Preston Foster

Preston Foster

1900-08-22 – 1970-07-14 (age 69) Pitman, New Jersey, USA
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Biography

Preston Foster (August 24, 1900 – July 14, 1970) was an American stage and film actor, and singer. Foster entered films in 1929 after appearing as a Broadway stage actor. He was appearing in Broadway plays as late as October 1931 when he acted in a play titled Two Seconds starring Edward J. Pawley. Some of his notable films include: Doctor X (1932), I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932), Annie Oakley (1935), The Last Days of Pompeii (also 1935), The Informer (1935) (as the head of the organization), and My Friend Flicka (1943).

He starred on the television drama, Waterfront (1954–1955), playing the role of Captain John Herrick. Foster has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was sometimes credited in movies as Preston S. Foster. His first wife was stage actress Gertrude Warren (1926–1945; divorced). He had one daughter, Stephanie. He was married to his second wife, actress Sheila Darcy, from 1946 until his death.

During World War II while serving with the United States Coast Guard, he rose to the rank of Captain, Temporary Reserve. He eventually held the honorary rank of Commodore in the U.S. Coast Guard.

After the war and before his productive movie career, Foster became a singer of some note. In 1948 Foster created a trio with himself, Gene Leis and Foster’s wife, actress Sheila Darcy. Gene arranged the songs, and they played on radio and in clubs, appearing with Orrin Tucker, Peggy Ann Garner and Rita Hayworth.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Preston Foster, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Known For

The Informer
The Informer

1935

as Dan Gallagher

Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley

1935

as Toby Walker

North West Mounted Police
North West Mounted Police

1940

as Sergeant Jim Brett

Tomahawk
Tomahawk

1951

as Col. Carrington

Doctor X
Doctor X

1932

as Dr. Wells

First Lady
First Lady

1937

as Stephen Wayne

Heat Lightning
Heat Lightning

1934

as George

Twice Blessed
Twice Blessed

1945

as Jeff Turner

Bermuda Mystery
Bermuda Mystery

1944

as Steve Carramond

Guadalcanal Diary
Guadalcanal Diary

1943

as Father Donnelly

Strangers All
Strangers All

1935

as Murray Carter

Law and Order
Law and Order

1953

as Kurt Durling

Corruption
Corruption

1933

as Tim Butler

Thunderhoof
Thunderhoof

1948

as Scotty Mason

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975

as Self (archive footage)

The Harvey Girls
The Harvey Girls

1946

as Judge Sam Purvis

The Big Gusher
The Big Gusher

1951

as Henry 'Hank' Mason

The Last Days of Pompeii
Tangier
Tangier

1946

as Col. Jose Artiego