Bronson Alcott Pinchot (created May 20, 1959) is an American celebrity. He’s famous for his character as Balki Bartokomous on the ABC sitcom “Perfect Strangers”, on which he starred from 1986 to 1993. Since 2012, he’s been the host and star of his own reality series, “The Bronson Pinchot Job” about the DIY Network.
His first appearance as a continuing character on a network television series was on the short lived 1985 NBC situation comedy Sara, starring Geena Davis, where he played the openly-homosexual Dennis Kemper. Pinchot is likely famous for his part in the ABC family sitcom Perfect Strangers (1986–1993) as Balki Bartokomous from the (fictional) Greek-like island of Mypos. The year 2008 found the launch of Pinchot reading the novel The Students in sound editions, writer Chip Kidd’s followup to The Cheese Monkeys. Pinchot was likewise the voice of Max, the completely restored Black 1964 VW Beetle in the 2009 Volkswagen “Das Auto” effort. As of 2014 (and starting in 2009), Bronson has narrated over 100 audiobooks for which he’s won numerous awards. In 2010, Bronson read the sound variant of the novels Matterhorn and Blood Oath. For the Blackstone Audio range Patricia Highsmith: Selected Novels and Short Stories, Pinchot additionally supplied a reading of many stories along with Highsmith’s memorably creepy novel Strangers on a Train. He was selected by Audible.com as their 2010 Narrator of the Entire Year.
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Movies
‘The Bronson Pinchot Project’, (2012-), ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ (2007), ‘The Wager’ (2007), ‘The Young and the Restless’ (2008), ‘Second Sight’ (1989), "True Romance" (1993), ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ (1984),
TV Shows
Perfect Strangers, The Langoliers, Step by Step, The Trouble with Larry, The Surreal Life, Meego, Amazing Stories, Dumb and Dumber, Sara, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Eek! The Cat, I Love the '80s Strikes Back
Star Sign
Taurus
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Trademark
1
Often plays characters who have a French accent
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Quote
1
[2009, on Risky Business (1983)] We didn't know it was going to be a big hit. We thought Tom [Cruise] was the biggest bore on the face of the Earth. He had spent some formative time with Sean Penn-we were all very young at the time, Tom was 20, I was 23. Tom had picked up this knack of calling everyone by their character names, because that would probably make your performance better, and I don't agree with that. I think that acting is acting, and the rest of the time, you should be you, but he called us all by our character names. He was tense and made constant, constant unrelated homophobic comments, like, "You want some ice cream, in case there are no gay people there?" I thought the movie would disappear. It just goes to show you, I obviously don't have the antennae for that. I didn't see it at all, but neither did any of the actors. All of the actors who talked about him were like, "What is this guy all about?" And you know, honestly, I never got it, and I don't get it to this day. But it was his breakout film. He always talked about himself like he was a mega-superstar; that was weird, too.
2
(2009, on Beverly Hills Cop) I almost didn't do the movie, because my girlfriend and I had tickets to go to Florence, and they kept pushing the date back of when they were going to shoot it. Not having a crystal ball and not knowing what was going to happen with it, I said, "If you don't shoot it before next Wednesday, I'm not doing it. We've got tickets to Florence, and I'm not not going to Florence." I didn't have any money, I was nobody, and I was just kidding around and having fun, and it came out, and people were following me around and shrieking and taking pictures, acting like I was a big deal. I didn't have any concept of what the hell was going on. But basically, it was a couple of days, fooling around, having fun. I almost didn't do it.
