Ken Berry

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
03:10
Ken Berry on being the star of Mayberry, R.F.D.
02:55
Ken Berry on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
00:54
Ken Berry on his proudest career achievement 
01:26
Ken Berry on appearing on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town
02:39
Ken Berry on meeting and working for Lucille Ball
02:44
Full Interview

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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

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Ken Berry on joining The Andy Griffith Show in 1968
04:45
Ken Berry on making the transition from The Andy Griffith Show to Mayberry, R.F.D.
07:55
Ken Berry on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
01:55
Ken Berry on working with Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show
01:04
Ken Berry on working with Frances Bavier on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
01:17
Ken Berry on the fans of Mayberry
02:43

Brady Bunch, The

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Ken Berry on appearing on The Brady Bunch in a backdoor pilot for "Kelly's Kids"
03:38

Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

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Ken Berry on guest-starring on The Carol Burnett Show
04:41
Ken Berry on what made Carol Burnett a great boss during his time on The Carol Burnett Show
01:19

Dick Van Dyke Show, The

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Ken Berry on playing a choreographer on The Dick Van Dyke Show
06:31

Dr. Kildare

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Ken Berry on his recurring role on Dr. Kildare
03:13

Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

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Ken Berry on appearing on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town
02:39

F Troop

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Ken Berry on how he came to be in F Troop
01:41
Ken Berry on the premise of F Troop
02:10
Ken Berry on the physical comedy in F Troop
05:20
Ken Berry on the cancellation of F Troop
00:52
Ken Berry on why F Troop worked
01:40

Golden Girls, The

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Ken Berry on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
00:54

Mama's Family

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Ken Berry on being cast on Mama's Family
03:39
Ken Berry on the original premise of Mama's Family
03:16
Ken Berry on playing "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family
04:37
Ken Berry on Mama's Family's evolution from a sketch on The Carol Burnett Show to a full-fledged series
03:10
Ken Berry on Mama's Family's network cancellation and rebirth in syndication
01:28
Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
03:10
Ken Berry on Dorothy Lyman as "Naomi Harper" on Mama's Family
01:36
Ken Berry on the cancellation of the syndicated Mama's Family
00:45

Mayberry R.F.D.

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Ken Berry on making the transition from The Andy Griffith Show to Mayberry, R.F.D.
07:54
Ken Berry on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
01:55
Ken Berry on working with Frances Bavier on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
01:17
Ken Berry on the premise of Mayberry, R.F.D.
04:23
Ken Berry on being the star of Mayberry, R.F.D.
02:55
Ken Berry on the process of producing Mayberry, R.F.D.
01:12
Ken Berry on Jodie and Buddy Foster on Mayberry, R.F.D.
01:08
Ken Berry on the fans of Mayberry
02:43

Medical Center

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Ken Berry on his only dramatic role in Medical Center
03:05

Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

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Ken Berry on performing on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
02:47
Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

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Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
03:10
Ken Berry on playing "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family
04:37

Memorable Moments on Television

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Ken Berry's long F Troop tracking shot
01:28

Pop Culture

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Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
03:10
Ken Berry on playing "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family
04:37

We Laughed

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Ken Berry's long F Troop tracking shot
01:28
Professions

Actor

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Ken Berry on advice to aspiring actors
02:39

Comedian

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Ken Berry on performing the physical comedy in F Troop
05:20

Performers

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Ken Berry on advice to aspiring actors
02:39
Genres

Comedy Series

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Ken Berry on acting in F Troop
15:32
Ken Berry on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D
26:42
Ken Berry on his role as "Vinton Harper" on Mama's Family
23:58
People

Andy Griffith

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Ken Berry on working with Andy Griffith on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
01:55

Buster Keaton

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Ken Berry on a phone call from Buster Keaton
01:06

Carol Burnett

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Ken Berry on meeting Carol Burnett
01:06
Ken Berry on Carol Burnett as boss on The Carol Burnett Show
01:19

Dorothy Lyman

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Ken Berry as Dorothy Lyman as "Naomi Harper" on Mama's Family
01:36

Frances Bavier

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Ken Berry on working with Frances Bavier on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry, R.F.D.
01:17

Larry Storch

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Ken Berry on working with Larry Storch and Forrest Tucker on F Troop
02:48

Lucille Ball

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Ken Berry on meeting and working for Lucille Ball
02:43

Ron Howard

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Ken Berry on working with Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show
01:04

Vicki Lawrence

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Ken Berry on Vicki Lawrence as "Mama" on Mama's Family
03:10

All Interviews

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