Preston Foster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Preston Foster
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Foster in 1941
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| Born | August 24, 1900 Ocean City, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | July 14, 1970 (aged 69) La Jolla, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1929–1968 |
| Spouse(s) |
Gertrude E. (Warren) Leonard
(m. 1925; div. 1945)Sheila Darcy
(m. 1946) |
| Children | 1 |
Preston Stratton Foster (born August 24, 1900 – died July 14, 1970) was an American actor. He worked in plays, movies, radio shows, and TV shows for almost 40 years. He was also a singer.
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Early Life and Moving Around
Preston Foster was born in Ocean City, New Jersey, in 1900. He was the oldest of three children. His father worked as a painter. Later, his family moved to Pitman, New Jersey.
When Preston was about 18, he worked as a clerk for a ship company in Camden, New Jersey. A few years later, he moved to Queens, New York. There, he lived with his first wife, Gertrude, who was also an actress. By 1930, Preston was working as an actor in "Legitimate Vaudeville" shows.
Acting on Stage and in Movies
Preston Foster started acting in movies in 1929. Before that, he performed in plays on Broadway in New York City. He even acted in a play called Two Seconds, and then played the same role in the movie version.
He appeared in many movies, including:
- Doctor X (1932)
- I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
- Annie Oakley (1935)
- The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
- The Informer (1935)
- Geronimo (1939)
- My Friend Flicka (1943)
- Roger Touhy, Gangster (1944)
As he gained more experience, Preston became known for playing many different types of characters. He could play tough guys, but also kind and gentle characters. For example, he played a chaplain (a religious leader) in the 1943 movie Guadalcanal Diary.
Preston once shared that his mother didn't always like it when he played bad guys. He said, "Every time I do a part like The People's Enemy, she writes, ‘It was a nice picture, Preston, but do you have to play roles like that?’"
Preston's acting career paused during World War II. He served in the United States Coast Guard and became a captain. Later, he was given the honorary rank of commodore.
Radio and Singing Career
Besides acting, Preston Foster was also a talented singer. He performed on radio and in nightclubs. He was also a voice actor for radio shows.
In 1943, he starred in a radio show called "China Bridge" on CBS radio. In 1948, he formed a singing group with his second wife, Sheila, and a guitarist named Gene Leis. They performed on radio and in clubs.
Television Work
In 1950, Preston Foster started acting on television, which was a new and growing medium. His first TV role was in an episode of Cameo Theatre.
Later, he starred in the TV drama Waterfront from 1954 to 1955. He played Captain John Herrick. He also made guest appearances on other shows, like Going My Way in 1963.
Personal Life and Later Years
Preston Foster was married twice. His first wife was Gertrude Elene (Warren) Leonard. They got married in 1925 in Manhattan, New York. In the early 1930s, they moved to Los Angeles. In 1939, they adopted a daughter named Stephanie. Preston and Gertrude divorced in 1945.
When he wasn't acting, Preston loved boating and deep-sea fishing, especially for marlin fish, off the coast of California. He continued to act in movies and TV shows, but less often in his later years. His last movie was Chubasco, released two years before he passed away.
Preston Foster lived in La Jolla, California, which is part of San Diego. In 1969, when the San Diego Padres baseball team started, Preston wrote a song for them called "Let's Go Padres." It became the team's official song, and he sang it at some of their home games.
Preston Foster died in 1970 at the age of 69 after a long illness.
Honors
Preston Foster has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. This is a special honor for his contributions to entertainment.
Images for kids
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Foster in 1941
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Foster in First Lady (1937)
See also
In Spanish: Preston Foster para niños
