Preston Foster

Preston Foster
Preston Foster in Twice Blessed (1945)
Born	August 24, 1900(1900-08-24) Pitman, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	July 14, 1970(1970-07-14) (aged 69) La Jolla, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1929–1967
Spouse	Gertrude Warren (1926-1945) (divorced) child Sheila Darcy (1946-1970) (his death)

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.

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 Informer (1935)
• The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
• Annie Oakley (1935)
• Love Before Breakfast (1936)
• The Plough and the Stars (1936)
• First Lady (1937)
• Sea Devils (1937)
• Army Girl (1938)
• Submarine Patrol (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)
• The Harvey Girls (1946)
• Ramrod (1947)
• I Shot Jesse James (1949)
• The Big Cat (1949)
• Tomahawk (1951)
• The Big Night (1951)
• Kansas City Confidential (1952)
• I, the Jury (1953)
• The Time Travelers (1964)

External links

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