Remembering Ken Berry, Star of Classic TV Shows ‘F Troop’ and ‘Andy Griffith’ Spinoff ‘Mayberry RFD’
A look back at Ken Berry’s incredible career, from ‘F Troop’ to his role as Sam Jones in ‘Mayberry R.F.D.’
For fans of classic television, the passing of actor Ken Berry at 85 in 2018 marked the loss of a beloved figure whose gentle humor entertained generations. Best known for starring in F Troop, The Andy Griffith spinoff Mayberry R.F.D., and Mama’s Family, Berry’s career spanned decades and brought joy to millions.
‘The Andy Griffith Show’ to ‘Mayberry R.F.D.’
Replacing The Andy Griffith Show was no small task. The beloved sitcom ended after eight seasons, with Andy Griffith stepping away, but instead of being canceled, the show evolved into Mayberry R.F.D., focusing on widower farmer Sam Jones, who Berry played.
“Don Knotts left the show after five seasons, but Andy stayed on and he just stayed up there in the ratings all the way,” Berry stated. “The last year he was on the air, he was number one for the season. Naturally, it was scary. I had nothing to do with the success of The Andy Griffith Show. I just hoped I wouldn’t mess it up.”
The transition worked, thanks to Berry’s charm and the inclusion of Mayberry’s familiar supporting characters. The show ran for three seasons, ranking high in the ratings before falling victim to CBS’s “rural purge,” which saw the end of a variety of shows, among them The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres.
From dancer to TV star
Born Kenneth Ronald Berry on November 3, 1933, in Moline, Illinois, he was captivated by dance and musicals from a young age. By 15, he toured with the Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program, performing across the U.S. and overseas. After serving two years in the Army, Berry joined Universal Pictures as a contract player, eventually shifting to acting as musicals waned. He appeared in Las Vegas with Abbott & Costello, joined The Billy Barnes Review, and landed TV roles on The Ann Sothern Show, Dr. Kildare and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
‘F Troop’: the comedy that launched his career
Berry’s big break came with F Troop, a zany sitcom set in a post-Civil War frontier fort. “I thought Ensign Pulver, a show I was up for, was my dream role, but I got F-Troop instead, and it was the time of my life,” he recalled. On the show he played Captain Wilton Parmenter, a bumbling officer surrounded by lovable rogues. “We laughed all day long. It was such a joy to work with people trying to make you laugh for a living.”
Though it only lasted two seasons, F Troop became a cult favorite. As to why it ended so quickly, Berry reflected, “We hadn’t too long ago come out of a period when there were many Westerns on television. They had never done a comedy one and this was exciting people who knew what we were before we got on the air, just from the promos. One of the highlights was we rode in the Rose Parade in the middle of the first season and we were all on horseback. It was Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, Jimmy Hampton and Joe Brooks and I, and we turned the corner and there were a lot of kids. It’s early in the morning, with the mountains around you and everything, and you could hear these voices cheering. It was one of the highlights of my entire life.”
Finding a home in Mayberry
Berry transitioned to Mayberry R.F.D. through appearances in The Andy Griffith Show’s final season. While the original concept involved an Italian immigrant family working for Sam, the network scrapped the idea to preserve Mayberry’s established charm. “They wanted to keep it just like it was,” Berry explained.
The cast and behind-the-scenes crew welcomed him warmly, even as they lamented Andy Griffith’s departure. Said Berry, “Actors get along a lot better than most people give them credit for. Actors are often prejudged; people think you’re going to have an ego and you’re going to be working with prima donnas and stuff, but the atmosphere almost everywhere has been welcoming, especially in that case. They hated to see Andy go, because they didn’t think it was going to succeed, but they were wonderful.”
Mayberry R.F.D. maintained high ratings, but CBS canceled it during the infamous “rural purge” in 1971, which also axed Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies.
Reflecting on the show’s appeal, Berry noted, “One of the stars of Mayberry R.F.D. was the town itself. It was like visiting Brigadoon once a week—idealized, but a place people loved. I watched every episode of The Andy Griffith Show I could.”
Fans still honor Mayberry through annual events and newsletters, keeping its spirit alive. “They have an annual thing that they do,” he said, “going down to a place in North Carolina and they have a big week where people dress up like the show’s characters. There are many of those people and they love the town and the characters as much as they ever did.”
His personal life and legacy beyond Mayberry
Berry continued to entertain in Mama’s Family (which was based on skits first presented on The Carol Burnett Show), variety shows and theater, but his time in Mayberry remained special to him. “The fans are incredible,” he said. “People are in love with Mayberry and the life it represents.”
In his personal life, Ken Berry was married twice, first to actress and writer Jackie Joseph from 1960 until their divorce in 1976. In 1994 he got into a romantic relationship with Susie Walsh, who he was with until the time of his death on December 1, 2018, at 85. He was the father of three. A son named Joseph Larson Berry born on November 29, 1962, but died six days later. Then he and Jackie adopted two children, John, who died in 2016 of brain cancer when he was 51; and daughter Jennifer, who died of natural causes in 2020 at the age of 55.
Quick facts about Ken Berry
- Ken Berry spent two years in the U.S. Army in the Special Services Division, the second under Sergeant Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock on Star Trek). Nimoy is the one who encouraged him to go to Hollywood to pursue acting.
- When he got to Hollywood, his talent was noticed by Lucille Ball, who asked him to be a part of her Desilu talent development program.
- His early dream was for a career as a song and dance man (with and without tap shoes).
- Early on, he was inspired by Hollywood’s classic movie musicals.
- He appeared as a guest star on many TV shows, including The Love Boat.
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