Fred Berry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fred Berry, in iconic suspenders and beret, from the first series then called What's Happening!! during the third season from 1978 - 1979.

Fred Berry in iconic suspenders and beret, from the second series now called What's Happening Now!! in 1985.

Fred "Rerun" Berry (March 13, 1951 - October 21, 2003) was an American actor best known for the role of Fred "Rerun" Stubbs on the popular 1970s television show What's Happening!!.

He was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Before starring on "What's Happening", he was a member of the Los Angeles based dance troupe The Lockers. "What's Happening" lasted from 1976 to 1979. He was a millionaire by age 29. After the show ended, Berry had trouble finding work and was permanently identified with the Rerun character. Eventually however, he came to embrace his being typecast, and made his peace with it as the best means to maintain his celebrity. In public, he was often seen wearing the red beret and red suspenders that are part of the "Rerun" character, and even went so far as to have his middle name legally changed to "Rerun". After the show was cancelled Berry struggled with personal problems and with the search for another star vehicle.

During the 1980s, Berry battled drug addiction and alcoholism. He revived the character of Rerun in the series What's Happening Now!!, but would only be on that show for 1 year.

During the 1990s he became a Baptist minister and lost 100 pounds (45 kg) after being diagnosed with diabetes. He made a living during this time mostly through making public appearances as Rerun. He was married six times to four different women.

Berry made a brief cameo appearance in Insane Clown Posse's film "Big Money Hustlas" as Bootleg Greg, a merchandise counterfeiter. In 1996, he also made an appearance in Less Than Jake's video "Dopeman," which was never aired on television. In the second season of the comedy television series "Scrubs", he appeared in his iconic "Rerun" suspenders and beret in an extended dance sequence fantasized by Dr. John "J.D." Dorian (which included a dozen others also wearing the same outfit).

He returned to the screen in 1998 in the action movie "In The Hood" and his final role was a cameo in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003), playing himself in a song at the end.

Berry died in 2003 at his Los Angeles home where he was recovering from a stroke. He was 52.