Robert Forster
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| Robert Forster | |
|---|---|
 Forster attending "Heroes For Autism" event at Avalon, Hollywood, CA on April 19, 2009 |
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| Born | Robert Wallace Foster, Jr. July 13, 1941 Rochester, New York, United States |
| Occupation | Actor |
Robert Forster (born Robert Wallace Foster, Jr.; July 13, 1941) is an American actor.
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[edit] Early life
Forster was born in Rochester, New York. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in history at the University of Rochester, where he starred in student dramatic performances such as "Bye Bye Birdie" and, after initially intending to go on to study law, instead decided to forego his future legal career in favor of pursuing drama. He graduated with a B.A. in history in 1964.
He is the son of Italian-born Grace Dorothy (née Montanarella) and Robert Wallace Foster, Sr., who worked as an elephant trainer for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and later as an executive for a baking supply company.[1][2] His mother was Italian-born and his father was of English and Irish ancestry.[3] The two divorced in 1949. As a tribute to his father, Forster was allowed to hang one of his father's Barnum & Bailey Circus posters in the office of his character "Max Cherry" in the Quentin Tarantino film Jackie Brown.
[edit] Career
After smaller roles, such as Private Williams in Reflections in a Golden Eye, he starred in the critically acclaimed 1969 film Medium Cool. After starring roles in the TV shows Banyon (1972) and Nakia (1974), he played mostly supporting roles in action and horror films including Disney's The Black Hole (1979). Forster had lead roles in cult B-movies in the 1980s like Alligator (1980), Vigilante (1983), The Delta Force (1986), and The Banker (1989). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for Jackie Brown, which he credits with reviving his career. A busy actor, he has since gone on to appear in Like Mike; Mulholland Drive; Me, Myself, & Irene; Lucky Number Slevin and Firewall, to name a few. He recently appeared in the made for television movie The Hunt for the BTK Killer, as the detective intent on capturing serial killer Dennis Rader. Forster also played the father of Van on the short-lived Fox series Fastlane.
Forster recorded a public service announcement for Deejay Ra's 'Hip-Hop Literacy' campaign, encouraging reading of books by Elmore Leonard (he starred in the movie adaption of Leonard's book Rum Punch, Jackie Brown). Forster is also a motivational speaker.
He appears in the hit NBC show Heroes as Arthur Petrelli, the father of Nathan and Peter Petrelli.
Twice divorced, Forster is a father of four. His daughter Kate Forster (born 1969) has worked as an actress.
[edit] Selected filmography
- Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)
- Justine (1969)
- Medium Cool (1969)
- Cover Me Babe (1970)
- Stunts (film) (1977)
- Avalanche (1978)
- The Black Hole (1979)
- Alligator (1980)
- Goliath Awaits (1981)
- Walking The Edge (1983)
- The Delta Force (1986)
- Checker Flag (1990)
- 29th Street (1991)
- American Yakuza (1994)
- Original Gangstas (1996)
- Demolition University (1997)
- American Perfekt (1997)
- Jackie Brown (1997)
- Psycho (1998)
- Outside Ozona (1998)
- It's the Rage (1999)
- Kiss Toledo Goodbye (1999)
- Supernova (2000)
- Lakeboat (2000)
- Me, Myself & Irene (2000)
- Diamond Men (2000)
- Mulholland Dr. (2001)
- Human Nature (2001)
- Finder's Fee (2001)
- Like Mike (2002)
- Due East (2002)
- Murder in Greenwich (2002)
- Confidence (2003)
- Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
- Grand Theft Parsons (2003)
- Firewall (2006)
- Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
- D-War (2007)
- Rise (2007)
- Cleaner (2007)
- Jack and Jill vs. the World (2008)
- Heroes (2008) (TV series)
- Thick as Thieves (2009)
- Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)
- Middle Men (2010)
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
Voisin, Scott, "Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting." BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 9-781593-933425.
