Barry Foster (actor)

John Barry Foster (21 August 1927 – 11 February 2002) was an English actor who had an extensive career in film, radio, stage and television over almost 50 years. He was best known for portraying the title character in the British crime series ''Van der Valk'' (1972–1992) and Bob Rusk in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Frenzy'' (1972).

Early life

Foster was born on 21 August 1927 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, the son of a toolsetter. His family moved to Hayes, Middlesex when he was a few months old. He received his formal education at Southall County School.

After leaving school, Foster trained as a plastics organic chemist at the local EMI Central Research Laboratories, while unsuccessfully submitting ideas to advertising agencies. Having been "called to the Colours" under the National Service Act 1948, Foster served with the Royal Air Force.

He subsequently trained as an actor, having won a scholarship to train at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He arrived there aged 20 and soon acquired the affectionate nickname "Fozza", which stayed with him for the rest of his life. It was at the Central School that he became friends with actor and playwright Harold Pinter. Foster appeared on stage in three of Pinter's plays: '' The Basement'', ''The Tea Party'' and ''A Slight Ache'', in 1987.

Career

Foster's professional stage debut came in 1952 as Lorenzo in ''The Merchant of Venice'' in County Cork. In 1955, he made his London stage debut as the Electrician in ''The Night of the Ball'' at the New Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre). His first film role was in '' The Battle of the River Plate'' (1956), as part of the crew of HMS ''Exeter'', in which he played Able Seaman Roper. Over the next decade and a half, he performed in Joseph Losey's ''King and Country'' (1964), ''The Family Way'' (1966), '' Robbery'' (1967), ''Inspector Clouseau'' (1968) and ''Battle of Britain'' (1969). He had a regular role on the TV series ''The Troubleshooters'' (1965). In 1970, he played a Fenian revolutionary paramilitary leader in David Lean's epic film ''Ryan's Daughter''.

In 1972 Foster played two roles, on opposite sides of the law. The first was the cynical Dutch detective Van der Valk, a role he played, on and off, until 1992. The second was a serial murderer in Alfred Hitchcock's film ''Frenzy''. ''Frenzy'' was Hitchcock's next-to-last film, made towards the end of an acclaimed and commercially highly successful career, and caused controversy for the scene in which Foster was required to simulate a rape and a murder, reportedly driven by Hitchcock's desire to prove that he was still relevant as a director in a more permissive age. Michael Caine had previously rejected the role and criticised the nature of the film.

Shortly after the third series of ''Van der Valk'', Foster took on the role of Sherlock Holmes in a series of radio plays in 1978. He recorded 13 episodes of the Holmes canon, with David Buck as Dr Watson. Foster was seen on BBC television in ''Fall of Eagles'' (1974, in the role of Kaiser Wilhelm II and as the condescending chief of British Intelligence in the adaptation of the John le Carré novel ''Smiley's People'' (1982). During this time, Foster appeared in the films '' Sweeney!'' (1977), spun off from the TV series; ''The Wild Geese'' (1978); Merchant Ivory's ''Heat and Dust'' (1983); ''The Whistle Blower'' (1986); and ''Maurice'' (1987).

From the 1990s, Foster mainly performed on stage. He took on the role of Inspector Goole in J.B. Priestley's ''An Inspector Calls'' in a production directed by Stephen Daldry. In 2000, he starred as Prospero in '' The Tempest'', directed by Julia Stafford Northcote at Stafford Castle. From 2001 to 2002, he performed in a run of Yasmina Reza's stage play '' 'Art''' in the West End of London.

Personal life

Foster married Judith Shergold in 1955 in Birkenhead, the marriage producing two daughters and a son. After Foster's death, a trust was set up, titled the Barry Foster Memorial Award, to help disabled children become involved in the theatre. Foster was a talented amateur pianist, with a penchant for jazz music.

Death

Foster became ill while appearing in a play in the West End on 8 February 2002 and was taken to hospital. He died of a heart attack aged 74 on 11 February 2002 at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, not far from where he lived.

A funeral service was held for him on 21 February 2002 at St Stephen's Church at the village of Shottermill, near Haslemere. His body was cremated at Guildford Crematorium, and his ashes divided, part being interred at St Stephen's and the remainder being interred in France.Entry for Barry Foster, ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of more than 14,000 Famous Persons'' by Scott Wilson (3rd ed., McFarland & Company. Inc., 2016).

Filmography

* ''The Baby and the Battleship'' (1956) – First Sailor at Dance (uncredited)
* '' The Battle of the River Plate'' (1956) – Bill Roper, Capt. Bell's messenger, HMS Exeter (uncredited)
* '' Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst'' (1957) – PO McCarthy RN
* '' High Flight'' (1957) – Wilcox
* ''Dunkirk

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