Phil Foster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phil Foster
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Foster in 1976
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| Born |
Fivel Feldman
March 29, 1913 |
| Died | July 8, 1985 (aged 72) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1955–1985 |
Phil Foster (born Fivel Feldman) was an American actor and performer. He was born on March 29, 1913, and passed away on July 8, 1985. Many people remember him for playing Frank DeFazio in the TV show Laverne & Shirley.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Phil Foster was born Fivel Feldman in Brooklyn, New York City. His parents were immigrants from Russia. They had changed their family name from Vishnodosky.
Phil got his stage name from Foster Avenue in Brooklyn. When he was a child, he loved to perform. He and his friends would sing and dance in front of movie theaters. Later, he started joining amateur shows, where people competed for prizes. Sometimes, a famous comedian named Jackie Gleason also performed in these shows.
During the Great Depression, a time when many people had little money, Phil started acting in serious plays. He performed in halls and other small spaces because theaters were not always available. He once said that they performed all kinds of plays for very little money.
Becoming a Stand-Up Comedian
Phil Foster became a nightclub comedian in Chicago in the late 1930s. One night, he was asked to perform suddenly when another comedian couldn't. He just went on stage and started talking. He didn't even have a planned act! But people liked him, and he was offered a job. Phil had planned to go back to acting in plays, but he became very popular in nightclubs all over the country.
After World War II
During World War II, Phil Foster served in the United States Army. After the war, he returned to New York. He became a popular performer on variety shows. His act included funny stories about his childhood in Brooklyn.
In the 1950s, Phil made several comedy short films for Universal-International. He was known as "Brooklyn's Ambassador to the World." Because he was so popular, he was chosen to be a space crewman in the movie Conquest of Space. In this film, his character traveled to Mars.
Phil Foster appeared on many television shows. He was a guest star on shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He also appeared on The Patty Duke Show. On The Jerry Lewis Show, he joked with famous boxer Cassius Clay (who later became Muhammad Ali). Phil also acted in movies, including Bang the Drum Slowly.
His old friend, Garry Marshall, helped Phil come to Hollywood. Garry was a writer for other entertainers. He first asked Phil to appear in The Odd Couple. Then, he asked Phil to co-star in Laverne & Shirley. At that time, Phil was living in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
Later, Phil Foster appeared on TV shows like Fantasy Island in 1978 and The Love Boat in 1979. On The Love Boat, he played an older comedian.
Personal Life and Passing
Phil Foster was married to Barbara Gold. They had two sons named Michael and Danny. Phil appeared on a TV show called Tattletales with his wife.
Phil Foster passed away from a heart attack in Rancho Mirage, California, on July 8, 1985. He was 72 years old.
Filmography
- Brooklyn Goes to San Francisco (1947) – Phil Foster
- Conquest of Space (1955) – Jackie Siegle
- The Patsy (1964) – Mayo Sloan
- Hail (1972) – Michael Moloney
- Every Little Crook and Nanny (1972) – Police Lt. Bozzaris
- Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) – Joe Jaros
- Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough (1975) – Cab Driver
- The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington (1977) – Senator Krause
- Texas Godfather (1985) – Ralph Salerno (final film role)
- Fantasy Island – TV serial, ep. "The Over-the Hill Caper/Poof!You're a Movie Star (1978)
See also
In Spanish: Phil Foster para niños