3
(2009, on Beverly Hills Cop 3) Beverly Hills Cop opened up a whole world. I got the television show and movies, and I would go sign autographs for one hour and get paid $25,000. I had bodyguards and police barricades, and I had that whole life from 1985 to about 1992, '93. Eddie was going through his period at the time of doing movies that were not hits, and he was very low-spirited, low-energy. I said to him, "All anyone ever wants to know when they meet me is what you're like." And he said, "I bet they don't ask that anymore." And then when we did a scene, we were shooting, and he was so low-energy that John Landis sent him upstairs and said, "Just rest, Eddie, and I'll do the scene with Bronson." So whenever you see my face in the movie, I'm not really talking to Eddie, I'm talking to John Landis. And I can understand it-he was just having a bad stretch. And that stretch lasted... When did Dr. Dolittle come out? I think his funk really did last until then. I don't know what started the funk, but it lasted a chunk of time, and that was in the belly of the funk, and he was just really sad and low-energy and I basically did the scene without him there.
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(2009, on True Romance) That was an exciting thing, because at that point in my life, no one had really ever heard me speak with my own voice. I remember the first couple of weeks, people would lean in and say, "Let's hear him talk!" Which was kind of a compliment, but weird. If it had been a hit, it would have been the exact opening chapter of the second act of my career. It was an interesting role, it was a good character role in a dramatic movie. So it was a hugely important thing. And it was a fun, very exciting thing.
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(2009, on making Courage Under Fire) That was a low point, because Denzel Washington was behind the incredibly cowardly bullshit of "This is my character, not me." He was really abusive to me and everybody on that movie, and his official explanation was that his character didn't like me, but it was a dreadful experience. I spent my salary on time with my shrink just for helping me get through it...Denzel Washington cured me forever of thinking that there is any amount of money or anything that could ever, ever make it okay to be abused. The script supervisor on that movie said it's like watching somebody kick a puppy. He was so vile. And after that, I just would never endure it again.
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Fact
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He is of Italian and Russian descent.
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Harford, PA [July 2012]
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Appearing in 'Stones in Their Pockets' on the London West End [December 2001]
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Currently the voice of Max, the refurbished bug, on the VW commercials. [May 2008]
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Appearing with Richard Dreyfuss and Eric Stoltz on Broadway in Arthur Penn's production of Larry Gelbart's play, "Sly Fox." [March 2004]
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He claimed on The Surreal Life (2003) that he grew up in a very dysfunctional family.
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Became a member of the Harford, PA Masonic Lodge #445 in December, 2002.
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His hobby is Greek sculpture (460 BC-31 BC).
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He received a scholarship to Yale.
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Graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1977, where he excelled in French, theater and choir.
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Studied drama at Yale University.
12
Organized the 1975 International Wizard of Oz Club, Inc. Winkie Convention.
Sanford Lagelfost / Jorge Jimenez / Arthur Lloyd / ...
ABC TGIF
1990
TV Series
Balki
Second Sight
1989
Bobby
Between Two Women
1986
TV Movie
Photographer
Dave Thomas: The Incredible Time Travels of Henry Osgood
1986
TV Movie
Charles Dickens
George Burns Comedy Week
1985
TV Series
Boris
Amazing Stories
1985
TV Series
Director
After Hours
1985
Lloyd
Sara
1985
TV Series
Dennis Kemper
Hot Resort
1985
Brad
The Flamingo Kid
1984
Alfred Schultz
Beverly Hills Cop
1984
Serge
Risky Business
1983
Barry
Double Play
2016
post-production
Bob
The Strike
2016
Carlo Lombardi
Ray Donovan
2015
TV Series
Flip Brightman
The Mysteries of Laura
2015
TV Series
Head Chef J.T. Thompson
NCIS
2014
TV Series
George Burton
Kung Fu and Titties
2013
The Beaver
Shake It Up!
2011
TV Series
Kashlack Hessenheffer
Virgin Alexander
2011
Bim Norse
The Problem Solverz
2011
TV Series
AI
You and I
2011
Torrino
Hawaii Five-0
2010
TV Series
Bastille
Pure Country 2: The Gift
2010
Joseph
Chuck
2010
TV Series
Victor
Good Clean Fun
2009
Dean Vernon
Hooking Up
2009/II
Mr. Kimbal
The Tale of Despereaux
2008
Town Crier (voice)
The Young and the Restless
2008
TV Series
Patrick Dalton
From a Place of Darkness
2008
Carl
Mr. Art Critic
2007
M.J. Clayton
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
2007
TV Series
Dr. Henry Carlisle
The Wager
2007
Colin Buchanan
Six Degrees
2007
TV Series
Thomas Johnson
Diamond Zero
2005
Bergerac De La Houssey
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2005
TV Series
Dr. Greg Ross
Second Best
2004
Doc Klingenstein
All Grown Up!
2003
TV Series
Pepe
Straight No Chaser
2003
Short
Josh Peters
Breaking News
2002
TV Series
Phillip
Winning Girls Through Psychic Mind Control
2002
Devon Sharpe
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure
2001
Video
Francois (voice)
Putting It Together
2000
TV Movie
The Narrator
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
2000
TV Series
Shakey / Science
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
1997-2000
TV Series
Killer Whale / Reindeer / Sonny the Toad
The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in 'For Love or Mummy'
1999
Stanley Thinnius Laurel
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure
2001
Video performer: "Junkyard Society Rag"
Putting It Together
2000
TV Movie performer: "Invocation and Instructions to the Audience", "Putting It Together", "Rich and Happy", "Merrily We Roll Along", "Lovely", "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid", "Bang!", "Back in Business", "It's Hot Up Here", "Not Getting Married Today", "Buddy's Blues", "Being Alive", "Finale/Old Friends"
MGM Sing-Alongs: Having Fun
1997
Video short performer: "The Worst Is Yet to Come"
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Kung Fu and Titties
2013
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Greatest 80s Movies
2014
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Barry
Serge
The Bronson Pinchot Project
2012-2013
TV Series
Himself - Host
Celebrity Nightmares Decoded
2011
TV Series
Himself
TV Land Confidential
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself - Interviewee
The Surreal Life
2003-2005
TV Series
Himself
The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch
2005
TV Series
Himself
Broadway Under the Stars
2004
TV Movie
Himself
I Love the '80s Strikes Back
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
Pet Star
2003
TV Series documentary
Celebrity Judge #1
Pyramid
2002
TV Series
Himself - Celebrity
VH-1 Behind the Movie
2002
TV Series documentary
Himself
V.I.P.
1999
TV Series
Himself
Ruby
1999
TV Series
Himself
Hollywood Squares
1998-1999
TV Series
Himself
All-Star TGIF Magic
1997
TV Movie
Himself
Champions of Magic 2
1997
TV Special
Himself - Host
ESPY Awards
1996
TV Special
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
1994-1995
TV Series
Himself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Christmas Fantasy on Ice
1992
TV Special
Host / Jack Frost
A Tribute to the Boys: Laurel & Hardy
1992
TV Special documentary
Himself
Late Night with David Letterman
1990-1991
TV Series
Himself
The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards
1990
TV Special
Himself - Presenter
The Joan Rivers Show
1989
TV Series
Himself - Guest
The Arsenio Hall Show
1989
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Good Morning America
1988
TV Series
The 14th Annual People's Choice Awards
1988
TV Special documentary
Himself - Co-Presenter: Favourite Female Performer in New Television Show
Hour Magazine
1988
TV Series
Himself - Co-Host
She's Having a Baby
1988
Himself (uncredited)
Circus of the Stars #12
1987
TV Special documentary
Himself - Performer
The 39th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
1987
TV Special
Himself - Nominee / Presenter
The 1st Annual American Comedy Awards
1987
TV Special
Himself
Saturday Night Live
1987
TV Series
Himself - Host / Various
Deja View
1986
Video
Himself
The Late Show
1986
TV Series
Himself - Guest
The New Hollywood Squares
1986
TV Series
Himself - Center Square
The $10,000 Pyramid
1985
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
TV's 50 Funniest Catch Phrases
2009
TV Movie
Beverly Hills Cop: A Glimpse Into the Casting Process