Ken Berry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ken Berry
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Berry in 1972
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Kenneth Ronald Berry
November 3, 1933 Moline, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | December 1, 2018 (aged 85) Burbank, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 1954–1999 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Susie Walsh (1994–2018) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Bill Bateman (former-son-in-law) |
Kenneth Ronald Berry (born November 3, 1933 – died December 1, 2018) was an American actor, comedian, dancer, and singer. He was famous for starring in popular TV shows like F Troop, The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry R.F.D., and Mama's Family. Ken Berry also performed on Broadway and appeared in movies.
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Early Life and Becoming a Performer
Ken Berry was born in Moline, Illinois. His dad was an accountant. When he was 12, Ken watched a dance show at school and knew right away he wanted to be a dancer and singer. He dreamed of being in musicals, just like his heroes Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. He loved watching their movies such as Easter Parade and On the Town.
Ken started taking tap dance lessons. By age 15, he won a local talent contest. This led him to join "The Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program," a traveling performance group. He toured the United States and Europe for 15 months, singing and dancing for audiences, including soldiers at military bases.
Serving in the Army
After high school, Ken joined the United States Army. He always carried his tap shoes with him! He won a talent contest in the Army, which led to his first TV appearance on Soldier Parade in New York City.
Later, he joined the Army's Special Services, where he entertained troops. His sergeant, Leonard Nimoy (who later played Spock on Star Trek), encouraged Ken to go to Hollywood and become an actor. Ken also appeared on Toast of the Town, another big TV show.
Movies and Hollywood
After leaving the Army, Ken Berry went to Hollywood. He signed with Universal Studios as a "contract player," meaning he worked for the studio on different projects. He took many classes to improve his acting, dancing, and singing.
Even though movie musicals were less popular by then, acting became the main part of his career. He starred in the musical comedy Hello Down There in 1969. He also became a popular Disney star, appearing in films like Herbie Rides Again (1974) and The Cat from Outer Space (1978).
Performing in Las Vegas
In 1956, Ken Berry went to Las Vegas. He performed with famous comedians Abbott and Costello at the Sahara Hotel. Later, he joined The Ken Murray Blackouts, a popular stage show. In the 1970s, he returned to Las Vegas to perform with his friend Andy Griffith and Jerry Van Dyke.
Stage Shows and TV Beginnings
Ken Berry got a big break when he joined The Billy Barnes Revue, a stage show in Los Angeles. He worked with many talented performers there, including his future wife, Jackie Joseph. Critics praised his dancing, comparing him to famous dancers like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
Early TV Appearances
In 1957, Ken won Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a TV talent show. This led to him performing on Arthur Godfrey's morning show for several weeks.
A very important person in Ken's career was Carol Burnett. She saw him in The Billy Barnes Revue and invited him to be a guest on The Garry Moore Show. Later, Ken became one of the most frequent guest stars on The Carol Burnett Show. They even starred together in a TV version of the musical Once Upon a Mattress in 1972.
Ken also worked with Lucille Ball, who signed him to her talent development program at Desilu. He appeared in her show The Lucy Show, where he got to dance and sing.
He also had roles in other TV shows, including playing Dr. Kapish on Dr. Kildare and a dance instructor on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Starring Roles on TV
Ken Berry got his first main role in a TV comedy called F Troop (1965-1967). It was a funny Western show where he played the clumsy Captain Parmenter. He loved working on the show, calling it "two years of recess" because the cast had so much fun. His dancing skills helped him do funny falls and stunts.
After F Troop ended, Ken was cast in The Andy Griffith Show as Sam Jones, a widowed farmer. When Andy Griffith's character left the show, Ken Berry took the lead role in the spin-off series Mayberry R.F.D. (1968-1971). He often sang and danced on the show. Mayberry R.F.D. was very popular, but it was canceled in 1971 as TV networks started to prefer shows set in cities.
In 1972, Ken had his own summer variety show called The Ken Berry 'Wow' Show. It even featured future stars like Steve Martin and Cheryl Ladd!
Mama's Family
In 1983, Ken Berry was cast as Vinton Harper in Mama's Family. This show was a spin-off from a popular sketch on The Carol Burnett Show. Ken starred alongside Vicki Lawrence. The show was very successful, first on NBC and then in syndication, making 130 episodes in total.
During and after Mama's Family, Ken continued to perform in stage musicals across the United States. He appeared in shows like Sugar and The Music Man.
Commercials and Music
Ken Berry also appeared in many commercials. In the 1970s and early 1980s, he was the spokesperson for Kinney Shoes, singing and dancing in their ads.
He also recorded a solo music album called Ken Berry RFD in 1970, after performing on The Andy Williams Show.
Personal Life
Ken Berry married Jackie Joseph in 1960. They adopted two children, John Kenneth and Jennifer Kate. His son John passed away in 2016, and his daughter Jennifer passed away in 2020. Ken's long-time partner for 24 years was Susie Walsh.
Ken loved cars, especially smaller ones, and owned a 1966 Mini Moke. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles and camping in the mountains near Los Angeles.
Death
Ken Berry passed away on December 1, 2018, at the age of 85, due to heart problems.
Credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961–1966 | Dr. Kildare | Dr. John Kapish | 25 episodes |
| 1965–1967 | F Troop | Capt. Wilton Parmenter | 65 episodes |
| 1968–1971 | Mayberry R.F.D. | Sam Jones | 78 episodes |
| 1968–1978 | The Carol Burnett Show | Himself | 19 episodes |
| 1972 | The Ken Berry WOW Show | Himself | 5 episodes |
| 1983–1990 | Mama's Family | Vinton Harper | 130 episodes |
Ken Berry also appeared in many other TV shows, including The Ann Sothern Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, Love, American Style, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, CHiPs, and The Golden Girls.
His film roles included Hello Down There (1969), Herbie Rides Again (1974), and The Cat from Outer Space (1978). He also performed in many theater productions like The Billy Barnes Review, The Music Man, and Sugar.
See also
In Spanish: Ken Berry para niños
