← Back to explore

Preston Foster

Acting

Born August 22, 1900 · Pitman, New Jersey, USA

Died July 14, 1970

Also known as Preston S. Foster · Престон С. Фостер · Престон Фостер

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

Awards & recognition

  • star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Filmography32 titles

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

1932as Pete

Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line

1997as Self (archive footage)

The Valley of Decision

1945as Jim Brennan

Heat Lightning

1934as George

Lucy and Desi

2022as Self (archive footage)

Kansas City Confidential

1952as Tim Foster

The People's Enemy

1935as Vince M. Falcone

The Big Night

1951as Andy La Main

The Informer

1935as Dan Gallagher

The Harvey Girls

1946as Judge Sam Purvis

Letter to Loretta

Annie Oakley

1935as Toby Walker

I Shot Jesse James

1949as John Kelley

Ladies They Talk About

1933as David Slade

Corruption

1933as Tim Butler

Doctor X

1932as Dr. Wells

My Friend Flicka

1943as Rob McLaughlin

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

1945as Self (uncredited)

The Last Days of Pompeii

1935as Marcus

The Last Mile

1932as John 'Killer' Mears, Cell 4

Law and Order

1953as Kurt Durling

The Plough and the Stars

1936as Jack Clitheroe

The Man from Galveston

1963as Judge Homer Black

Guadalcanal Diary

1943as Father Donnelly

Three Desperate Men

1951as Tom Denton

Advance to the Rear

1964as Gen. Bateman (uncredited)

The Time Travelers

1964as Dr. Erik von Steiner

American Empire

1942as Paxton Bryce

Chubasco

1968as Nick

The Marshal's Daughter

1953as Preston Foster - Poker-Game Player

The Big Cat

1949as Tom Eggers

The Bogus Green

1951as Brass McGannon