The last time I heard his voice was in an episode of Batman TAS, where he played some paper-pusher who lost all fear. It took me days to remember what I knew it from but once I saw a rerun of Mama's Family, it clicked. RIP, sir.
Let's not forget him in "Mayberry R.F.D.". He's now up there with George Lindsey, Jack Dodson, Paul Hartman, Frances Bavier, Alice Ghostley and yes Andy Griffith and Don Knotts (who appeared as Barney Fife in the first episode where Andy Taylor got married).
Let's not forget him in "Mayberry R.F.D.". He's now up there with George Lindsey, Jack Dodson, Paul Hartman, Frances Bavier, Alice Ghostley and yes Andy Griffith and Don Knotts (who appeared as Barney Fife in the first episode where Andy Taylor got married).
Rest in Peace Ken Berry (Sam). I guess he never met Gomer in Mayberry, but probably heard a lot of stories about him.
Where da HELL have YOU been, Zoobster? Haven't seen you on the board in WEEKS!
I'm around buddy. Just laying a little low. Thanks for axin. Been a rough year in many ways. Looking forward to a Brighter New Year of Healing and New starts. Wishing the BEST for Everyone!
Ken Berry's first feature film appearance came in an uncredited role in 1962's TWO FOR THE SEESAW. Berry played "Larry," the dance teacher to Shirley MacLaine's "Gittel Mosca." Robert Wise directed the comedy-drama. Andre Previn's score was released on a United Artists LP, and was re-issued on CD by Kritzerland in 2009.
Ken Berry had a bit part in the 1964 car racing comedy-drama THE LIVELY SET. Berry played a room service waiter at a hotel. Jack Arnold directed the film. Singer-actor Bobby Darin had declined the lead role in the film, but agreed to write the picture’s musical score, which included three songs to be sung by co-stars Joanie Sommers and James Darren. (Music supervisor Joseph Gershenson was the father of Bobby Darin’s personal assistant.)
While filming was underway, the 17 February 1964 Daily Variety reported that James Darren recorded the title song for Colpix Records. Nearly six months later, however, the 5 August 1964 Daily Variety announced that he was recording a new version for Decca Records, with orchestration by Billy May. The soundtrack LP, which included Darren's song, was released by Decca, and there is no record of any Colpix recording being released. The LP has not been re-issued on CD.
Ken Berry had his first regular television series role in “F Troop”, a satirical western series. Berry had been doing guest roles on various television series, and it was while performing a small part on the short-lived George Burns-Connie Stevens sitcom “Wendy and Me” on ABC that both Burns and Stevens recommended him for the pilot of “F Troop.”
“F Troop” is set at Fort Courage—a fictional United States Army outpost in the Old West—from just at the end of the American Civil War in 1865 to at least 1867. There is a town of the same name adjacent to the fort. Fort Courage was named for the fictitious General Sam Courage (portrayed by Cliff Arquette).
Ken Berry in “F Troop”
Berry plays the Fort’s commanding officer, the gallant although laughably clumsy “Captain Wilton Parmenter.” The names of Wilton Parmenter's family all came from mythology. His first cousin was a Major named Achilles (Greek), his second cousin was a Lieutenant Colonel named Hercules (Romanization of the Greek Herakles), his uncle was a Colonel named Jupiter (Roman), and his father was a General named Thor (Scandinavian).
The other series regulars included Forrest Tucker as “Sergeant O'Rourke,” Larry Storch as “Corporal Agarn,” and Melody Patterson as “‘Wrangler’ Jane,” Captain Parmenter's beautiful but tomboyish, feisty girlfriend.
Forrest Tucker and Ken Berry
Melody Patterson lied about her age to get the part of Wrangler Jane. She was 15 at the time of her audition, but turned 16 by the time filming started. At 32, Ken Berry was twice her age. As a result, the romance between Jane and Parmenter was kept very low key during the first season. By the time production of the second season started, Patterson had turned 17 and Parmenter's affections were made stronger, and Jane was made more sexually aggressive (Patterson was 10 days short of turning 18 when the last episode was aired.) Even so, in all of the kissing scenes with Berry, she was the one who did the initial kiss. Patterson died in 2015 at the age of 66.
Melody Patterson and Ken Berry
The show premiered on ABC on Tuesday, 14 September 1965, at 9 PM. It followed “McHale’s Navy,” then in its fourth and final season. Despite the fact that the show was going up against the last half hour of the #4-rated show on all of television, “The Red Skelton Show,” “F Troop” received a renewal for a second season.
