Barry Foster (actor)
Barry Foster | |
---|---|
Born | John Barry Foster 21 August 1927 Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England |
Died | 11 February 2002 Guildford, Surrey, England | (aged 74)
Alma mater | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1954–2002 |
Spouse |
Judith Shergold (m. 1955) |
Children | 3; including Joanna Foster |
John Barry Foster (21 August 1927[1] – 11 February 2002)[2][3] was an English actor who had an extensive career in film, radio, stage and television over almost 50 years. He was best known for portraying the title character in the British crime series Van der Valk (1972–1992) and Bob Rusk in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972).
Early life
Foster was born on 21 August 1927 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, the son of a toolsetter. His family moved to Hayes, Middlesex when he was a few months old. He received his formal education at Southall County School.[4]
After leaving school, Foster trained as a plastics organic chemist at the local EMI Central Research Laboratories, while unsuccessfully submitting ideas to advertising agencies.[4] Having been "called to the Colours" under the National Service Act 1948, Foster served with the Royal Air Force.[5]
He subsequently trained as an actor, having won a scholarship to train at the
Career
Foster's professional stage debut came in 1952 as Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice in County Cork. In 1955, he made his London stage debut as the Electrician in The Night of the Ball at the New Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre). His first film role was in The Battle of the River Plate (1956), as part of the crew of HMS Exeter, in which he played Able Seaman Roper. Over the next decade and a half, he performed in Joseph Losey's King and Country (1964), The Family Way (1966), Robbery (1967), Inspector Clouseau (1968) and Battle of Britain (1969).[7] He had a regular role on the TV series The Troubleshooters (1965).[8] In 1970, he played a Fenian paramilitary leader in David Lean's epic film Ryan's Daughter.[9]
In 1972 Foster played two roles, on opposite sides of the law. The first was the cynical Dutch detective
Shortly after the third series of Van der Valk, Foster took on the role of
From the 1990s, Foster mainly performed on stage. He took on the role of Inspector Goole in
Personal life
Foster married Judith Shergold in 1955 in Birkenhead, the marriage producing two daughters and a son. After Foster's death, a trust was set up, titled the Barry Foster Memorial Award, to help disabled children become involved in the theatre.[13] Foster was a talented amateur pianist, with a penchant for jazz music.[14]
Death
Foster became ill while appearing in a play in the West End on 8 February 2002 and was taken to hospital. He died of a heart attack aged 74 on 11 February 2002 at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, not far from where he lived.
A funeral service was held for him on 21 February 2002 at St Stephen's Church at the village of Shottermill, near Haslemere. His body was cremated at Guildford Crematorium, and his ashes divided, part being interred at St Stephen's and the remainder being interred in France.[15]
Filmography
- The Baby and the Battleship (1956) – First Sailor at Dance (uncredited)
- The Battle of the River Plate (1956) – Bill Roper, Capt. Bell's messenger, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
- Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst (1957) – PO McCarthy RN
- High Flight (1957) – Wilcox
- Dunkirk (1958) – Don R
- Sea Fury (1958) – Vincent
- Sea of Sand (1958) – Corporal Mathieson
- Yesterday's Enemy (1958 BBC teleplay) – 2nd Lt Hastings
- Four Desperate Men(1959) (aka Siege of Pinchgut) - Charlie Patterson (uncredited)
- Surprise Package (1960) – US Marshal
- Playback (1962) (Edgar Wallace Mysteries) – Constable Dave Hollis
- King & Country(1964) – Lieutenant Webb
- The Family Way (1966) – Joe Thompson
- Robbery (1967) – Frank
- Inspector Clouseau (1968) – Addison Steele
- Twisted Nerve (1968) – Gerry Henderson
