Fred Berry

Fred Allen Berry (March 19, 1951 – October 21, 2003) was an American actor and street dancer. He was best known for his role as Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs on the 1970s television show What's Happening!![1][2]

For the Canadian ice hockey player Fred Berry, see Fred Berry (ice hockey). For the American dirigible commander, see Fred T. Berry. For people with similar names, see Fred Barry (disambiguation). For the English cricketer, see Fred Berry (cricketer).
Fred Berry
Born
Fred Allen Berry

(1951-03-19)March 19, 1951
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedOctober 21, 2003(2003-10-21) (aged 52)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.
OccupationActor, street dancer
Spouse(s)Franchesska Berry (1976–1976)
Franchesska Berry (1978–1980)
Carol Ann Ross (1984–1991)
Darlene Bitten (1994–1999)
Essie Berry (1999–2003)
Children3
From TV's What's Happening!! (1977). Seated, L-R: Fred Berry, Ernest Lee Thomas, and Haywood Nelson (back to camera). Standing: Shirley Hemphill.

Career

Berry was a member of the Los Angeles-based dance troupe The Lockers, with whom he appeared on the third episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975. He also appeared on the dance music show Soul Train, and was featured in the program's signature line dance segment doing the memorable early 1970s dance step "the slo-mo".[3]

Berry achieved more widespread fame playing the character Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs on the ABC sitcom What's Happening!!, which aired from 1976 to 1979. In 1985, he reprised his role as Rerun in the series What's Happening Now!! but was fired before the first season ended due to a salary dispute, when he asked to receive more money than the rest of the cast.[4] Berry's widow, Essie Berry, told Urbanite magazine at Georgia State University that their unwillingness to pay Fred Berry his due in both shows led to their early cancellations (although What's Happening Now!! did last another two seasons, and both series lasted a total of three seasons).

During the 1990s, Berry became a Baptist minister[5] and lost 100 lbs after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.[6]

Personal life

Berry was married six times to four different women, the first two of whom he married twice each.[5][7] He has three children: DeShannon, Portia and Freddy.[8]

Death

On October 21, 2003, Berry died at his Los Angeles home, where he was recovering from a stroke.[6] He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles.[9]

Filmography

Other selected appearances
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References
  1. Fred Berry, 52, Actor On 1970's Sitcom, The New York Times
  2. Art That Confronts and Challenges Racism: Start Here, The New York Times
  3. Video on YouTube
  4. "What's Happening!!: Up From the Ashes". tvparty.com. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  5. Kappes, Serena (2002-07-30). "Catch up with 'What's Happening!' star Fred Berry". CNN.com/Entertainment. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  6. Silverman, Stephen M. (2003-10-23). "'70s Star Fred 'Rerun' Berry Dead at 52". people.com. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  7. Peter, Hartlaub (2003-10-27). "Fred Berry's 'Rerun' a role to be cherished". sfgate.com. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  8. https://news.amomama.com/153773-remember-rerun-whats-happening-he-has-ad.html
  9. Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 3721). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
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