List of Perfect Strangers characters

This article contains character information for the American television sitcom Perfect Strangers.

The character of Balki Bartokomous was portrayed by Bronson Pinchot. Balki is an immigrant from the fictional Mediterranean country of Mypos, who arrives at the front door of Larry Appleton's apartment one night, and ends up becoming his roommate. Balki's original occupation was a sheepherder when he lived in Mypos, but after arriving in Chicago, he got a job at Ritz Discount Store where Larry also worked, and Balki would later get a job at the Chicago Chronicle newspaper, first in the mail room and then later helming a comic strip based on his oft-seen stuffed sheep, Dmitri. In the pilot episode, Balki explains that he is Larry's cousin and is distantly related through a step-uncle of Larry's father on his mother side.

Larry allows Balki to stay at his apartment until he got a job, but by the end of the pilot, became his permanent roommate. Balki's trademarks during the series are his vests (his regular style), the Myposian custom known as "The Dance of Joy" (a cross between a Dosado and the Hokey Pokey that Balki and Larry perform in celebration of good fortune), and his mangling of well-known American phrases. His catchprase during the series is "Don't be ridiculous" which he often says after Larry asks him a certain question. Balki has a good sense of humor which, after telling a joke often says, "Where do I come with them?". Larry tries to teach Balki about American life, but it is often that Balki is the one who teaches Larry important life lessons. Initially, he develops a crush on Larry's platonic friend Susan Campbell, but later went on to date Mary Anne Spencer, a flight attendant who is roommates with fellow flight attendant Jennifer Lyons, who dates and later marries Larry. In season seven, after Larry and Jennifer marry and move into a large Victorian house, they discover they cannot afford rent and utilities without additional roommates, after which Balki and Mary Anne move in with them. He and Mary Anne had a fairly ambiguous relationship, but they eventually married by season seven and became parents in the series finale in season eight.

The character of Larry Appleton was portrayed by Mark Linn-Baker. Larry Appleton was born in Madison, Wisconsin and is part of a very large family, of which he has eight other siblings. Larry, an aspiring photographer, gets his first taste of living alone when he moves to Chicago at age 24. However, this is soon quickly changed when Myposian immigrant Balki Bartokomous arrives at his apartment in the pilot episode, claiming to be his distant cousin. Although initially hesitant at having Balki stay with him because he was just getting used to living alone, Larry decides to let Balki stay until he got a job. Larry ends up taking Balki under his wing and tries to teach him about life in America. His catchphrase is "Oh, my Lord!", which he says often, mainly after something shocking happens. He also frequently says, "I have a plan!", much to the chagrin of the others involved. Whenever Balki makes a mistake, Larry often says, "Don't ever, ever, do that again!". And when trying to show Balki how to do something, he says, "Watch and Learn!".

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