Ken Berry
Actor
About This Interview
In his two-hour-and-forty-minute Archive interview, actor Ken Berry talks about his early interest in becoming a song and dance man. He recounts touring in a show for the Air Force and his experience on The Ed Sullivan Show. He recalls being hired by Lucille Ball and working on the Desilu lot, and discusses various early roles, including parts on The Ann Southern Show, Dr. Kildare and The Dick Van Dyke Show. He describes his time as a regular on F-Troop, The Andy Griffith Show, and it's spin-off series Mayberry, R.F.D. Berry then outlines his later career, including his numerous guest appearances on The Carol Burnett Show and the role with which he is most closely associated, that of "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family. Stephen Abramson conducted the interview on March 7, 2012 in North Hollywood, CA.
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Video: Watch Ken Berry star in "The Carol Burnett Show" tribute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers:
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Highlights
Ken Berry on working with Carol Burnett
Clip begins at: 32:30, Duration: 01m 19s
Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
Clip begins at: 12:38, Duration: 03m 10s- Ken Berry on playing "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family
Clip begins at: 03:22, Duration: 04m 37s - Ken Berry on being the star of Mayberry, R.F.D.
Clip begins at: 17:06, Duration: 02m 55s - Ken Berry on guest starring on The Golden Girls
Clip begins at: 29:41, Duration: 00m 54s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his early life and influences; on touring and performing for the Air Force
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On performing on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town; on working for Desilu; on his recurring Dr. Kildare role
Clip begins at: 15:34 - On his guest role on The Dick Van Dyke Show; on playing "Captain Wilton Parmenter" on F-Troop; on the cast and cancellation of F-Troop; on getting his role as "Sam Jones" on The Andy Griffith Show
Clip begins at: 30:23 - Part 2
- On acting on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D; on working with the casts of the shows; on making the transition between the shows
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On being the star of Mayberry, R.F.D.; on the cancellation of M ayberry, R.F.D.; on the fans of Mayberry
Clip begins at: 17:06 - On guest-starring on The Carol Burnett Show; on working with Carol Burnett; on guest-starring on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and The Brady Bunch
Clip begins at: 26:43 - On career disappointments; on doing live theater; on his live-action Disney films; on how he came to be cast as "Vincent Harper" on Mama's Family
Clip begins at: 40:44 - Part 3
- On the original premise of Mama's Family; on his Mama's Family character "Vinton Harper"; on the cast of Mama's Family
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the cancellation of Mama's Family; on difficulties in his later career; on his proudest achievements, advice to aspiring actors, and how he'd like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 17:24
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One thing that early 60's TV producers understood about that new medium was that it was a "watchable" medium. Ken Berry was probably one of the more definitive TV actors in how "watchable" he was. You could just sit there and watch him go thru his moves, and you just had to continue to watch. It was all so inspired, but it was extremely entertaining. His enormous output shows that. Everyone liked him. I think of his many characters even now, and how I just liked him. Always mugging it up. But a sincere character actor. Yet his personal "character" was allowed to shine through. Today's media stars rely too much on the breast size or beauty, and too little on the actual watchability of that character. Maybe because shows have become "edgy" and the underlying character of the actors themselves is fairly ugly.
Ken Berry, the television misses you.
Ken Berry has always been a favorite actor of mine. He excelled in choreographic "bumbling" while in F Troop. His movies such as "The Reluctant Hero" and "Wake Me When The War Is Over" will always be testament to his great acting. I think he was underrated but he will never be forgotten. I will never forget the Operation Scene in "The Carol Burnett Show". Not every actor can pull off the stunts and straight-faced comedy this man has. He's terrific!
Mr. Berry came across incredibly well in this interview- with one enormous exception. He needs to know that he DID achieve an enormous level of success. For decades from first run to endless years of syndication F-Troop made millions of children laugh every single day.
F-Troop was part of my generations daily after school ritual. As he approaches his 80th year Ken Berry NEEDS to know that his talent is responsible for making millions of children happier. How many people can say that? If there is one true judgement of success Mr. Berry is one of the most successful actors in the history of television.
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