Fred Berry(1951-2003)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
For a while in the 1970s, Fred Berry was one of the biggest stars on
American television. The former dancer, who became a star in the sitcom
What's Happening!! (1976)
ballooned until his weight became a threat to his health. He battled
with food, drink, drugs and women, marrying 6 times to 4 women in
total. Diabetes was diagnosed, he lost more than 100 pounds and turned
to religion. Born in St Louis, Missouri, in 1951, Berry danced with
The Lockers, but it was the sitcom deal in
1976 that gave him his big break. The series ran for three seasons.
After it was canceled, Berry struggled with personal problems and with
the search for another star vehicle. The series was popular through
reruns and a further series
(What's Happening Now! (1985)
was picked up in 1985 and ran for three years, after which Berry gave
up acting for religion. He returned to the screen in 1998 in the action
movie In the Hood (1998), and his
final role was a cameo in
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)
in 2003. Berry died on October 21, 2003, aged 52.
