# Bronson Pinchot

Bronson Alcott Pinchot (/ˈpɪntʃoʊ/; born May 20, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Balki Bartokomous on the ABC sitcom Perfect Strangers (1986–1993). He also performed in films, such as Risky Business (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), After Hours (1985), True Romance (1993), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), Stephen King's The Langoliers (1995), It's My Party (1996), Courage Under Fire (1996), The First Wives Club (1996) and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024), and in television series, such as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Meego and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. In 2012, he starred in his own reality series, The Bronson Pinchot Project on the DIY Network.
Pinchot has worked extensively as an audiobook narrator, with over 400 recordings as of 2024. AudioFile magazine recognized him as Best Voice in Fiction & Classics for his 2010 renderings of Flannery O'Connor's Everything That Rises Must Converge (1965), Karl Marlantes's Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War (2009) and David Vann's Caribou Island (2011).

## Early life

Bronson Pinchot was born in New York City. He grew up with his mother, two brothers, and a sister. His mother, Rosina, was a typist and house cleaner, while his father, a bookbinder born in New York and raised in Paris, abandoned the family. This abandonment plunged the family into poverty. Pinchot's paternal grandparents were Russian immigrants who settled in France following the Russian Revolution. Upon returning to the United States, his father changed the family surname from Poncharavsky to Pinchot.
When Pinchot was two and a half years old, the family moved to South Pasadena, California. In school, he faced bullying and was often mocked for his appearance, being called "ugly" and "fat." Pinchot excelled academically, graduating at the top of his class from South Pasadena High School. His achievements earned him a full scholarship to Yale University, where he lived at Morse College. Although he initially planned to study fine arts, he ultimately majored in theater studies, graduating with honors. After college, a casting director discovered Pinchot, which led to his film debut in Risky Business..

## Career

Pinchot appeared in several feature films, such as Hot Resort, Risky Business, Beverly Hills Cop, The First Wives Club, True Romance, Courage Under Fire and It's My Party. He also played Dennis Kemper in the short-lived NBC sitcom Sara. Pinchot was hired to replace Fisher Stevens as Ben Jabituya in the 1986 film Short Circuit, but Pinchot eventually left the production in order to begin work on Perfect Strangers, and Stevens was subsequently rehired for the role.
Starting in 1986, Pinchot played Balki Bartokomous on the long-running ABC sitcom Perfect Strangers. When the show concluded filming its eight-season run in September 1992 (with the condensed final season airing during the summer of 1993), Pinchot secured the starring role on a new sitcom for CBS, entitled The Trouble with Larry. The series premiered just three weeks after ABC's Perfect Strangers finale in August 1993, and one episode (which never aired) was directed by Mark Linn-Baker, Pinchot's co-star on Strangers. After three weeks of dismal ratings and poor reviews, The Trouble with Larry was canceled. Pinchot would subsequently be rehired by Perfect Strangers producers Tom Miller and Bob Boyett for roles on two more of their sitcoms: Step By Step, where he played French hairdresser Jean-Luc Rieupeyroux in early 1997, and, that fall, on Meego, where he played an alien who crash-landed on Earth.
In 2008, Pinchot read the audio version of The Learners, author Chip Kidd's followup to The Cheese Monkeys. He also voiced Max, the fully restored Black 1964 VW Beetle, in the 2009 Volkswagen "Das Auto" campaign. Between 2009 and 2014, Pinchot narrated over 100 audiobooks. In 2010, Pinchot read the audio version of the novels Matterhorn and Blood Oath. For the Blackstone Audio collection Patricia Highsmith: Selected Novels and Short Stories, he provided a reading of several stories, including Strangers on a Train. Pinchot also narrated for Christopher Healy's children's series, The Hero's Guide. He was recognized for his work with a number of awards, including Audible.com's 2010 Narrator of the Year.
On February 12, 2012, Pinchot starred in a home restoration show on DIY Network titled The Bronson Pinchot Project. The program is based on his hobby of restoring old homes using salvaged materials. On March 8, 2018, it was announced that Pinchot would play George Hawthorne, the villainous, puritanical principal of Baxter High, who regularly clashes with Sabrina Spellman and her friends in the Netflix series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The series premiered in October 2018.

