"Perfect Strangers" Turns 25! Where Is the Cast Now?
by Kim Potts
posted Mar 25th 2011


The fact that today is the 25th anniversary of the premiere of "Perfect Strangers"? It makes us want to do the Dance of Joy!

That, of course, is the memorable full-body celebration involving leg kicks, jumping up and down and shouting "Hey!" and ending with cousin Larry (Mark Linn-Baker) leaping into the arms of his Myposian cousin Balki (Bronson Pinchot), whose "Now we are so happy, we do the dance of joy!" exclamation always launched the dance.






The Dance of Joy was one of the best reasons for tuning into the silly, but sweet entry into ABC's sadly defunct TGIF lineup of Friday night sitcoms.

In fact, "Perfect Strangers" revolved around just that: two strangers, Chicagoan Larry and his distant cousin Balki, who became roomies when Balki left his Mediterranean country home and showed up on Larry's Windy City doorstep.







The idea for the series, which ran on ABC for eight seasons, came when producers Robert Boyett and Tom Miller -- they of the prolific Miller-Boyett production company that also gave us "Happy Days", "Laverne & Shirley", "Full House", "Mork & Mindy" and the spin-off "Family Matters" -- saw Pinchot in Beverly Hills Cop.

Pinchot's penchant for crafting an accent and unleashing his inner kookiness led Miller and Boyett to concoct a sitcom starring the actor as a happy-go-lucky immigrant. After a trip to Greece that left him impressed with the Greek citizens, Pinchot agreed to star in the series and make Balki hail from the Greece-like Mypos.




And the inspiration for the name Balki?
Pinchot's sister's dog was named Balcony, but everyone called him "Balcy".









Though Balki, the eternal optimist, with his happy dance and "Don't be ree-dic-ulous!" catchphrase, was far and away the show's most popular character, cousin Larry, the more pragmatic, and sometimes scheming, of the two, was also beloved by TGIF fans.

Larry even had a few catchphrases of his own, including "Oh my Lord!" and "I have ... a plan," a phrase that meant he was about to hatch an ill-fated plot.





The cousins' loyal friendship and determination to make it in the big city combined with physical comedy reminiscent of a Lucy and Ethel plot and quirky wordplay involving catchphrases and Balki's misspoken English, it's no wonder the show continues to resonate with viewers.

One fan even recreated the "Perfect Strangers" opening sequence, complete with that infectious theme song.









And as our homage to the show's 25th anniversary, here's a little peek at what the series cast has been up to post-"Perfect Strangers".





Bronson Pinchot as 'Balki Bartokomous'



Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/166287-bronson-pinchot.jpg



Sweet, malapropism-spouting, vest-wearing, happy-dancing sheepherder Balki moved from the Greece-ish Mypos to America, where he became the roommate, co-worker and, sometimes begrudgingly, best friend of his cousin Larry.

Balki eventually became a comic strip creator, creating a 'toon based on his stuffed animal sheep named Dimitri. The duo even married a set of best friends and lived happily, and often zanily, ever after together.




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/bronson-pinchot.jpg



Post-"Strangers", Pinchot played the scene-stealing interior designer Duarto in The First Wives Club, guest starred on "Law & Order: SVU" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", and joined the cast of another TGIF sitcom, "Step by Step".

He was also a cast member of the fifth season of VH1's "The Surreal Life", and has spent several years restoring homes in Pennsylvania.


Most recently, he had a recurring role on "The Young & the Restless", was the voice of Max the car in a series of VW commercials and guest starred on "Hawaii Five-0" and "Chuck".














Mark Linn-Baker as 'Larry Appleton'


Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/latvtimes0792.jpg



Larry moved to Chicago to forge independence from his large family and to pursue his career as a photographer, but ended up living with distant cousin Balki and working as a writer instead.




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/markphoto2.jpg



Linn-Baker has continued to work on the stage, on the big screen (he co-starred with Owen Wilson, Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon in the 2010 romantic comedy How Do You Know).

And on TV, where he has guest starred on "Law & Order", "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Life on Mars", and played Sigmund Scrambler on The Electric Company remake.

