About
"I want to be remembered as a working actor. One who tried never to step on anybody's lines or upstage anybody. I wanted to not be getting in anybody's way. I didn't want to cost anybody any money - everything moved fast and you had to know your lines and you had to be there."
In his two-hour-and-forty-minute interview, Ken Berry (1933-2018) 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 Sothern Show, Dr. Kildare and The Dick Van Dyke Show. He describes his time as a regular on F Troop, The Andy Griffith Show, and its 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 J. Abramson conducted the interview on March 7, 2012 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
Ken Berry on being the star of Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
Ken Berry on his proudest career achievement
Ken Berry on appearing on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town
Ken Berry on meeting and working for Lucille Ball
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on touring and performing for the Air Force
On performing on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town; on working for Desilu; on his recurring Dr. Kildare role
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
Chapter 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
On being the star of Mayberry, R.F.D.; on the cancellation of Mayberry, R.F.D.; on the fans of Mayberry
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
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
Chapter 3
On the original premise of Mama's Family; on his Mama's Family character, "Vinton Harper"; on the cast of Mama's Family
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
Shows
Andy Griffith Show, The
Ken Berry on joining The Andy Griffith Show in 1968
Ken Berry on making the transition from The Andy Griffith Show to Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on working with Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show
Ken Berry on working with Frances Bavier on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on the fans of Mayberry
Brady Bunch, The
Ken Berry on appearing on The Brady Bunch in a backdoor pilot for "Kelly's Kids"
Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)
Ken Berry on guest-starring on The Carol Burnett Show
Ken Berry on what made Carol Burnett a great boss during his time on The Carol Burnett Show
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Ken Berry on playing a choreographer on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Dr. Kildare
Ken Berry on his recurring role on Dr. Kildare
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Ken Berry on appearing on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town
F Troop
Ken Berry on how he came to be in F Troop
Ken Berry on the premise of F Troop
Ken Berry on the physical comedy in F Troop
Ken Berry on the cancellation of F Troop
Ken Berry on why F Troop worked
Golden Girls, The
Ken Berry on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
Mama's Family
Ken Berry on being cast on Mama's Family
Ken Berry on the original premise of Mama's Family
Ken Berry on playing "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family
Ken Berry on Mama's Family's evolution from a sketch on The Carol Burnett Show to a full-fledged series
Ken Berry on Mama's Family's network cancellation and rebirth in syndication
Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
Ken Berry on Dorothy Lyman as "Naomi Harper" on Mama's Family
Ken Berry on the cancellation of the syndicated Mama's Family
Mayberry R.F.D.
Ken Berry on making the transition from The Andy Griffith Show to Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on working with Frances Bavier on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on the premise of Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on being the star of Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on the process of producing Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on Jodie and Buddy Foster on Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ken Berry on the fans of Mayberry
Medical Center
Ken Berry on his only dramatic role in Medical Center
Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Ken Berry on performing on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
Ken Berry on playing "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family
Memorable Moments on Television
Ken Berry's long F Troop tracking shot
Pop Culture
Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
Ken Berry on playing "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family
We Laughed
Ken Berry's long F Troop tracking shot
Professions
Actor
Ken Berry on advice to aspiring actors
Comedian
Ken Berry on performing the physical comedy in F Troop
Performers
Ken Berry on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Comedy Series
Ken Berry on acting in F Troop
Ken Berry on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D
Ken Berry on his role as "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family
People
Lucille Ball
Ken Berry on meeting and working for Lucille Ball
Frances Bavier
Ken Berry on working with Frances Bavier on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
Carol Burnett
Ken Berry on meeting Carol Burnett
Ken Berry on Carol Burnett as boss on The Carol Burnett Show
Andy Griffith
Ken Berry on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
Ron Howard
Ken Berry on working with Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show
Buster Keaton
Ken Berry on a phone call from Buster Keaton
Vicki Lawrence
Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
Dorothy Lyman
Ken Berry as Dorothy Lyman as "Naomi Harper" on Mama's Family
Larry Storch
Ken Berry on working with Larry Storch and Forrest Tucker on F Troop