Barry Foster
Biography
Barry Foster was an English actor whose career in film, radio, stage and television lasted almost 50 years. Born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, he served in the Royal Air Force before training at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. His stage debut came in 1952 in County Cork, and he made his London debut in 1955. Early films included King and Country (1964), The Family Way (1966), Robbery (1967), Inspector Clouseau (1968), Battle of Britain (1969) and Ryan's Daughter (1970). He became best known for two 1972 roles: the Dutch detective Van der Valk, which he played on and off until 1992, and the killer Bob Rusk in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972). Later screen work included Sweeney! (1977), The Wild Geese (1978), Heat and Dust (1983), The Whistle Blower (1986) and Maurice (1987). He played Sherlock Holmes in radio plays and appeared on television in Fall of Eagles and Smiley's People, while from the 1990s he worked mainly on stage.
74years old at death
- Born Beeston
- Died Guildford
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- John Barry Foster (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 16
- Career span
- 37 years1958 to 1995
Share
Did you know?!
A change of course
After finishing school, Foster trained at the local EMI Central Research Laboratories as a plastics organic chemist. He also sent ideas to advertising agencies, but none were accepted.
Early training
After winning a scholarship, Foster trained as an actor at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, where he arrived at 20 and became friends with the actor and playwright Harold Pinter.
First role
In 1952, Foster made his professional stage debut in County Cork, where he played Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice.
Barry Foster movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
James Ivory directed two of these films, Roy Boulting two. Frank Finlay appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Frank Finlay's page
Billie Whitelaw's page
Michael Caine's page
Trevor Howard's page
John Mills's page
Percy Herbert's page
All films by James Ivory
Roy BoultingDirector, 2 films, 1966 to 1968
All films by Roy Boulting
Also two films together9 more actors
- Thorley WaltersTwisted Nerve (1968) and The Family Way (1966)
- Hayley MillsTwisted Nerve (1968) and The Family Way (1966)
- Leo McKernRyan's Daughter (1970) and King and Country (1964)
- Gerald SimFrenzy (1972) and Ryan's Daughter (1970)
- James VilliersThe Wind in the Willows (1995) and King and Country (1964)
- Patrick GodfreyMaurice (1987) and Heat and Dust (1983)
- Michael BatesFrenzy (1972) and Battle of Britain (1969)
- Hywel BennettTwisted Nerve (1968) and The Family Way (1966)
- Robert RussellInspector Clouseau (1968) and Robbery (1967)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Barry Foster's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$68.7 million
5 of the 16 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 16 films: 5 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 6 figure not found.
- 5Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 2Never in cinemas
- 6Figure not found
Highest grossing
The five biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$31M44.8% of the total
- 2$13M18.9% of the total
- 3$13M18.3% of the total
- 4$9.9M14.4% of the total
- 5$2.4M3.5% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.