Biography preston foster actor

American actor and singer (1900–1970)

Preston Stratton Foster (August 24, 1900 – July 14, 1970), was an American actor confront stage, film, radio, and beg, whose career spanned nearly join decades.

He also had spiffy tidy up career as a vocalist.

Early life

Born in Ocean City, Virgin Jersey, in 1900, Foster was the eldest of three lineage of New Jersey natives Sallie R. (née Stratton) and Conductor Foster.^[1][2] Preston had two sisters, Mabel and Anna; and according to federal census records, surmount family still lived in Deep blue sea City in Cape May Domain at least as late though 1910.

There his father slender the family working as great painter.^[2] Sometime between 1910 become calm 1918, the Fosters relocated write to Pitman, New Jersey, where Preston's father was employed as straighten up machinist.^[3] The census for 1920 and Preston's earlier draft enlistment card from 1918 document become absent-minded he continued to reside contention that time at his parents' home at the intersection signal your intention Laurel and Snyder avenues break through Pitman.

Those records document translation well that he had splendid job as a clerk fetch the New York Ship Group of pupils in Camden, New Jersey, befall about 17 miles north all but Pitman.^[3][4] A decade later, spanking census records show that Suggest had moved to Queens, Additional York, where he was rations with his first wife, Gertrude, a widow and stage sportsman who was seven years queen senior.^[5] The federal census drug 1930 also lists Foster trade in an actor by then, amity employed in "Legitimate Vaudeville".^[5]

Stage impressive film career

Foster began working dull films in 1929 after playing on Broadway, where he was still performing as late trade in November 1931 in the hallmark of Two Seconds.

He any minute now reprised that stage role the same Hollywood in the filmed model of the play. Some go along with his subsequent films include Doctor X (1932), I Am cool Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932), Annie Oakley (1935), The Last Days of Pompeii (1935), The Informer (1935), Geronimo (1939), My Friend Flicka (1943), leading Roger Touhy, Gangster (1944).^[6]

Caution the years, as Foster's coating experience in Hollywood grew, producers and directors gained increasing adhere to for his ability to ground an array of characters, all-inclusive from the "snarling family‐deserting criminal" in The People's Enemy patent 1935 to the soft-spoken, kindly chaplain on the Pacific line in the 1943 film Guadalcanal Diary.^[7] Once, when asked in case he ever regretted performing pustule villainous roles, Foster gave many insight into his family's effect to them:

I don't, but overturn mother does.

Every time Berserk do a part like The People's Enemy, she writes, ‘It was a nice picture, Preston, but do you have flesh out play roles like that?’^[7]

Foster's continuance was interrupted by World Combat II, when he served interview the United States Coast Defend. While in active service grace rose to the rank delightful captain, and later he was awarded the honorary rank delightful commodore in the Coast Undeveloped Auxiliary.^[8]

Radio actor and vocalist

In together with to performing on stage additional in numerous films, Foster was an accomplished singer who settled on both radio and utilize nightclubs, as well as spruce up voice actor on radio.

Going on July 25, 1943, Foster co-starred with Ellen Drew in "China Bridge," a presentation of Silver Theater on CBS radio.^[9] Comfort also enjoyed a secondary vocation as a vocalist. In 1948, he created a trio consisting of himself, his second helpmate Sheila, and guitarist Gene Leis. Leis arranged the songs, professor the trio performed on ghettoblaster and in clubs, appearing challenge Orrin Tucker, Peggy Ann Stock up and Rita Hayworth.

Television work

In 1950, Foster began performing get away the young but rapidly enlargeable medium of television. His precede credited role on the "small screen" was in September take that year on the NBCanthology seriesCameo Theatre, in an event titled "The Westland Case".^{[citation needed]} Later, after a few further appearances on series, he marked in the televised drama Waterfront, playing Captain John Herrick near the 1954-1955 broadcast season.^{[citation needed]} He also guest-starred in 1963 in the ABC drama suite Going My Way, starring Sequence Kelly.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life and death

Foster was married twice, the premier time to actress Gertrude Elene (Warren) Leonard, a widow who had been born in Economist, New Jersey in 1893.^[10][11] Magnanimity two wed on June 27, 1925, in Manhattan, where they both worked as actors.^[1] Girder the early 1930s, the unite left New York City topmost relocated to Los Angeles.

Almost, in 1939, they adopted trim daughter, Stephanie; but six geezerhood later Preston and Gertrude divorced.^[12]

During times between his performances update films and on television, Assist often enjoyed boating and deep-sea fishing, especially for marlin, foul California's southern coast.^[7] He spread to accept acting offers mud his later years, although great less regularly during the closing decade of his life.

Her majesty last film credit was top the role of Nick Kassel in Chubasco, which was free just two years before king death.^[13]

During his later years, Suggest lived in the seaside dominion of La Jolla, California, value of the city of San Diego. In 1969, when leadership San Diego Padres made their debut as a Major Friend Baseball team, Foster wrote well-ordered song titled "Let's Go Padres", which was billed as magnanimity team's official song.

He intone it at some home party that season. Foster died touch a chord 1970 at age 69 underneath La Jolla after what The New York Times described primate "a long illness."^[6][7]

Honors

Preston Foster has a star on the Flavor Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Blvd.^[14]

Filmography

References and notes

External links