Ken Berry was one of the three greatest dancers (hoofers) ever - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 12-10-2022, 01:17 PM

Ken Berry as an actor in my opinion was OK. He did some good stuff, but I think he was kind of stuck as a sitcom actor which prevented him from having the range he could have. He did have range. One show one can watch on Youtube is a CBS special called "Eunice" which followed Eunice (Carol Burnett) in her life from after high school to adulthood and Berry played the brother and he was really excellent in that and could do drama well.

But what I wanted to say was that Berry was a phenominal dancer. To me, he was a part of a dancer trinity, the three best dancers of all time, him, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

There are some videos of Berry dancing, and he is just amazing. The guy was just athletic. I dont know but am sure he played sports in high school at least. In his dancing career I saw he did amazing stuff. The guy was like Houdini.

I cant find it anymore, but saw a video of a number he did on the Carol Burnett Show. It was the 1970's and sort of "cheesy" (it was him and a bunch of women in the background) but he did a move on the floor I still cannot figure out how he did.

In the number, he pivoted one foot and glided his body across the floor. Just a simple back and forth of the foot. I sat there and rewound that and went "How in the hell did he do that?"

I lived in a place with a smooth floor and was in my stocking feet and tried to do the same thing. Nope. Which made me go again "How in the hell did he do that?" If Berry was still alive and I could talk to him this would be the first and only question I would ask. If I met him in a public place, "Just one question, Mr. Berry, how in the "bleep" did you glide across the floor on one foot?"

I saw a black and white video of him in the 1950's or 1960's and he was almost doing stunts. He could have easily hurt himself. Cant see that and just go "amazing". Ken Berry was such an average looking man, but again was so athletic and could do what he did, which made him the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time).

MichaelKeith · 12-14-2022, 05:41 PM

Yes, he was a very good dancer. But I personally really liked him as an actor in Mayberry RFD. I've read some posts on this forum that say he was boring in the role, but I liked the sensible, logical nice family guy that he played. And did it very well.

Babalu · 12-23-2022, 01:31 AM

Take a look at the Nicholas Brothers before you call Ken Berry #3.

They rival Astaire and Kelly.

12-10-2022, 01:17 PM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Ken Berry was one of the three greatest dancers (hoofers) ever Ken Berry as an actor in my opinion was OK. He did some good stuff, but I think he was kind of stuck as a sitcom actor which prevented him from having the range he could have. He did have range. One show one can watch on Youtube is a CBS special called "Eunice" which followed Eunice (Carol Burnett) in her life from after high school to adulthood and Berry played the brother and he was really excellent in that and could do drama well. But what I wanted to say was that Berry was a phenominal dancer. To me, he was a part of a dancer trinity, the three best dancers of all time, him, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. There are some videos of Berry dancing, and he is just amazing. The guy was just athletic. I dont know but am sure he played sports in high school at least. In his dancing career I saw he did amazing stuff. The guy was like Houdini. I cant find it anymore, but saw a video of a number he did on the Carol Burnett Show. It was the 1970's and sort of "cheesy" (it was him and a bunch of women in the background) but he did a move on the floor I still cannot figure out how he did. In the number, he pivoted one foot and glided his body across the floor. Just a simple back and forth of the foot. I sat there and rewound that and went "How in the hell did he do that?" I lived in a place with a smooth floor and was in my stocking feet and tried to do the same thing. Nope. Which made me go again "How in the hell did he do that?" If Berry was still alive and I could talk to him this would be the first and only question I would ask. If I met him in a public place, "Just one question, Mr. Berry, how in the "bleep" did you glide across the floor on one foot?" I saw a black and white video of him in the 1950's or 1960's and he was almost doing stunts. He could have easily hurt himself. Cant see that and just go "amazing". Ken Berry was such an average looking man, but again was so athletic and could do what he did, which made him the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time).

12-14-2022, 05:41 PM	#2
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	Yes, he was a very good dancer. But I personally really liked him as an actor in Mayberry RFD. I've read some posts on this forum that say he was boring in the role, but I liked the sensible, logical nice family guy that he played. And did it very well.

12-23-2022, 01:31 AM	#3
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	Take a look at the Nicholas Brothers before you call Ken Berry #3. They rival Astaire and Kelly.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull