View source for Barry Foster (actor)

{{Short description|English actor (1927–2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Barry Foster
| image       = Barry Foster (1972).jpg
| caption     = Foster in 1972
| birth_name  = John Barry Foster
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1927|08|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Beeston, Nottinghamshire]], England
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2002|02|11|1927|08|21|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Guildford]], Surrey, England
| occupation  = Actor
| alma_mater    = [[Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]]
| spouse      = {{marriage|Judith Shergold|1955}}
| children    = 3; including [[Joanna Foster]]
| yearsactive = 1954–2002
}}
'''John Barry Foster''' (21 August 1927<ref name="Birth details at freebmd.org.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?scan=1&r=157259123:3083&d=bmd_1669206295|title=Birth details at freebmd.org.uk|publisher=freebmd.org.uk|date=10 December 2022|accessdate=10 December 2022}}</ref> – 11 February 2002)<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/feb/12/guardianobituaries|last=Purser|first=Philip|title=Barry Foster: Versatile actor best known for his portrayals of Orde Wingate and a Dutch detective|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=2002-02-11|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1384538/Barry-Foster.html|title=Barry Foster|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]], London|date=2002-02-12|access-date=2019-01-06}}</ref> was an English actor who had an extensive career in film, radio, stage and television over almost 50 years. He was best known for portraying the title character in the British crime series ''[[Van der Valk]]'' (1972–1992) and Bob Rusk in [[Alfred Hitchcock|Alfred Hitchcock's]] ''[[Frenzy]]'' (1972).
==Early life==
Foster was born on 21 August 1927 in [[Beeston, Nottinghamshire]], the son of a [[Machinist|toolsetter]]. His family moved to [[Hayes, Hillingdon|Hayes]], [[Middlesex]] when he was a few months old. He received his formal education at [[Villiers High School|Southall County School]].<ref name=independent>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/barry-foster-9133062.html|title=Barry Foster|date=13 February 2002|website=The Independent}}</ref>
After leaving school, Foster trained as a plastics organic chemist at the local EMI Central Research Laboratories, while unsuccessfully submitting ideas to advertising agencies.<ref name=independent/> Having been "called to the Colours" under the [[National Service Act 1948]], Foster served with the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref>11 February 2002 Death Notice for Barry Foster, 'Family Announcements' online archive database. https://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/2264588/barr-foster {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215025609/https://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/2264588/barr-foster |date=15 February 2017 }}</ref>
He subsequently trained as an actor, having won a scholarship to train at the [[Central School of Speech and Drama]] in London.<ref name="Guardian"/> He arrived there aged 20 and soon acquired the affectionate nickname "Fozza", which stayed with him for the rest of his life. It was at the Central School that he became friends with actor and playwright [[Harold Pinter]].<ref name=screenonline>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1375913/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Foster, Barry (1927–2002) Biography|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> Foster appeared on stage in three of Pinter's plays: ''[[The Basement (play)|The Basement]]'', ''[[Tea Party (play)|The Tea Party]]'' and ''[[A Slight Ache]]'', in 1987.
==Career==
Foster's professional stage debut came in 1952 as Lorenzo in ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'' in [[County Cork]]. In 1955, he made his London stage debut as the Electrician in ''The Night of the Ball'' at the New Theatre (now the [[Noël Coward Theatre]]). His first film role was in ''[[The Battle of the River Plate (film)|The Battle of the River Plate]]'' (1956), as part of the crew of [[HMS Exeter (68)|HMS ''Exeter'']], in which he played Able Seaman Roper. Over the next decade and a half, he performed in [[Joseph Losey]]'s ''[[King and Country]]'' (1964), ''[[The Family Way]]'' (1966), ''[[Robbery (1967 film)|Robbery]]'' (1967), ''[[Inspector Clouseau (film)|Inspector Clouseau]]'' (1968) and ''[[Battle of Britain (film)|Battle of Britain]]'' (1969).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/barry-foster-p24433/filmography|title=Barry Foster &#124; Movies and Filmography|website=AllMovie}}</ref> He had a regular role on the TV series ''[[The Troubleshooters (British TV series)|The Troubleshooters]]'' (1965).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/518529/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Mogul/Troubleshooters, The (1965–72)|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> In 1970, he played a [[Fenian]] paramilitary leader in [[David Lean|David Lean's]] epic film ''[[Ryan's Daughter]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/ryans-daughter-v42420/cast-crew|title=Ryan's Daughter (1970) – David Lean &#124; Cast and Crew|website=AllMovie}}</ref>