ABC was in the process of switching to an all-color show line-up, and “F Troop” was upgraded from the black-and-white of its first season to color for the season that started in September 1966. ABC moved the series to Thursdays at 8 PM, following the strong lead-in “Batman,” then starting its second season. “F Troop”’s competition was also weaker in its second season, with the #25 “Daniel Boone” on NBC being its strongest foe. But, although “F Troop” finished as the #40-rated series for the year (out of 113 shows), it was cancelled. Various reasons were proffered for the show’s demise, among them that Warner Bros.' new owners, Seven Arts, discontinued production because they thought it was wasteful for so much of the Warner Ranch to be taken up by a single half-hour TV show. Producer William Orr said the studio was also unhappy with the added costs of producing the show in color during its second season.
Although the 65 episodes produced fell short of the magic 100 usually needed for a program’s success in syndication, “F Troop” enjoyed a considerable run in syndication, and was being broadcast on Me-TV as recently as September 2013, nearly 50 years after it debuted.
William Lava composed the show’s iconic theme song, which like most of producer Orr’s western series (“Maverick,” “Cheyenne,” “Bronco,”) featured a male chorus. Lava provided a muscular orchestral version of the theme for the end credits, punctuated by a bugle call.
Berry called his time on “F Troop” "two years of recess" as the entire cast spent time between takes trying to make each other laugh. His grace and agility allowed him to perform choreographed pratfalls over hitching posts, sabers, and trash cans.
In 1967, during the second year of the show, Dick Linke — who was Berry's manager, and also managed Andy Griffith and Jim Nabors — pitched an “F Troop” stage show to Bill Harrah, founder of Harrah's Entertainment, which included a casino and hotel in Reno, Nevada. Harrah went for it, and Berry, Larry Storch, Forrest Tucker, and James Hampton (who played bugler “Hannibal Dobbs” on the series) put together a show, hiring writers and a choreographer to assist. While performing the Reno show, they received word that “F Troop” had been canceled.
Melody Patterson lied about her age to get the part of Wrangler Jane. She was 15 at the time of her audition, but turned 16 by the time filming started. At 32, Ken Berry was twice her age. As a result, the romance between Jane and Parmenter was kept very low key during the first season. By the time production of the second season started, Patterson had turned 17 and Parmenter's affections were made stronger, and Jane was made more sexually aggressive (Patterson was 10 days short of turning 18 when the last episode was aired.) Even so, in all of the kissing scenes, with Berry, she was the one who did the initial kiss.
I'm once again impressed with your research and not holding back on the facts!
In the 1969 sci-fi comedy HELLO DOWN THERE, marine scientist "Fred Miller" (Tony Randall) volunteers to have his family live in a prototype underwater home to prove it's practical. Ken Berry plays Fred's company rival, "Mel Cheever," who begins construction on a deep sea mining machine near Fred's home. Ken Berry received his first poster credit for a feature film. Jack Arnold directed the film, which had an unreleased score by Jeff Barry.
Ken Berry’s second starring role in television came in the series “Mayberry, R.F.D.” The show was essentially a continuation of “The Andy Griffith Show”. In fact, the series premier featured the wedding of “Andy Taylor” (Griffith) to his longtime girlfriend “Helen Crump” (Aneta Corsaut), and “Barney Fife” (Don Knotts) can briefly be seen serving as Andy's best man.
During the final season of “The Andy Griffith Show” (1967-68), widower farmer “Sam Jones” (Ken Berry) and his young son “Mike” (Buddy Foster) were introduced and gradually became the show's focus. Sheriff Andy Taylor took a backseat in the storylines, establishing the new premise of “Mayberry R.F.D.” The new show's first episode, "Andy and Helen's Wedding", had the highest ratings in recorded television history (up to premiere date in 1968). Sheriff Taylor and newlywed wife Helen made guest appearances on “Mayberry R.F.D.” until late 1969 and then relocated with “Opie” (Ron Howard).
Most of the regular characters stayed with the show. “Aunt Bee” (Frances Bavier) became Sam's housekeeper but left after the second season to be replaced by Sam's cousin, “Alice Cooper” (Alice Ghostley). Mayberry citizens “Goober Pyle” (George Lindsey), “Clara Edwards” (Hope Summers), “Emmett Clark” (Paul Hartman) “Millie Swanson” (Arlene Golonka), and “Howard Sprague” (Jack Dodson) are seen regularly.
