Barry Foster British actor Date of Birth: 21.08.1927 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Education
2. Stage and Screen Debut
3. Notable Film Roles
4. Television and Film Stardom
5. Personal Life and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Barry Foster (born John Barry Foster in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1927) worked in a chemical laboratory before attending the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He was considerably older than fellow drama students at the age of 20. During his time there, he developed a close friendship with David Baron, who later became known as Harold Pinter. Foster went on to appear in several of Pinter's plays, including "The Basement," "The Tea Party," and "A Slight Ache."

Stage and Screen Debut

Foster made his stage debut in "The Merchant of Venice" in Ireland in 1952. His London stage debut came in "The Night of the Ball" at the New Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre). His film debut followed in 1956 with the war film "Battle of the River Plate." By the end of the decade, Foster had accumulated nearly a dozen film credits, including Leslie Norman's "Dunkirk," Guy Green's "Sea of Sand," and Val Guest's "Yesterday's Enemy."

Notable Film Roles

In the 1964 war drama "King & Country," Foster portrayed Lieutenant Webb. He starred as Joe Thompson in Roy Boulting's comedy-melodrama "The Family Way" in 1966. Foster subsequently appeared in Peter Yates' crime drama "Robbery" and Bud Yorkin's comedy "Inspector Clouseau." In 1969, he played a supporting role in Guy Hamilton's epic war film "Battle of Britain."

Television and Film Stardom

Foster showcased his versatility in 1972 with contrasting roles as Detective Van der Valk in the television series of the same name and Bob Rusk, a murderer in Alfred Hitchcock's "Frenzy." The former established Foster as a beloved star, and it became one of his most iconic roles.

Throughout his career, Foster appeared in over 80 films and numerous stage productions. Notable film credits from the 1980s include James Ivory's "Heat and Dust" and "Maurice," Simon Langton's "The Whistle Blower," and Joseph Merhi's "The Killing Game." Foster also starred in television series such as "Bergerac," "Smiley's People," and "Death of an Expert Witness."

Personal Life and Legacy

Unlike many of his acting peers, Foster was married only once to actress Judith Shergold, whom he wed in 1955. The couple had two daughters, Miranda and Joanna, who became actresses, and a son, Jason. Foster passed away on February 11, 2002. Despite some obituaries stating 1931 as his year of birth, Foster's birth certificate and marriage license confirm his birth year as 1927.