He also directed episodes of "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper", "Step by Step" and "Family Matters".














Jo Marie Payton as 'Harriette Winslow'


Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/familymatters43a.jpg



She was the feisty elevator operator at the 'Chronicle,' and the basis of the "Strangers" spin-off "Family Matters".




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/wd0409-Family-Matters-628x371.jpg



She was the voice of Sugar Mama on "The Proud Family", had a recurring role as a wise-crackin' personal assistant to Will's boss on "Will & Grace" and has guest-starred on "Desperate Housewives", "Meet the Browns" and "The Glades".














Ernie Sabella as 'Donald Twinkacetti'


Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/60q1-jw.jpg



"Twinkie," as he was better known, was not only Larry and Balki's landlord, but also their obnoxious, money-grubbing boss at the Ritz Discount store.




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/9799a.jpg



Prolific TV, movie and stage actor Sabella has guest starred on everything from "Saved by the Bell" to "Seinfeld" to "That's So Raven".

On the big screen he is best known as the voice of Pumbaa in The Lion King.














Belita Moreno as 'Lydia Markham'


Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/belita-moreno-1.jpg



She was the 'Chronicle' advice columnist who, of course, was the character most in need of advice while dealing with her own love life and many phobias.

For the show's first two seasons, she was Edwina, the kinder, gentler wife of Mr. Twinkacetti.




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/206971_v4_ba.jpg



Despite the fact that she's little more than a decade older than George Lopez, she starred as his mother in the ABC sitcom "George Lopez".

An acting coach who has worked with Lindsay Lohan, Renee Zellweger and Aaron Eckhart, Moreno most recently appeared in Diary of a Wimpy Kid and guest starred on the USA drama "Fairly Legal".














Melanie Wilson as 'Jennifer Lyons'


Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/Jennifer-perfect-strangers-2975483-484-613.jpg



Jennifer was a flight attendant who became Larry's girlfriend, despite the fact that he thought she was out of his league.

The two eventually married and, after Balki and Larry took her on a hot air balloon ride to help induce labor, she gave birth to baby Tucker in season eight.




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/5395_wilson_melanie.jpg



Wilson, the daughter of actor Dick Wilson -- aka Mr. Whipple from the Charmin commercials -- guest starred on other TGIF series like "Family Matters" and "Step by Step".

She co-wrote the script for the 2002 Danny Glover-directed TV movie Just a Dream, and most recently co-starred in the 2009 Lifetime movie Prayers for Bobby.














Rebeca Arthur as 'Mary Anne Spencer'


Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/2350068.jpg



Mary Anne was a flight attendant, and roommate of Jennifer's, who began dating Balki in season two.

Despite a brief break up, she reunited with him to get married and have baby Robespierre before the end of the series.




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/RebecaArthur300.jpg



Arthur guest starred on "Grace Under Fire", but was last seen in the Keanu Reeves / James Spader thriller The Watcher.

Eugene Roche as 'Harry Burns'


Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/eugeneroche.jpg



Burns was Larry's first boss at the 'Chronicle,' and, despite the fact that he frequently forgot Larry's name, he felt Larry had a future at the paper.




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/20311_v4_ba.jpg



The actor, who'd been the Ajax Man in a series of 1970s TV commercials, had memorable roles as Archie's pal Pinky on "All in the Family", the landlord on "Webster" and a fellow private investigator of Magnum's on "Magnum P.I.".

He died in 2004.














Sam Anderson as 'Sam Gorpley'


Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/390.gif



Balki's boss in the 'Chronicle' mailroom, Mr. Gorpley was definitely not a fan -- he constantly plotted, unsuccessfully, to get Balki (who he referred to as the "Mypiot") fired.




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/anderson.jpg



He's had recurring roles on "Growing Pains", "WKRP in Cincinnati", "Angel" and "ER".

He guest starred on "Leverage" and "NCIS", but TV fans know him best as Bernard, one half of beloved "Lost" couple Rose and Bernard.














F.J. O'Neil as 'Mr. Wainright'


Then:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/Hastingsn2.jpg



As the 'Chicago Chronicle' publisher, he was Larry's gruff boss, who promoted Larry to an editor position and gave Balki his own comic strip.