## Personal life

Pinchot was engaged to Marcy Walker in 1983–84.
In 1999, he spent a great deal of time in Harford, Pennsylvania, restoring the circa 1839 mansion built by Joab Tyler (father of historian William Seymour Tyler) and later inhabited by former Pennsylvania state Senator Edward E. Jones. Pinchot purchased six properties in the small rural town of 1,300 residents "in an effort to revive the town's 19th-century aesthetic". In 2015 he filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, claiming liabilities between $100,000 and $500,000. All of his properties in Harford were subsequently put up for sale. Pinchot told the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, "I have two skills: I can make old houses beautiful and I can make people laugh. Other than that I'm a waste of space. Well, I'm a dedicated son and brother, but I have no head for businesses." By April 2017, he owned two tiny homes, one measuring 77 square feet, the other 153 square feet.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Risky Business | Barry | |
| 1984 | Beverly Hills Cop | Serge | |
| 1984 | The Flamingo Kid | Alfred Schultz | |
| 1985 | Hot Resort | Brad | |
| 1985 | After Hours | Lloyd | |
| 1989 | Second Sight | Bobby McGee | |
| 1992 | Blame It on the Bellboy | Bellboy | |
| 1993 | True Romance | Elliot Blitzer | |
| 1993 | Jungledyret Hugo | Hugo (voice) | English version |
| 1994 | Beverly Hills Cop III | Serge | |
| 1995 | The Langoliers | Craig Toomy | |
| 1995 | Napoleon | Birdo (voice) | American version |
| 1996 | It's My Party | Monty Tipton | |
| 1996 | Courage Under Fire | Bruno | |
| 1996 | The First Wives Club | Duarto Feliz | |
| 1996 | Jungledyret Hugo 2 - den store filmhelt (1996) | Hugo (voice) | English version |
| 1997 | Babes in Toyland | Rodrigo (voice) | |
| 1998 | Slappy and the Stinkers | Roy | |
| 1998 | Quest for Camelot | Griffin (voice) | |
| 1998 | Beach Movie | Ronald | a.k.a. Boardheads |
| 1999 | Out of the Cold | Max Kaplan | |
| 1999 | The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in For Love or Mummy | Stanley | |
| 2001 | Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure | Francois (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2001 | Putting It Together: Direct from Broadway | The Narrator | |
| 2002 | Winning Girls Through Psychic Mind Control | Devon Sharpe | |
| 2003 | Straight No Chaser | Josh Peters | Short |
| 2004 | Second Best | 'Doc' Klingenstein | |
| 2005 | Diamond Zero | Bergerac De La Houssey | AKA: IceMaker |
| 2007 | The Wager | Colin Buchanan | |
| 2007 | Mr. Art Critic | M.J. Clayton | |
| 2008 | From a Place of Darkness | Carl | |
| 2008 | The Tale of Despereaux | Town Crier (voice) | |
| 2009 | Hooking Up | Mr. Kimbal (voice) | |
| 2009 | Good Clean Fun | Dean Vernon | |
| 2010 | Pure Country 2: The Gift | Joseph | |
| 2011 | You and I | Torrino | |
| 2012 | Virgin Alexander | Bim Norse | |
| 2013 | Kung-Fu and Titties | The Beaver | |
| 2015 | The Strike | Carlo Lombardi | |
| 2017 | Double Play | Bob | |
| 2024 | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F | Serge | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Sara | Dennis Kenper | 13 episodes |
| 1985 | Amazing Stories | Director | Episode: "Mummy Daddy" |
| 1986 | Dave Thomas: The Incredible Time Travels of Henry Osgood | Charles Dickens | Television film |
| 1986 | Between Two Women | Photographer | Television film |
| 1986–1993 | Perfect Strangers | Balki Bartokomous / Mama / Cousin Bartok | 150 episodes |
| 1990 | ABC TGIF | Balki | Promotional programming |
| 1990 | The Great American Sex Scandal | Sanford Lagelfost / Jorge Jimenez / Arthur Lloyd / Magda | Television film |
| 1992 | Eek! The Cat | Additional voices | |
| 1992 | Disney's Christmas Fantasy On Ice | Uncle Bronny / Jack Frost | Television special |
| 1993 | The Trouble with Larry | Larry Burton | 7 episodes |
| 1994/1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Kyle Griffin / The Prankster | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | The Langoliers | Craig Toomey | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Dumb and Dumber | Dymbster (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Hyperman | Valerie Knockisblokov (voice) | Episode: "Cosmo Not/The Brain Game" |
| 1996 | High Society | Arthur Zipkin | Episode: "Nip and Tuck" |
| 1996 | Duckman | Dr. Henri Ducharme (voice) | Episode: "A Room with a Bellevue" |
| 1996 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Roy Albright | Episode: "Ab-dick-ted" |
| 1996 | Bruno the Kid | General Armando Castrato (voice) | 36 episodes |
| 1996 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | The Man / The Dog (voices) | Episode: "Work" |
| 1996 | Clueless | Mr. Pomormo / Ka-feen | 2 episodes |
| 1996 1997 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Dietrich Duchump Deitrich Dunlap (voices) | "Amulet of Enfarg/Bad Hair Day" "The Lips Have It/Escape Claws" |
| 1997 | Meego | Meego | 13 episodes |
| 1997 | High Incident | Matt Shukat | Episode: "Show Me the Money" |
| 1997 | The Angry Beavers | Truman / Brat (voices) | Episode: "House Broken/Stinky Toe" |
| 1997 | I Am Weasel | Oscar / Guard / Old Wardrobe Man (voices) | Episode: "I Are Big Star" |
| 1997 | Step by Step | Jean-Luc Rieupeyroux / Black Bart | 24 episodes |
| 1997 | Merry Christmas, George Bailey | Mr. Carter | Television film |
| 1997 2000 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Sonny the Toad / Killer Whale / Reindeer (voices) | "Thumbelina" "The Snow Queen" |
| 1998 | Hey Arnold! | Ronnie Matthews / Director / Chauffeur (voices) | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | The Wild Thornberrys | Franz Fensterkopf (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Shakey / Science (voices) | Episode: "Haunted Moon" |
| 2002 | Breaking News | Phillip | Episode: "Spin Art |
| 2003 | All Grown Up! | Pepe (voice) | Episode: "Chuckie's in Love" |
| 2005 | The Surreal Life | Himself | Season 5 Castmember |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Dr. Greg Ross | Episode: "Beast" |
| 2007 | Six Degrees | Thomas Johnson | Episode: "Ray's Back" |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Henry Carlisle | Episode: "Alternate" |
| 2008 | The Young and the Restless | Patrick Dalton | 6 episodes |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 | Bastille | Episode: "Mana'o" |
| 2011 | The Problem Solverz | AI (voice) | Episode: "Videogamez" |
| 2011 | Shake It Up | Kashlack Hessenheffer | Episode: "Vatalihootsit It Up" |
| 2012–13 | The Bronson Pinchot Project | Himself (host) | 20 episodes |
| 2014 | NCIS | George Burton | Episode: "Parental Guidance Suggested" |
| 2015 | The Mysteries of Laura | Head Chef J.T. Thompson | Episode: "The Mystery of the Frozen Foodie" |
| 2015 | Ray Donovan | Flip Brightman | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | The Untitled Action Bronson Show | Himself | Season 1 Episode 3 |
| 2018–2020 | Chilling Adventures of Sabrina | George Hawthorne | Recurring role, 8 episodes |
| 2019 | A Million Little Things | Berge | Episode: "Twelve Seconds" |
| 2019 | Lodge 49 | Dr. Kimbrough | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Project Blue Book | David Dubrovsky | Episode: "Close Encounters" |
| 2021 | Black Monday | Douglas Blackmore | Episode: "Four!" |
| 2022 | NCIS: Hawaiʻi | Darrin Schwartz | Episode: "Nurture" |
| 2022 | The Mysterious Benedict Society | Yanis | Episode: "Commitment to All Things Cozy" |
| 2023 | Our Flag Means Death | Ned Lowe | Episode: "Calypso's Birthday" |