In 1972 Foster played two roles, on opposite sides of the law. The first was the cynical Dutch detective [[Van der Valk]], a role he played, on and off, until 1992. The second was a serial murderer in [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s film ''[[Frenzy (film)|Frenzy]]''. ''Frenzy'' was Hitchcock's next-to-last film, made towards the end of an acclaimed and commercially highly successful career, and caused controversy for the scene in which Foster was required to simulate a rape and a murder, reportedly driven by Hitchcock's desire to prove that he was still relevant as a director in a more [[Permissive society|permissive]] age. [[Michael Caine]] had previously rejected the role and criticised the nature of the film.<ref>"Michael Caine Explains Hitchcock Feud", ''Daily Express'', 22 March 2010. http://www.express.co.uk/dayandnight/164339/Michael-Caine-explains-Hitchcock-feud</ref>
Shortly after the third series of ''Van der Valk'', Foster took on the role of [[Sherlock Holmes]] in a series of radio plays in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=Hugo|url=http://www.cambridge-explorer.org.uk/HBWEB/VV341/BF-DB-Home.htm|access-date=5 February 2015}}</ref> He recorded 13 episodes of the Holmes canon, with David Buck as Dr Watson. Foster was seen on BBC television in ''[[Fall of Eagles]]'' (1974, in the role of [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]]) and as the condescending chief of British Intelligence in the adaptation of the [[John le Carré]] novel ''[[Smiley's People]]'' (1982). During this time, Foster appeared in the films ''[[Sweeney!]]'' (1977), spun off from the TV series; ''[[The Wild Geese]]'' (1978); [[Merchant Ivory]]'s ''[[Heat and Dust (film)|Heat and Dust]]'' (1983); ''[[The Whistle Blower]]'' (1986); and ''[[Maurice (1987 film)|Maurice]]'' (1987).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ee2c44d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407114526/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ee2c44d|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2018|title=Barry Foster|website=BFI}}</ref>
From the 1990s, Foster mainly performed on stage. He took on the role of Inspector Goole in [[J.B. Priestley]]'s ''[[An Inspector Calls]]'' in a production directed by [[Stephen Daldry]]. In 2000, he starred as [[Prospero]] in ''[[The Tempest]]'', directed by Julia Stafford Northcote at Stafford Castle. From 2001 to 2002, he performed in a run of [[Yasmina Reza]]'s stage play ''[['Art' (play)|'Art']]'' in the [[West End theatre|West End]] of London.<ref name=screenonline/>
==Personal life==
Foster married Judith Shergold in 1955 in Birkenhead, the marriage producing two daughters and a son. After Foster's death, a trust was set up, titled the Barry Foster Memorial Award, to help disabled children become involved in the theatre.<ref>'The Arts Professional', 17 November 2003. http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/article/news-award-winning-theatres-face-uncertain-futures</ref> Foster was a talented amateur pianist, with a penchant for jazz music.<ref>Obituary notice for Barry Foster, 11 February 2002. https://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/2264588/barry-foster {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215022121/https://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/2264588/barry-foster |date=15 February 2017 }}</ref>
==Death==
Foster became ill while appearing in a play in the West End on 8 February 2002 and was taken to hospital. He died of a heart attack aged 74 on 11 February 2002 at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in [[Guildford]], Surrey, not far from where he lived.
A funeral service was held for him on 21 February 2002 at St Stephen's Church at the village of Shottermill, near Haslemere. His body was cremated at Guildford Crematorium, and his ashes divided, part being interred at St Stephen's and the remainder being interred in France.<ref>Entry for Barry Foster, ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of more than 14,000 Famous Persons'' by Scott Wilson (3rd ed., McFarland & Company. Inc., 2016).</ref>
==Filmography==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[The Baby and the Battleship]]'' (1956) – First Sailor at Dance (uncredited)
* ''[[The Battle of the River Plate (film)|The Battle of the River Plate]]'' (1956) – Bill Roper, Capt. Bell's messenger, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
* ''[[Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst]]'' (1957) – PO McCarthy RN
* ''[[High Flight (film)|High Flight]]'' (1957) – Wilcox
* ''[[Dunkirk (1958 film)|Dunkirk]]'' (1958) – Don R
* ''[[Sea Fury (1958 film)|Sea Fury]]'' (1958) – Vincent
* ''[[Sea of Sand]]'' (1958) – Corporal Mathieson
* ''Yesterday's Enemy'' (1958 BBC teleplay) – 2nd Lt Hastings
* ''[[Four Desperate Men]]'' (1959) (aka ''Siege of Pinchgut'') - Charlie Patterson (uncredited)
* ''[[Surprise Package (film)|Surprise Package]]'' (1960) – US Marshal
* ''[[Playback (1962 film)|Playback]]'' (1962) (''[[Edgar Wallace Mysteries]]'') – Constable Dave Hollis
* ''[[King & Country]]'' (1964) – Lieutenant Webb
* ''[[The Family Way]]'' (1966) – Joe Thompson
* ''[[Robbery (1967 film)|Robbery]]'' (1967) – Frank
* ''[[Inspector Clouseau (film)|Inspector Clouseau]]'' (1968) – Addison Steele
* ''[[Twisted Nerve]]'' (1968) – Gerry Henderson
* ''[[The Guru (1969 film)|The Guru]]'' (1969) – Chris
* ''[[Battle of Britain (film)|Battle of Britain]]'' (1969) – Squadron Leader Edwards
* ''[[Ryan's Daughter]]'' (1970) – Tim O'Leary
* ''[[A Taste of Honey]]'' 1970) (20th. Sept-4th. Oct.) - Peter (3-part, BBCTV mini series, with ''[[Diana Dors]]'', made for schools)
* ''[[Van der Valk (1972 TV series)|Van der Valk]]'' (1972) – Simon 'Piet' Van der Valk
* ''[[Frenzy]]'' (1972) – Robert Rusk
* ''[[Divorce His, Divorce Hers]]'' (1973) – Donald Trenton
* ''[[A Quiet Day in Belfast]]'' (1974) – John Slattery
* ''[[Fall of Eagles]]'' (1974) – [[Kaiser William II]]
* ''[[The Last Word (1975 film)|The Last Word]]'' (1975) – Edward
* ''Orde Wingate'' (1976) – [[Orde Wingate]]
* ''[[Sweeney!]]'' (1977) – Elliott McQueen
* ''[[The Three Hostages (film)|The Three Hostages]]'' (1977) – [[Richard Hannay]]
* ''[[The Wild Geese]]'' (1978) – Thomas Balfour
* ''[[Danger on Dartmoor]]'' (1980) – Green
* ''[[Smiley's People (TV series)|Smiley's People]]'' (1982) – Saul Enderby
* ''[[A Woman Called Golda]]'' (1982) – [[Orde Wingate]]
* ''[[Heat and Dust (film)|Heat and Dust]]'' (1983) – Major Minnies, the Political Agent
* ''[[Death of an Expert Witness]]'' (1983) – Dr. Maxim Howarth, Director of Hoggatt's Laboratory
* ''[[To Catch a King]]'' (1984) – Max Winter
* ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]'' (1985) - Howard Bailey
* ''[[Hotel du Lac (film)|Hotel du Lac]]'' (1986) - David Simmonds
* ''[[The Whistle Blower]]'' (1986) – Charles Greig
* ''Succubus'' (1987, TV Movie) (horror film with [[Lynsey Baxter]], [[Pamela Salem]], [[Jeremy Gilley]]) – Mike
* ''[[Three Kinds of Heat]]'' (1987) – Norris
* ''[[Maurice (1987 film)|Maurice]]'' (1987) – Dean Cornwallis
* ''[[Beyond the Next Mountain]]'' (1987) – Alan Montforce
* ''[[The Killing Game (1988 film)|The Killing Game]]'' (1988) – Jack
* ''[[The Free Frenchman]]'' (1989) – Maj. Trent
* ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' (1989) – Sir Alexander Reece
* ''[[King of the Wind (film)|King of the Wind]]'' (1990) – Mr. Williams
* ''[[Roger Roger]]'' (1999) – Pieter Eugene
* ''[[Rancid Aluminium]]'' (2000) – Doctor (final film role)
{{div col end}}
==Radio==
* The Quarry (1965) BBC Radio Drama as Douglas Shemley
* World from Rough Stones trilogy (1974) - Lord John, with [[Nerys Hughes]] as Nora, [[Hugh_Ross_(actor)]] as Walter and [[Carole_Boyd]] as Arabella, in [[Drama_(BBC_Radio_4)]] production of novel by Malcolm Macdonald
* Sherlock Holmes (1978) – [[Sherlock Holmes]], with [[David Buck]] as [[Dr. Watson]]
* ''[[The George Cragge series]]'' (1995-1999) – DCI Frank Jefferson
* A fall of Moondust (1981) – Chief Engineer Jim Lawrence
* ''[[Space Force (BBC radio serial)|Space Force]]'' (1984–85) – Saxon Berry
* Swing Swing Together (1987) - Sergeant Cribb in BBC Radio dramatisation of [[Peter Lovesey]] story
==Sources==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071112045949/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/87 ''BFI Film & TV Database'']
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0287687|name=Barry Foster}}
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/barry-foster-9133062.html Obituary in the ''Independent'' 2002]
* [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1384538/Barry-Foster.html Obituary in the ''Telegraph'' 2002]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1814730.stm Obituary at the BBC 2002]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Barry}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:People from Beeston, Nottinghamshire]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Hillingdon]]
[[Category:Male actors from Nottinghamshire]]
[[Category:People from Hayes, Hillingdon]]
[[Category:Actors from the Borough of Broxtowe]]