CBS scheduled the show on Monday nights at 9 PM. Benefiting from years of goodwill built up by “The Andy Griffith Show” (the series bowed out as the number one-rated show), and with weak competition on the other networks, “Mayberry R.F.D.” proved to be an immediate hit, coming in as the #4-rated show for the year. It even bested its popular lead-in show, “Here’s Lucy,” which ranked #9.
Mayberry R.F.D. - Season 1 Opening
Season 2 (1969-70) continued the high ratings, with the series again hitting the #4 spot and beating lead-in “Here’s Lucy” (#6). Series writers used Berry's "trouper" talents in stories about church revues and talent contests. On the 1970 “Mayberry R.F.D.” episode "The Charity", he and co-star Paul Hartman performed a soft shoe routine. Berry sometimes ended a show on the porch at dusk, serenading others with such songs as "Carolina Moon".
In its third season, “Mayberry R.F.D.” slipped somewhat to 15th place, and for the first time lost viewers from its increasingly strengthening lead-in, “Here’s Lucy” (#3 for the year). In spite of finishing in 15th place for season three, “Mayberry R.F.D.” was canceled in 1971 in what was called "the rural purge", where CBS shows set in a bucolic locale or with unsophisticated characters (“The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Green Acres,” “Hee Haw,” and “Petticoat Junction”) were replaced with the more "hip" fare of Norman Lear (“All in the Family”) and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” These shows were perceived by then CBS Executive Fred Silverman to only appeal to people who lived in rural areas and older people, so he decided to cancel them, even though they were all still hugely popular at the time.
The three seasons of “Mayberry R.F.D. yielded 78 episodes of the series.
Frances Bavier, Buddy Foster, George Lindsey, Ken Berry, and Arlene Golonka, in Mayberry R.F.D.
During the Korean War, a newly commissioned lieutenant (Ken Berry) finds that his command is trapped when the enemy surrounds their position, in the ABC made-for-television film THE RELUCTANT HEROES. The film had a big-name cast for a TV movie. Robert Day directed the 1971 film, which had a theatrical release overseas. Frank DeVol provided the unreleased score.
[l. to r.) Don Marshall, Trini Lopez, Jim Hutton, Warren Oates, Cameron Mitchell, and Ken Berry in THE RELUCTANT HEROES.
The original Broadway production of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS opened at the Phoenix Theater on May 1, 1959, ran for 244 performances and was nominated for the 1960 Tony Award for Best Musical. Star Carol Burnett was nominated as Best Actress in a Musical.
In 1972, a television production of the show was mounted. Carol Burnett and Jack Gilford reprised their stage roles, as "Princess Winifred the Woebegone" and "King Sextimus", respectively, while Ken Berry was cast as "Prince Dauntless". The show's song score has music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer. CBS broadcast the show on 12 December 1972.
The original Broadway production of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS opened at the Phoenix Theater on May 1, 1959, ran for 244 performances and was nominated for the 1960 Tony Award for Best Musical. Star Carol Burnett was nominated as Best Actress in a Musical.
In 1972, a television production of the show was mounted. Carol Burnett and Jack Gilford reprised their stage roles, as "Princess Winifred the Woebegone" and "King Sextimus", respectively, while Ken Berry was cast as "Prince Dauntless". The show's song score has music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer. CBS broadcast the show on 12 December 1972.
It was actually done on television before in 1964.
In Disney's sequel to THE LOVE BUG, 1974's HERBIE RIDES AGAIN, Helen Hayes plays "Mrs. Steinmetz," whose modest house stands in the way of a massive construction project by developer "Alonzo Hawk" (Keenan Wynn). As Hawk argues that he needs someone unthreatening and dim-witted to gain Mrs. Steinmetz’s trust, his secretary announces the arrival of his nephew "Willoughby Whitfield" (Ken Berry), a recent law school graduate. Whitfield presents his uncle with a humanitarian award, presuming that Hawk is trying to improve the community with his developments.
Robert Stevenson directed the film, and George Bruns provided the unreleased score. The film received generally negative reviews, which stated that the sequel did not reach the standards of THE LOVE BUG. Nevertheless, the film was a huge hit, grossing more than $38 million.
