Ken Berry, the actor perhaps best known for his portrayal of Capt. Wilton Parmenter on the TV comedy series “F Troop,” died Saturday at age 85, according to reports.
His death was announced on Facebook by his former wife, actress Jackie Joseph-Lawrence.
“With very deep sorrow, I must inform friends of Ken Berry that he died a short time ago,” she wrote.
Later, Berry’s “F Troop” co-star, Larry Storch, posted a message on Facebook:
“Dear friends. We are sad to let you know our beloved Captain, Mr Ken Berry passed away tonight,” Storch wrote. “We just spoke with Jackie Joseph who confirmed the devastating news. We are at a true loss for words. Ken, we hope you know how much you were loved. Goodnight Captain. We miss you already.”
Berry was also known for roles on “Mayberry RFD,” the spinoff of “The Andy Griffith Show,” and “Mama’s Family,” a spinoff of “The Carol Burnett Show.”
But he first achieved fame on “F Troop,” which ran on ABC from 1965 to 1967. Berry’s character was the ill-prepared commanding officer of the fictional Fort Courage during the 1800s, and dealt with scheming subordinate officers as well as a local Indian tribe called the Hekawis.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Berry was born Nov. 3, 1933, in Moline, Ill., and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
His turn toward show business received a boost when actor Leonard Nimoy, of “Star Trek” fame, helped him find work entertaining troops as part of the Special Services Corps, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Aside from his former wife, Berry is survived by their daughter, Jennifer, according to ExtraTV.com. Their son John died of brain cancer in 2016, the report said.
"They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin, 1759--
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December 02, 2018, 03:14 AM
Sgt Neutron
Little piece of trivia on "F Troop". Melody Patterson, who played "Wrangler Jane" was only 16 years old when she got the part. She lied about her age.
December 02, 2018, 06:41 AM
Blackmore
quote:
Originally posted by Sgt Neutron: Little piece of trivia on "F Troop". Melody Patterson, who played "Wrangler Jane" was only 16 years old when she got the part. She lied about her age.
Fake birth certificate. Ken Berry was nearly 32 at the time.
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December 02, 2018, 07:00 AM
rat2306
I believe he had a short-lived variety show in the later 60's after "Mayberry". He wasn't too bad of a singer either.
December 02, 2018, 07:47 AM
smschulz
Of all of the F Troop stars Larry Storch is still alive and will be 96 next month!
RIP to the Berry family and fans.
December 02, 2018, 08:28 AM
C-Dubs
A fellow Moline-er.
Only remember seeing a few episodes of F-Troop. But I certainly remember him in Mama’s Family.
RIP
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December 02, 2018, 08:29 AM
Oz_Shadow
I remember him mostly from Mamas Family
December 02, 2018, 08:32 AM
parabellum
I never watched F Troop. To me, he'll always be associated with Mayberry, R.F.D.
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December 02, 2018, 08:36 AM
cas
My youth is all but gone.
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December 02, 2018, 11:53 AM
bigwagon
That brings back 40-year-old memories of sitting in the basement on Saturday morning watching reruns on a 12-inch black and white TV. RIP.
December 02, 2018, 02:25 PM
jsbcody
quote:
Originally posted by bigwagon: That brings back 40-year-old memories of sitting in the basement on Saturday morning watching reruns on a 12-inch black and white TV. RIP.
And if your Dad was watching too, you were the "remote"......
December 02, 2018, 02:31 PM
nhtagmember
I remember watching F Troop as a kid in Canada. What surprised me the most was who got the top billing in the show (opening credits) - was always Forest Tucker and not Ken Berry.
RIP
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December 02, 2018, 07:15 PM
snoris
quote:
Originally posted by smschulz: Of all of the F Troop stars Larry Storch is still alive and will be 96 next month!
RIP to the Berry family and fans.
RIP, indeed.
And James Hampton, Corporal Dobbs, is the other surviving regular cast member.
December 02, 2018, 07:51 PM
Sigmund
quote:
Originally posted by C-Dubs: A fellow Moline-er...
Ken was born in Moline IL, across the river from where I now live. Details on his childhood in IL:
He was born to Deere & Co. accountant Eugene Darrell Berry and his wife, Bernice, on Nov. 3, 1933. In a Dispatch-Argus interview in 2000 with Julie Jensen, he said: "I love to go home and look around. As long as I have lived in California, it has never felt like home. If I could stand the winters, I would have moved back.
"I have sneaked into town once in awhile. I was there in the fall of '93 or '94 while I was working at a dinner theater in central Illinois, and anytime I am anywhere nearby, I try to drop in," Berry said then.
At 13, he recalled a carnival in the auditorium at Frances Willard that offered entertainment by Maureen Bennett's Rock Island dance studio, saying, "The dancers were all just about my age. It just knocked me out. I ran home and took my mother by the hand. I said, `This is it. This is what I want to do.' We walked back and watched the second show.''
He got his first real job in show business at age 15, when he was one of 30 kids chosen for the Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program. The troupe toured the nation and performed in Ireland, England, France, Germany, Austria and North Africa during 15 months, according to the Dispatch-Argus piece.
When the program ended, Berry returned to Moline and finished high school, driving to Chicago once a week for voice and tap lessons.
