Preston Foster

Preston Foster
Preston Foster in First Lady (1937)
Born	August 24, 1900 Pitman, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	July 14, 1970 (aged 69) La Jolla, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1929–1967
Spouse(s)	Gertrude Warren (1926–1945; divorced); 1 child Sheila Darcy (1946–1970; his death)

Preston Foster (August 24, 1900 – July 14, 1970), sometimes credited as Preston S. Foster, was an American stage and film actor. He also had a career as a vocalist.

Foster entered films in 1929 after acting on Broadway. He was still appearing on Broadway as late as November 1931, in the cast of the play Two Seconds. He soon reprised that role in a filmed version. His most notable films include Doctor X (1932), I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932), Annie Oakley (1935), The Last Days of Pompeii (1935), The Informer (1935), and My Friend Flicka (1943).^[1]

While serving with the United States Coast Guard during World War II, he rose to the rank of captain, temporary reserve. He eventually held the honorary rank of commodore.^[2]

Foster enjoyed a secondary career as a vocalist. In 1948, he created a trio consisting of himself, his wife, Sheila and guitarist Gene Leis. Leis arranged the songs and the trio performed on radio and in clubs, appearing with Orrin Tucker, Peggy Ann Garner and Rita Hayworth.

He starred in the television drama Waterfront (1954–1955), playing Captain John Herrick. He guest-starred in the ABC drama series Going My Way, starring Gene Kelly.^[1]

Radio

On July 25, 1943, Foster co-starred with Ellen Drew in "China Bridge," a presentation of Silver Theater on CBS radio.^[3]

Family

Foster was married to his first wife, stage actress Gertrude Warren, from 1926 until their 1945 divorce. They had one daughter, Stephanie. He was married to his second wife, actress Sheila Darcy, from 1946 until his death.^[1]

Honors

Preston Foster has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Partial filmography

• Two Seconds (1932)
• Doctor X (1932)
• The Last Mile (1932)
• Life Begins (1932)
• I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
• Ladies They Talk About (1933)
• Elmer, the Great (1933)
• Corruption (1933)
• Sensation Hunters (1933)
• Hoop-La (1933)
• Heat Lightning (1934)
• The Arizonian (1935)
• The Informer (1935)
• The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
• Annie Oakley (1935)
• Love Before Breakfast (1936)
• Muss 'Em Up (1936)
• The Plough and the Stars (1936)
• First Lady (1937)
• Sea Devils (1937)
• The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1937)
• Army Girl (1938)
• Submarine Patrol (1938)
• Double Danger (1938)
• Up the River (1938)
• North West Mounted Police (1940)
• Secret Agent of Japan (1942)
• A Gentleman After Dark (1942)
• Little Tokyo, U.S.A. (1942)
• Thunder Birds (1942)
• American Empire (1942)
• My Friend Flicka (1943)
• Guadalcanal Diary (1943)
• Thunderhead, Son of Flicka (1945)
• The Valley of Decision (1945)
• Twice Blessed (1945)
• The Harvey Girls (1946)
• Inside Job (1946)
• Strange Triangle (1946)
• Ramrod (1947)
• The Hunted (1948)
• Thunderhoof (1948)
• I Shot Jesse James (1949)
• The Big Cat (1949)
• Tomahawk (1951)
• The Big Night (1951)
• Kansas City Confidential (1952)
• Montana Territory (1952)
• I, the Jury (1953)
• The Time Travelers (1964)

External links

• Preston Foster at the Internet Broadway Database
• Preston Foster at Find a Grave

References

1. Preston Foster at the Internet Movie Database
2. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/preston_foster/biography
3. "Ellen Drew, Preston Foster to Star on Silver Theater". Chicago Tribune. July 25, 1943. p. 4W. Retrieved 31 March 2015.