!!

[@ellaams9280]

i loved perfect strangers. .it was hilarious..it would be nice to see that show back on television in 2017..

[@distemic]

Political correctness would get balki thrown off the air

[@stevemoore8598]

I like perfect strangers funny show. He looks great for his age. Wish you the best. Thanks for posting .

[@MissPrettyNPink]

I didn’t realize how cute he was until. I looked at Perfect Strangers again

[@ancapopescu6308]

I loved this show when I was a child!:)

[@Patrick3183]

Balki was cute and had a nice smile

[@RoNmaNTimes321]

Thank you Balki and Mark.

[@pinkybabe6190]

Perfect Strangers is on Hulu. *Dance of Joy* 💃🏻

[@tattoochef425]

I live 45 minutes away from him. Loved perfect strangers. Been watching the series again on Hulu, though I grew up watching it.

[@SweetHeartHolly1982]

This clip went up almost eight years ago and so my question about him is this one: Is Hartford still his home? God bless you and the precious gentleman always!!! Holly in East Tennessee

[@FlyersinHD]

@@SweetHeartHolly1982 No, he filed for bankruptcy and lost everything in the town

[@SweetHeartHolly1982]

@@FlyersinHD I highly doubt that everything was taken from him. Whatever needed to go in order for him to be out of the bankruptcy situation I am sure is what went. Also its been five years now since whatever was taken disappeared from his picture. Hopefully Bronson by now is in a much better position and I believe that the beautiful precious is, I love him SO much!!! (smiles) God bless you and him always!!! Holly in East Tennessee

[@trawlins396]

@@SweetHeartHolly1982 like you I also hope that eveything wasn't taken from him. He seems like a sweet sweet kind-hearted man. I could be wrong but it's just the vibe he gives.

[@mchllwoods]

He's almost as similar as Baliki. He never gets rid of stuff. He just restores, reuse them.

[@thevoice464]

Great times back.then

[@Sattnin77]

Perfect Strangers was my Mom's favorite show. Anytime they did the happy dance she would crack up, lol!

[@HarryAcorns]

Not giving up Hollywood is an okay thing. It's giving up the Hollywood hive mind that is awesome.

[@jeanneamato8278]

I loved that show. Wish they would bring it back.

[@janiedoe1542]

I wish he was on "Dancing With The Stars", Or I wish that Bronson Pinchot was the next guest star of WWE RAW.

[@michellefear-thompson7409]

I wonder if he still lives there i would love to visit him since I am passing through that state

[@cryler29]

Lara Spencer, great interview

[@SweetHeartHolly1982]

His Balki smile at the 2:48 mark of this clip,I just want to lay one on him the way that Mary-Anne always did, I love him SO much!!! God bless you and him always!!! Holly in East Tennessee P.S. Because this clip is from seven years ago, where can we see his Bronson Pinchot Project installments now?

[@trawlins396]

On youtube

[@SweetHeartHolly1982]

@@trawlins396 Where at this website exactly? I've never seen it here. God bless you always!!! Holly in east Tennessee

[@nini1957]

[@matthewstechel2037]

He popped up a year or two back in a random episode of NCIS and when he came onscreen it took me a minute to recognize him because he looked so different! It was a dark role he was playing on that NCIS episode too--he was playing a serial killer whom Gibbs was interviewing about a body they found while in prison! Definitely no wackiness there!

[@GBraidi78]

For all you folks who love Perfect Strangers like I do, it's on HULU for few months now along with Step By Step etc!

[@SweetHeartHolly1982]

I love this beautiful precious SO much! How could anyone take offense to him not being Balki? In my opinion, him being himself only makes him mysterious which I love, especially when we learn here that Balki IS still in him. His saying that only makes me wonder when Balki will be in front of me again. (big smile) God bless you and Bronson always!!! Holly in East Tennessee P.S. I love the smile on his face when we hear him call out the word, "Curtain!" at the 1:27 mark of this clip. (big smile)

[@sakurashy8492]

What a great guy that Bronson Pinchot is

[@Saartje05]

That's amazing. I love it!

[@jfc8015]

I love this!!

[@jedijones]

To bring back the show, they could say that Balki moved with his wife and child back to Mypos shortly after his kid was born to take care of his sick mother. Then they decided to stay there to give his son a traditional Myposian upbringing. Now both he and Larry's child are in their mid-20s. Balki's son graduated from M.I.T. (Myposian Institute of Technology) and gets a computer job in the U.S. Balki decides to move back with him, showing up on Larry's doorstep. "You said I could come back any time, cousin Larry, now it's any time." Meanwhile, Larry's kid is a drop-out who is always trying different get-rich-quick schemes. He tries to take advantage of Balki's computer knowledge for a scheme but the plan goes awry and both parents make sure their kids learned the lesson that what they did was wrong. When Balki and Larry do the dance of joy, they stop just short of Larry jumping in Balki's arms, look at each other, and just shake hands. But their kids learn how to do the dance of joy as they start their friendship.

[@jjjuhg]

Best idea. I was thinking how it would be ,but couldn t imagine as nice as you. Try to email to the actors directly on their email. Or better, a letter.

[@ericblr]

That’s actually pretty damned good! You should pass that on to the right people!

