A lot of people know Mark Linn-Baker from the sitcom Perfect Strangers, where he played the role of Cousin Larry, and, because he and Bronson Pinchot delivered perfectly in their roles together, they made the show a fan favorite. Before then he was cast as Benjy Stone in the 1982 comedy film, My Favorite Year.
However, since he wrapped up his work in the series, the 68-year-old has continued acting and is still listed as active on his Wikipedia page, most recently enjoying recurring roles on Disney+ Marvel series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and CBS’ Blue Bloods and Ghosts.
Mark Linn-Baker was invited as a guest star on ‘The Leftovers’ because of his role in ‘Perfect Strangers’
Linn-Baker’s role in Perfect Strangers as Larry Appleton, a cynical young man who was looking to get away from family, was iconic. His performance resonated with fans and critics that many years after the show ended, he was invited for a cameo appearance as himself in the 2017 HBO drama series, The Leftovers, which had a storyline closely related to Perfect Strangers.
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The actor revealed in a 2017 interview with Vulture that he was glad to be a part of the show. “I had gotten a call and they had asked if they could use clips from Perfect Strangers, which they did in season one, in a few of the scenes where Justin Theroux’s character goes to visit his dad in the asylum,” Linn-Baker told the outlet. “Later, I was a fan of the show and happy they used it in that way.”
“It was kind of a light comic moment in what’s a pretty heavy show. The second season, [showrunner Damon Lindelof] contacted me and asked if I would be interested in playing myself, and that’s when we did the little scene where it turns out I faked my own departure and was hiding in Mexico,” he explained. “Then he had an idea for a scene with this alternate-universe Mark Linn-Baker that set the stage for the third season. That was all I had to hear. I was in.”
Mark Linn-Baker still has a handful of roles
WB TV TCA Party
Pasadena Ritz Carlton Hotel
Pasadena, CA
January 16, 2006
Linn-Baker is one of the many actors who have the ability to go off the radar only to be instantly recognized upon their return, because he has been able to create lasting impressions in the minds of his fans with his memorable characters over the years.
He has been a part of many movie projects such as 12 and Holding, (2005); Adam, (2009); How Do You Know, (2010); and Accommodation (2018), while also doubling as a director with credits for some episodes on TV shows. He has also made many guest appearances on shows like The Good Wife, (2012),The Blacklist, (2019), and the Law & Order series.