# Ken Berry (of F-Troop) Dead at 85 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455 "2018-12-02T19:52:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/21 "2018-12-04T01:32:14Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I didn’t know this. According to Wikipedia, he was assigned to Special Services under Leonard Nimoy and spent his time performing. There’s an impressive video in the link below of his dancing. > > [Appreciation: Ken Berry and the delightful lightness of being](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-berry-appreciation-20181202-story.html) > > RIP. Wow, he was really good. I would say he was a natural. He should have dominated Broadway musicals. I bet he could play any part and make it stand out. However, I viscerally hated Mamma’s Family and can see that killing a TV career. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/22 "2018-12-04T03:04:14Z")
The “Hekawi Indians” took their name from the punchline of a joke. “We’re the Hekawi” as in “Where the heck are we?” Johnny Carson used to talk about the “Fugowi Indians” until they made him stop. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/23 "2018-12-04T09:01:28Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > The “Hekawi Indians” took their name from the punchline of a joke. “We’re the Hekawi” as in “Where the heck are we?” Johnny Carson used to talk about the “Fugowi Indians” until they made him stop. It took them a long while, but the NBC censors finally figured out what he was saying. :eek: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/24 "2018-12-04T09:03:56Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Aw, Sarge! Say it ain’t so! Agarn, I don’t know why everybody says you’re so dumb! :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/25 "2018-12-04T13:03:37Z")
_ **F Troop** _ also had some of the best theme music ever: If I commanded a cavalry troop, I'd want that for my signature march! :o ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/26 "2018-12-05T19:13:16Z")
I remember his terrific Kinney shoes TV commercial where he tap danced: [Ken Berry 1980 Kinney Shoe Store Commercial - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1yHNJF9L6I) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/27 "2018-12-05T19:48:19Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It took real talent to make Captain Parmenter look so clumsy on _F Troop_. There was an episode of _F Troop_ which had a throwaway bit about Captain Parmenter reading a letter as he walks along. As he walks reading he narrowly misses several accidents, e.g. walking on crates, avoiding getting run over by wagons, doing a loop-de-loop over a hitching rail, sliding down a hay chute, etc. He never turned his attention from the letter. It was truly fantastic comedy, and done most deftly. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/28 "2018-12-05T20:05:10Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > There was an episode of _F Troop_ which had a throwaway bit about Captain Parmenter reading a letter as he walks along. As he walks reading he narrowly misses several accidents, e.g. walking on crates, avoiding getting run over by wagons, doing a loop-de-loop over a hitching rail, sliding down a hay chute, etc. He never turned his attention from the letter. It was truly fantastic comedy, and done most deftly. Wasn’t there also an episode in which he had an evil double who wasn’t clumsy? I think that was how O’Rourke et al. were able to figure out who the real Captain Parmenter was. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/29 "2018-12-06T02:47:33Z")
WHO SAYS l’M DUMB???!! ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/30 "2018-12-06T03:57:58Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I didn’t know this. According to Wikipedia, he was assigned to Special Services under Leonard Nimoy and spent his time performing. There’s an impressive video in the link below of his dancing. > > [Appreciation: Ken Berry and the delightful lightness of being](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-berry-appreciation-20181202-story.html) > > RIP. He’d of made an incredible break dancer . . . those ground level moves of his are very impressive. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/31 "2018-12-06T09:23:35Z")
Me have riddle for you. What has big round shape, carries man and dog, and flies? ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/32 "2018-12-06T10:37:36Z")
* * * > [@terentii](#): > > me have riddle for you. What has big round shape, carries man and dog, and flies? it is baallooooonnn!!! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/33 "2018-12-06T10:43:23Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > * * * > > it is baallooooonnn!!! Well, not just stand there! Sound evil spirit alarm! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/34 "2018-12-06T20:26:28Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **F Troop** _ also had some of the best theme music ever: > > If I commanded a cavalry troop, I'd want that for my signature march! :o Speaking of music on F Troop…How many of you all remember Lowell George on the show. [Lowell George of little feat on F Troop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2jgIQBzQZk) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/35 "2018-12-06T21:13:47Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Another\*\* Fun Fact\*\*: Melody “Wrangler Jane” Patterson (later married to James “Danno” MacArthur of _ **Hawaii Five-O** _ fame) was only 16 when she was cast for _ **F-Troop** _. She had to lie about her age to get the role. Berry knew it, and wouldn’t kiss her because of it. Another fun fact: Berry owed his career largely to his Army sergeant, who encouraged him to follow the same path to Hollywood that he planned for himself. That was Sgt. Leonard Nimoy, by name. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/36 "2018-12-06T22:21:36Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Berry knew it, and wouldn’t kiss her because of it. Reading her biography on Wiki this afternoon, I found that she was actually \*15 \*when she auditioned, and produced a forged birth certificate when she did. She turned 16 just before the series started filming, and had her 18th birthday shortly before the last episode was filmed. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455/37 "2018-12-06T22:48:31Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Speaking of music on F Troop…How many of you all remember Lowell George on the show. > > [Lowell George of little feat on F Troop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2jgIQBzQZk) This episode (“That’s Show Biz”), written by Arthur Julian and aired on 9 February 1967, was a direct ripoff of the _ **Gilligan’s Island** _ episode “Don’t Bug the Mosquitoes,” written by Sherwood Schwartz and aired on 9 December 1965. For purposes of comparison, here are the competing acts: \*\*_GI_: \*\* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqp\_Si4a10E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqp_Si4a10E) \*\*_FT_: \*\*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1oEiCeXzOQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1oEiCeXzOQ) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-berry-of-f-troop-dead-at-85/825455.md?page=1)