[@chicagoan6342]

Wow! Seriously dude, you should look into becoming a writer, I love perfect strangers and only if I had the money I would have hired you in a heartbeat.

[@trawlins396]

That's a GREAT idea!!!!

[@iloveejbgssnoopy]

Love the inspiring he does amazing

[@corylynn68]

Awkward disconnect. That was a good way to put it. I was 9 when I saw the langoliers (a Stephen King book made into a movie) and at that almost ruined Perfect Strangers for me, but now that I'm older I can see what an amazing actor he is to have played both roles so convincingly.

[@trawlins396]

Love the Langoliers. The book

[@earthtaxfree]

awesome human being...

[@michellefear-thompson7409]

At 58 years old he is still hot most guys looks Go with age but definitely not him

[@b.lloydreese2030]

He looks so different now. Loved him as balki, but glad to see he is doing some cool stuff

[@GTMQ8]

Anyone watching this in 2018 after Chilling tales of Sabrina?

[@DeniseinFlorida]

Nice man. Kudos to him!!

[@kaguth]

As he explained it I just got that "Balki" is short for "Balkans", woah, only took 30 years to get.

[@trawlins396]

😳😳😳😳 I didn't even make that connection!!

[@daisyglaze1817]

I heard, or read, that "Balki" is short for "Balcony", which is what his family considered naming his sister's dog when they were young. Edit: Just saw the part here where he said it's short for "Balcony", lol.

[@trawlins396]

@@daisyglaze1817 so it's not short for the Balkans?

[@daisyglaze1817]

@@trawlins396 I don't think so, but I guess it could be both? Maybe Google "What's Balki short for" and see if any articles pop up mentioning it. I'm going through the series right now, I forgot how funny this show was.

[@mobettaloretta44]

I just love this video and the real Bronson. I would love to meet him.

[@cjtiefighter8202]

Balki I want the dance of joy!

[@printisdead1983]

In nine years mr pinchot ends up being the voice of two of the best alien novel audiobooks ever.. And hes part of the reason they are the best

[@florenceflaviano7395]

my favorite childhood tv series... i miz RPN 9

[@UncleMikeNJ]

So Balki is now Tim the Tool Man -- but good at it. Nice.

[@kalashnikovkhodorkovsky8153]

Life after Hollywood is great. Lucky are the ones who get to do what they love. ❣

[@400KrispyKremes]

Sparkle sparkle.

[@davemustaki134]

He must have had some kind of inspiration from Andy Kaufmans latka character!

[@handsomeX]

That what I always thought. Its kinda odd hearing him talk without an accent haha

[@trawlins396]

Definitely. I ALWAYS thought of Latka.

[@blingwithconfidence]

Gah i love him! I know he hates the hollywood scene but if i met him i would freak! So handsome! An funny! An i did not know he had a diy show! I should look that up hehehe!

[@calliemikesell2484]

I wish Perfect Strangers would come back with new episodes

[@timidkitten1709]

BALKI LOOKED AND ACTED SO MUCH LIKE *RINGO* FROM THE BEATLES!!!! Soooo incredibly cute, childish, and hilariously goofy. Just makes you want to hug him and tousle his hair. Not sure if many people have noticed, but I think that's one of the things that made this character so lovable and memorable. It's quite a unique style.

[@Cruisetravelers]

I love Perfect Strangers and Step By Step. It wasn’t until today that I learned he’s not French. 🤯

[@bellaswan484]

Bronson rocks

[@brokenomad]

He's hot

[@johnhowells-vaughan5519]

Bronson always reminded me of Christopher Lambert (Greystoke and Highlander). Anyone else? Oh, btw, loved him in Beverly Hills Cop - he stole the show!

[@Lgisas]

I want them to release season 3-8 😭😭😭😭 I have season 1-2 and I want more

[@hipperken]

AS Hulu has all the episodes

[@TerrellKRyans]

We need a Perfect Strangers reboot

[@richardmichael7523]

wow, Balki.........................

[@caroleastmond9064]

Nice!!!💝🎉🎉🎉

[@xxoxia]

This guy, to me, is like Wayne Newton to Balki.

[@DREQON2005]

Holy crap that’s how he actually talks lol I was. Expecting the strong accent lol

[@uppercutgrandma4425]

badass

[@poseidon3201]

WoW............T I M E😌

[@castielmaverickwentworth82074]

Bronson and Mark are so cute together 💙 (Larry Appleton ( Lawrence) and Balki Bartokomous) Thank you for being my heroes!!🤗 I so want to meet you both in person!! I really wish you guys would come to Boston Comic Con or Rhode Island Con because I can quite easily get to those places!!😁☺️

[@FerdinandCesarano]

"Get out of the city!"

[@FindingNorcal]

💓

[@milart12]

He just went belly up with all these fixer uppers

[@jedijones]

Found out I was wrong. I found the news articles where they say he filed for chapter 13 bankruptcy a couple years ago. And I have seen several interviews from the '80s now where he says he spent all his money as he went along instead of saving it.

[@trawlins396]

@@jedijones that's sad

[@IHaveNoLife-nc8wj]

Balki was the man.

[@postersandstuff]

25 yrs since final PS show :(

[@CatholicNeil]

He should do a show on HGTV