Actor
Preston Foster
Born August 22, 1900 in Pitman, New Jersey, USADied July 14, 1970100 films
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).
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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.
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The best way into Preston Foster's work
First watchI Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang19327.8as PeteA World War I veteran’s dreams of becoming a master architect evaporate in the cold light of economic realities. Things get even worse when he’s falsely convicted of a crime and sent to…View filmEssential films
Ranked by acclaim and reach
Filmography
100 films as actor- 1968ChubascoNick
- 1967You've Got To Be SmartD. O. Griggs
- 1964The Time TravelersDr. Erik von Steiner
- 1964Advance to the RearGen. Bateman (uncredited)
- 1963The Man from GalvestonJudge Homer Black
- 1957Destination 60,000Col. Ed Buckley
- 1953I, the JuryCapt. Pat Chambers
- 1953The Marshal's DaughterPreston Foster - Poker-Game Player
- 1953Law and OrderKurt Durling
- 1952Kansas City ConfidentialTim Foster
- 1952Montana TerritorySheriff Henry Plummer
- 1951The Big NightAndy La Main
- 1951The Bogus GreenBrass McGannon
- 1951The Big GusherHenry 'Hank' Mason
- 1951TomahawkCol. Carrington
- 1951Three Desperate MenTom Denton
- 1950The Tougher They ComeJoe MacKinley
- 1949The Big CatTom Eggers
- 1949I Shot Jesse JamesJohn Kelley
- 1948ThunderhoofScotty Mason
- 1948The HuntedJohnny Saxon
- 1947RamrodFrank Ivey
- 1947King of the Wild HorsesDave Taggert
- 1946Inside JobBart Madden
- 1946TangierCol. Jose Artiego
- 1946Strange TriangleSam Crane
- 1946The Harvey GirlsJudge Sam Purvis
- 1945Twice BlessedJeff Turner
- 1945The Valley of DecisionJim Brennan
- 1945Thunderhead: Son of FlickaRob McLaughlin
- 1944Roger Touhy, GangsterRoger Touhy
- 1944Bermuda MysterySteve Carramond
- 1943Guadalcanal DiaryFather Donnelly
- 1943My Friend FlickaRob McLaughlin
- 1942American EmpirePaxton Bryce
- 1942Thunder BirdsSteve Britt
- 1942Little Tokyo, U.S.A.Michael Steele
- 1942Night in New OrleansPolice Lt. Steve Abbott
- 1942A Gentleman After DarkTom Gaynor
- 1942Secret Agent of JapanRoy Bonnell
- 1941Unfinished BusinessSteve Duncan
- 1941The RoundupGreg Lane
- 1940North West Mounted PoliceSergeant Jim Brett
- 1940Moon Over BurmaBill Gordon
- 1940Cafe HostessDan Walters
- 1939Missing EvidenceBill Collins
- 1939GeronimoCapt. Bill Starrett
- 193920,000 Men a YearJim Howell
- 1939News Is Made at NightSteve Drum
- 1939Chasing DangerSteve Mitchell
- 1939Society SmugglersSully
- 1938Up the River'Chipper' Morgan
- 1938The Last WarningBill Crane
- 1938Submarine PatrolLt. (j.g.) John C. Drake
- 1938The StormJack Stacey
- 1938Army GirlCapt. Dike Conger
- 1938The Lady in the MorgueDet. Bill Crane
- 1938Double DangerRobert Crane
- 1938Everybody's Doing ItBruce Keene
- 1937First LadyStephen Wayne
- 1937The Westland CaseBill Crane - Private Detective
- 1937You Can't Beat LoveJames Ellsworth 'Jimmy' Hughes
- 1937The Outcasts of Poker FlatJohn Oakhurst
- 1937Sea DevilsMichael 'Mike' O'Shea
- 1937We Who Are About to DieSteven Mathews
- 1936The Plough and the StarsJack Clitheroe
- 1936Love Before BreakfastScott Miller
- 1936Muss 'em UpTip O'Neil
- 1935We're Only HumanDet. Sgt. Pete 'Mac' McCaffrey
- 1935Annie OakleyToby Walker
- 1935The Last Days of PompeiiMarcus
- 1935The ArizonianTex Randolph
- 1935A Night at the Biltmore BowlPreston Foster
- 1935The InformerDan Gallagher
- 1935The People's EnemyVince M. Falcone
- 1935Strangers AllMurray Carter
- 1934The Band Plays OnHowdy Hardy
- 1934Wharf AngelComo Murphy
- 1934Heat LightningGeorge
- 1934Sleepers EastJason Everett
- 1933HooplaNifty Miller
- 1933Sensation HuntersTom baylor
- 1933The Devil's MateInsp. O'Brien
- 1933The Man Who DaredJan Novak
- 1933CorruptionTim Butler
- 1933Dangerous CrossroadsHinton
- 1933Elmer, the GreatWalker
- 1933Ladies They Talk AboutDavid Slade
- 1933Just Around the CornerTim - Office Worker (uncredited)
- 1932You Said a MouthfulEd Dover
- 1932I Am a Fugitive from a Chain GangPete
- 1932The All-AmericanSteve Kelly
- 1932Life BeginsDr. Brett
- 1932The Last MileJohn 'Killer' Mears, Cell 4
- 1932Doctor XDr. Wells
- 1932Two SecondsBud Clark
- 1931His WomanCrewman
- 1930Follow the LeaderTwo-Gun Terry
- 1930Heads UpBlake (uncredited)
- 1929Nothing but the TruthNightclub Patron (uncredited)