Now:


http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab358/JamesGrec1/fjoneil.png



He went on to guest star on series like "Wings" and "L.A. Law" and big-screen flicks like The Hunt for Red October.

O'Neil, who also guest starred on the short-lived Joey Lawrence comedy "Brotherly Love", was most recently seen in ads supporting a universal health care plan in California.


http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/03/25/perfect-strangers-cast-where-are-they-now/

Thanks for sharing this article!! Why this isn't a huge hit in syndication, DVD, and/or cable is a mystery to me. Despite some of the 80s/90s fashions and hairdos, the stories and characters have held up very well, and Bronson Pinchot and Mark Linn-Baker are perhaps the most underrated physical comedy duo in TV history.

I watched an interview with Bronson Pinchot several years ago (I think it was on ET) and says that he and Mark Linn-Baker don't see much of each other anymore since they now live on opposite coasts (BP in LA and MLB in NYC). He added that when they DO bump into each other, the first thing they do is burst out laughing. :rofl:

Happy silver anniversary to the cast and crew of PS!!!!

P.S. Not to be picky, but couldn't they have found a more recent photo of Rebeca Arthur? If that's her today, maybe we should see if she has a painting in her attic!! :crazy:

One of the best casts on all of television. PS was a very underrated show.

I rediscovered this show last year when I purchased the season 1/2 set on DVD. I was reminded that this show was not only very funny but it also has a lot of heart. (something missing from most current sitcoms.) Like Monika I'm baffled that this show hasn't done better in syndication. I wish the rest of the seasons were available on DVD. Anyway happy 25th anniversary to the cast and crew of Perfect Strangers!

Is it me, or do the Rebekah Arthur pictures look like they came out the same year?

It's not just you!!!

^ LOL, the pictures here are what I found and not from the original article.

I could not find many photos of her online so I did the best with what I was able to work with. If anyone finds better then/now photos send them to me and I'll update it above.

Thanks so much for posting the photos and updates!!

I loved this show -- it was hilarious..

And I also can't understand why it's still not in syndication or why Season Three isn't out on DVD. It is a puzlement!!

Mark lost his epic Jew-Fro. :( But, he's still so cute. I've always had a thing for him.

Bronson...all I can say is WOW. He's better looking now than he was on PS. Hotness!

I agree re Bronson--is THAT the most recent picture of HIM? Are he and Mark about the same age? If so, wow...Bronson has aged much better!

Mark was also adorable in my favorite comedy movie of all time, "My Favorite Year" with the very suave Peter O'Toole basically playing a cartoon version of himself (or maybe Errol Flynn LOL) and Joseph Bologna playing a Sid Caesar type TV personality. Can't see it enough, soooo funny! I saw Bronson in the those episodes of the L&O shows he was in--also a great dramatic actor I must say.

I agree re Bronson--is THAT the most recent picture of HIM? Are he and Mark about the same age? If so, wow...Bronson has aged much better!

Mark was also adorable in my favorite comedy movie of all time, "My Favorite Year" with the very suave Peter O'Toole basically playing a cartoon version of himself (or maybe Errol Flynn LOL) and Joseph Bologna playing a Sid Caesar type TV personality. Can't see it enough, soooo funny! I saw Bronson in the those episodes of the L&O shows he was in--also a great dramatic actor I must say.
Bronson Pinchot was born on May 20, 1959 making him 52 years old. Mark Linn-Baker was born on June 17, 1954 making him 57 years old, 5 years older than Bronson. "My Favorite Year" is also one of my favorite movies. Great performance by Mark!

Thanx Marvo! I checked IMDB just after I posted that, myself.... :)


"I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!" - Peter O'Toole in "My Favorite Year"--my favorite line.

Mr Gorpley played a Happy Days obsessed doc on Friends :lol: :p

Mark lost his epic Jew-Fro. :( But, he's still so cute. I've always had a thing for him.

Bronson...all I can say is WOW. He's better looking now than he was on PS. Hotness!
I know - as a kid, I never noticed that they were kind of cute. Watching the episodes that are on DVD and on YouTube, I see it now. :D