- The Guru (1969) – Chris
- Battle of Britain (1969) – Squadron Leader Edwards
- Ryan's Daughter (1970) – Tim O'Leary
- A Taste of Honey 1970) (20th. Sept-4th. Oct.) - Peter (3-part, BBCTV mini series, with Diana Dors, made for schools)
- Van der Valk(1972) – Simon 'Piet' Van der Valk
- Frenzy (1972) – Robert Rusk
- Divorce His, Divorce Hers (1973) – Donald Trenton
- A Quiet Day in Belfast (1974) – John Slattery
- Kaiser William II
- The Last Word (1975) – Edward
- Orde Wingate (1976) – Orde Wingate
- Sweeney! (1977) – Elliott McQueen
- The Three Hostages (1977) – Richard Hannay
- The Wild Geese (1978) – Thomas Balfour
- Danger on Dartmoor (1980) – Green
- Smiley's People (1982) – Saul Enderby
- A Woman Called Golda (1982) – Orde Wingate
- Heat and Dust (1983) – Major Minnies, the Political Agent
- Death of an Expert Witness (1983) – Dr. Maxim Howarth, Director of Hoggatt's Laboratory
- To Catch a King (1984) – Max Winter
- Bergerac (1985) - Howard Bailey
- Hotel du Lac (1986) - David Simmonds
- The Whistle Blower (1986) – Charles Greig
- Succubus (1987, TV Movie) (horror film with Lynsey Baxter, Pamela Salem, Jeremy Gilley) – Mike
- Three Kinds of Heat (1987) – Norris
- Maurice (1987) – Dean Cornwallis
- Beyond the Next Mountain (1987) – Alan Montforce
- The Killing Game (1988) – Jack
- The Free Frenchman (1989) – Maj. Trent
- Inspector Morse (1989) – Sir Alexander Reece
- King of the Wind (1990) – Mr. Williams
- Roger Roger (1999) – Pieter Eugene
- Rancid Aluminium (2000) – Doctor (final film role)
Radio
- The Quarry (1965) BBC Radio Drama as Douglas Shemley
- World from Rough Stones trilogy (1974) - Lord John, with Nerys Hughes as Nora, Hugh_Ross_(actor) as Walter and Carole_Boyd as Arabella, in Drama_(BBC_Radio_4) production of novel by Malcolm Macdonald
- Sherlock Holmes (1978) – Sherlock Holmes, with David Buck as Dr. Watson
- The George Cragge series(1995-1999) – DCI Frank Jefferson
- A fall of Moondust (1981) – Chief Engineer Jim Lawrence
- Space Force (1984–85) – Saxon Berry
- Swing Swing Together (1987) - Sergeant Cribb in BBC Radio dramatisation of Peter Lovesey story
Sources
References
- ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ a b Purser, Philip (11 February 2002). "Barry Foster: Versatile actor best known for his portrayals of Orde Wingate and a Dutch detective". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
- ^ "Barry Foster". The Telegraph, London. 12 February 2002. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Barry Foster". The Independent. 13 February 2002.
- ^ 11 February 2002 Death Notice for Barry Foster, 'Family Announcements' online archive database. https://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/2264588/barr-foster Archived 15 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "BFI Screenonline: Foster, Barry (1927–2002) Biography". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "Barry Foster | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Mogul/Troubleshooters, The (1965–72)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "Ryan's Daughter (1970) – David Lean | Cast and Crew". AllMovie.
- ^ "Michael Caine Explains Hitchcock Feud", Daily Express, 22 March 2010. http://www.express.co.uk/dayandnight/164339/Michael-Caine-explains-Hitchcock-feud
- ^ Brown, Hugo. http://www.cambridge-explorer.org.uk/HBWEB/VV341/BF-DB-Home.htm. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
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(help) - ^ "Barry Foster". BFI. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018.
- ^ 'The Arts Professional', 17 November 2003. http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/article/news-award-winning-theatres-face-uncertain-futures
- ^ Obituary notice for Barry Foster, 11 February 2002. https://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/2264588/barry-foster Archived 15 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Entry for Barry Foster, Resting Places: The Burial Sites of more than 14,000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson (3rd ed., McFarland & Company. Inc., 2016).