Ken Berry was a dancing god - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 08-09-2014, 07:59 AM

Honestly, as an actor, Ken Berry was just OK, a passable, likable guy and supporting player.

But the man was BOSS as a dancer. He is really up there with Gene Kelley and Fred Astaire. I have seen videos of Berry hoofing, and he was just as absolutely amazing as Michael Jordan was to basketball. I use that reference because this type of show dancing required so much athleticism. This is what I admire, the athleticism required to do these moves.

Here is one clip of the guy.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EP3TDTNNe20

One clip that I cannot find anymore on YouTube was one from The Carol Burnett Show. He does a number (yes...it was 1970's variety show cheesy but....) Ken did something I cannot figure out. Basically he faced the audience, lifted one foot slightly off the ground and pivoted his other foot right and left and swept across the stage, with me going..."How the @bleep@ did he do that?" I have tried to figure that one out for a long time and tried to do it in socks on a smooth floor.

But like I said I CANT FIND THE DAMN VIDEO!

I think if Ken was 30 years older and could have been in those 30's-50's Hollywood musicals, he would have been a big of a star as Kelley or Astaire, but his talent was relegated to the again, cheesy 1970's variety shows like Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher and the like. Not that it did not pay him a handsome living.

Makes me wonder if guys like them ever were injured doing their dance numbers.

But Ken Berry was the man on the dance floor.

Marvo301 · 08-09-2014, 05:29 PM

That's probably why he was such a frequent guest on The Carol Burnett Show! I also remember him doing a song and dance routine with Vici on an episode of "Small Wonder". He also did a song and dance routine with his adopted children on the "Kelly's Kids" episode of "The Brady Bunch"!

biffbronson · 08-09-2014, 11:18 PM

If I remember correctly, he did some dancing on an ep of Fantasy Island. He really is good!

Texasgirl58 · 07-03-2015, 12:44 PM

He was a great dancer. I've never seen him in anything I didn't enjoy.

king of comedy · 07-03-2015, 05:28 PM

He could have done a lot of musicals. Wow!! That was awesome!!

caladon · 07-04-2015, 05:37 AM

Here's a good clip from early in his career

Ken Berry US Army Song and Dance

SarahBellum · 02-17-2022, 01:51 PM

Kind of ironic that he played the clumsy Capt. Wilton Parmenter in F Troop.

king of comedy · 03-27-2023, 02:19 PM

He could have played Zach in A Chorus Line.

SarahBellum · 03-27-2023, 04:32 PM

I remember seeing him as a mechanic in a season 2 episode of Combat. I wonder if his roles in F Troop and Mayberry RFD made it difficult for him to be cast afterwards in any significant dancing productions?

08-09-2014, 07:59 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Ken Berry was a dancing god Honestly, as an actor, Ken Berry was just OK, a passable, likable guy and supporting player. But the man was BOSS as a dancer. He is really up there with Gene Kelley and Fred Astaire. I have seen videos of Berry hoofing, and he was just as absolutely amazing as Michael Jordan was to basketball. I use that reference because this type of show dancing required so much athleticism. This is what I admire, the athleticism required to do these moves. Here is one clip of the guy. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EP3TDTNNe20 One clip that I cannot find anymore on YouTube was one from The Carol Burnett Show. He does a number (yes...it was 1970's variety show cheesy but....) Ken did something I cannot figure out. Basically he faced the audience, lifted one foot slightly off the ground and pivoted his other foot right and left and swept across the stage, with me going..."How the @bleep@ did he do that?" I have tried to figure that one out for a long time and tried to do it in socks on a smooth floor. But like I said I CANT FIND THE DAMN VIDEO! I think if Ken was 30 years older and could have been in those 30's-50's Hollywood musicals, he would have been a big of a star as Kelley or Astaire, but his talent was relegated to the again, cheesy 1970's variety shows like Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher and the like. Not that it did not pay him a handsome living. Makes me wonder if guys like them ever were injured doing their dance numbers. But Ken Berry was the man on the dance floor.

08-09-2014, 05:29 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	That's probably why he was such a frequent guest on The Carol Burnett Show! I also remember him doing a song and dance routine with Vici on an episode of "Small Wonder". He also did a song and dance routine with his adopted children on the "Kelly's Kids" episode of "The Brady Bunch"!
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08-09-2014, 11:18 PM	#3
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,273	If I remember correctly, he did some dancing on an ep of Fantasy Island. He really is good!
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07-04-2015, 05:37 AM	#6
caladon Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Massachusetts state home for the bewildered Posts: 1,151	Here's a good clip from early in his career Ken Berry US Army Song and Dance
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03-27-2023, 04:32 PM	#9
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	I remember seeing him as a mechanic in a season 2 episode of Combat. I wonder if his roles in F Troop and Mayberry RFD made it difficult for him to be cast afterwards in any significant dancing productions?
	Last edited by SarahBellum; 03-28-2023 at 09:56 AM.

07-03-2015, 12:44 PM	#4
Texasgirl58 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 03, 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 5	He was a great dancer. I've never seen him in anything I didn't enjoy.

07-03-2015, 05:28 PM	#5
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	He could have done a lot of musicals. Wow!! That was awesome!!

02-17-2022, 01:51 PM	#7
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	Kind of ironic that he played the clumsy Capt. Wilton Parmenter in F Troop.

03-27-2023, 02:19 PM	#8
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	He could have played Zach in A Chorus Line.