### Music videos

| Year | Title | Role | Artist |
| 1984 | "Neutron Dance" | Theater Manager | The Pointer Sisters |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
| 1987 | People’s Choice Awards | Favorite Actor in a New TV Program | Perfect Strangers | Nominated |
| 1987 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Perfect Strangers | Nominated |
| 1996 | National Board of Review | Best Cast | The First Wives Club | Won |
| 2009 | Audie Awards | Humor | The Learners by Chip Kidd | Won |
| 2011 | Orlando Film Festival | Best Supporting Performance | Virgin Alexander | Nominated |
| 2011 | Audie Awards | Distinguished Achievement in Production | Chapters from My Autobiography by Mark Twain | Nominated |
| 2012 | Audie Awards | Fantasy | Rumo & His Miraculous Adventures by Walter Moers | Nominated |
| 2012 | Audie Awards | Non-Fiction | My Korean Deli by Ben Ryder Howe | Nominated |
| 2012 | Audie Awards | Paranormal | Hard Magic by Larry Correia | Won |
| 2012 | Audie Awards | Solo Narration — Male | Hard Magic by Larry Correia | Nominated |
| 2012 | Audie Awards | Thriller/Suspense | Unknown [Out of My Head] by Didier van Cauwelaert | Nominated |
| 2013 | Audie Awards | Paranormal | Spellbound by Larry Correia | Won |
| 2013 | Audie Awards | Thriller/Suspense | Red, White, and Blood by Christopher Farnsworth | Won |
| 2014 | Audie Awards | Paranormal | Warbound by Larry Correia | Nominated |
| 2014 | Audie Awards | Solo Narration — Male | Warbound by Larry Correia | Nominated |
| 2015 | Audie Awards | Solo Narration — Male | The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy | Won |
| 2015 | Audie Awards | Children's Titles for Ages 8–12 | The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw by Christopher Healy | Nominated |
| 2015 | Audie Awards | Thriller/Suspense | Dead Six by Larry Correia and Mike Kupari | Nominated |
| 2016 | Audie Awards | History/Biography | A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts by Andrew Chaikin and Tom Hanks | Won |
| 2016 | Voice Arts Awards | Audiobook Narration – Fantasy, Best Narrator | The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers | Won |
| 2021 | Audie Awards | Science Fiction | Aliens: Phalanx by Scott Sigler | Nominated |