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

Doctor X
Doctor X

1932

as Dr. Wells

The Last Days of Pompeii
The Valley of Decision
The Valley of Decision

1945

as Jim Brennan

Law and Order
Law and Order

1953

as Kurt Durling

Guadalcanal Diary
Guadalcanal Diary

1943

as Father Donnelly

The Time Travelers
The Time Travelers

1964

as Dr. Erik von Steiner

Sea Devils
Sea Devils

1937

as Michael 'Mike' O'Shea

The Harvey Girls
The Harvey Girls

1946

as Judge Sam Purvis

Ramrod
Ramrod

1947

as Frank Ivey

Kansas City Confidential
Kansas City Confidential

1952

as Tim Foster

The Informer
The Informer

1935

as Dan Gallagher

Ladies They Talk About
Ladies They Talk About

1933

as David Slade

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

1975

as Self (archive footage)

I Shot Jesse James
I Shot Jesse James

1949

as John Kelley

Thunder Birds
Thunder Birds

1942

as Steve Britt

Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley

1935

as Toby Walker

Tomahawk
Tomahawk

1951

as Col. Carrington

North West Mounted Police
North West Mounted Police

1940

as Sergeant Jim Brett

Elmer, the Great
Elmer, the Great

1933

as Walker