A spaceship, making an emergency landing on Earth, is piloted by an alien cat named Zunar J-5/9 Donc-4-7. He is THE CAT FROM OUTER SPACE, who's mother ship orders him to repair his spacecraft and meet them at a specified rendezvous point in 69 hours. However, Zunar J-5 leaves the ship just as a team of military officials, headed by "General Stilton" (Harry Morgan), confiscates the spacecraft. Determining the ship is an unidentified flying object, Stilton brings its power source to the Energy Research Laboratory (E.R.L.) for analysis by E.R.L.’s best scientists, including "Dr. Liz Bartlett" (Sandy Duncan), "Dr. Frank Wilson" (Ken Berry) and "Dr. Norman Link" (McLean Stevenson). Sometime later, Zunar J-5 tracks Frank down at his office; and Frank nicknames the cat, “Jake.”
Also in the cast, playing a military officer, was James Hampton, with whom Ken Berry co-starred in "F Troop." The film was Ken Berry's final feature film appearance. Norman Tokar directed the 1978 film. Lalo Schifrin's score has not had a release.
Ken Berry’s final major role in a television series came in the sitcom “Mama’s Family”. The show was a spin-off of a recurring series of comedy sketches called "The Family" featured on “The Carol Burnett Show” (1974–78) and “Carol Burnett & Company” (1979). The sketches led to the 1982 made-for-TV movie EUNICE, which was titled after the character played by Carol Burnett.
But it was the character of “Thelma ‘Mama’ Harper,” played by Vicki Lawrence, that captured the public’s fancy. For her portrayal of “Mama” in EUNICE, Lawrence received an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special. So, when the TV movie became a series, it was retitled “Mama’s Family” to better tie into that character.
In the series, Ken Berry played “Vinton Harper,” the youngest of Mama’s three children. Dopey, buffoonish, and accident prone, Vint regularly makes a fool out of himself, particularly when he attempts to be assertive or knowledgeable. Vinton is a nice guy, but he is very childish. He works at Kwik Keys as a locksmith. Vinton was color-coded in tan, in a short-sleeved button-down shirt and pants. Dorothy Lyman played “Naomi Oates Harper,” Vinton's lascivious, demonstrative, and flirtatious second wife.
Vicki Lawrence and Ken Berry in “Mama’s Family”
“Mama’s Family” and “Taxi” were in competition to be picked up by NBC for the 1982-83 season. “Taxi” got the nod, and “Mama’s Family” was held in reserve. By midseason, NBC had a problem in its Saturday night schedule: its shows “Gimme a Break!” and “Love, Sidney” were being killed in the ratings by ABC’s #9-rated “The Love Boat.” NBC reshuffled its sitcom lineup and replaced the faltering Saturday shows with “Mama’s Family” and “Taxi”. “Love Boat” still prevailed, but both replacement shows found spots on NBC’s 1983-84 schedule.
Dorothy Lyman and Ken Berry in “Mama's Family”
In its first full season, “Mama’s Family” followed “Gimme a Break!” at 8:30 PM on Thursday nights. Unfortunately, it aired opposite the second half of CBS’s ‘Magnum P.I.,” the #6 –rated show on television. “Mama’s Family” came in at #66 for the year and was cancelled.
Two years after the show’s cancellation, Lorimar was looking for projects for first-run syndication. After seeing the ratings that “Mama’s Family” had achieved in the summer reruns, it decided that the show needed a second chance and ordered 100 episodes for syndication.
Original series producer Joe Hamilton Productions produced the revival, which premiered on September 27, 1986. The modified series revival garnered substantially higher ratings than its original version, eventually becoming the highest-rated sitcom in first-run syndication. The revived run lasted four seasons (95 episodes) and did not end by cancellation, but rather voluntarily on February 24, 1990.
Ken Berry, Vicki Lawrence, and Betty White in “Mama's Family”
According to Ken Berry, Vicki Lawrence had seemingly grown tired of playing the "Mama" role by 1990 and wanted to end the show. According to Lawrence, who would reprise Mama on stage for many years thereafter, the series ended because the series had reached the standard threshold of 100 episodes and no longer needed to produce any more. (Including the network run, 135 total episodes were produced.) The series finale featured Naomi giving birth to a baby girl, who was named Tiffany Thelma.
[l. to r.) , Eric Brown, Rue McClanahan, Vicki Lawrence, Karin Argoud, and Ken Berry in “Mama's Family”
