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 (1972–1973, 1977, 1991–1992) 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.11 February 2002 Death Notice for Barry Foster, 'Family Announcements' online archive database. https://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/2264588/barr-foster
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 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 BBC radio plays in 1978. He recorded 13 episodes of the Holmes canon, with David Buck as Dr Watson. Also on BBC Radio, he later voiced other detectives such as Sergeant Cribb and Maigret. 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.'The Arts Professional', 17 November 2003. http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/article/news-award-winning-theatres-face-uncertain-futures Foster was a talented amateur pianist, with a penchant for jazz music.Obituary notice for Barry Foster, 11 February 2002. https://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/2264588/barry-foster
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 +YearTitleRoleNotes1956The Baby and the BattleshipFirst Sailor at DanceUncreditedThe Battle of the River PlateBill Roper1957Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. AmethystPO McCarthy RNHigh FlightWilcox1958DunkirkDon RSea FuryVincentSea of Sand Corporal Mathieson1959Four Desperate MenCharlie PattersonUncredited1960Surprise PackageUS Marshal1964King and CountryLieutenant Webb1966The Family Way Joe Thompson1967RobberyFrank1968Inspector Clouseau Addison SteeleTwisted Nerve Gerry Henderson1969The GuruChrisBattle of BritainSquadron Leader Edwards1970Ryan's Daughter Tim O'Leary1972Frenzy Robert Rusk1974A Quiet Day in BelfastJohn Slattery1975The Last Word Edward1977Sweeney! Elliott McQueenThe Three Hostages Richard Hannay1978The Wild Geese Thomas Balfour1980Danger on DartmoorGreen1983Heat and Dust Major Minnies1984To Catch a King Max Winter1986The Whistle Blower Charles Grieg1987Three Kinds of Heat NorrisMauriceDean Cornwallis1990King of the WindMr. Williams2000Rancid AluminiumDoctor
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1956-1959BBC Sunday Night TheatreVarious5 episodes1958-1963ITV Television Playhouse6 episodes1959Armchair TheatreEdgar MaloneEpisode: "Worm in the Bud"1959-1967ITV Play of the WeekVarious4 episodes1960-1962BBC Sunday-Night PlayMatt/Philip Dugan2 episodes1961Sir Francis DrakeTom BrewsterEpisode: "The Lost Colony of Virginia"1962The Edgar Wallace Mystery TheaterConstable Dave HollisEpisode: "Playback"1963SuspenseRusty GreenEpisode: "Last Race, Ginger Gentleman" EspionageGerry PaynterEpisode: "The Gentle Spies"1963-1968Love StoryRodney Webb/Kelly2 episodes1964Thursday TheatreJeff SmithEpisode: "Same Sky"1965The Wednesday PlayVarious3 episodesThe Troubleshooters Robert Driscoll10 episodes1966Drama 61-67Monty MaysEpisode: "Drama '66: A Hero of Modern Industry"1969ChronicleThomas BecketEpisode: "Henry"1971DoomwatchDr. CarsonEpisode: "The Iron Doctor"Public Eye Gerald Gurney-SmithEpisode: "A Mug Named Frank"1972OmnibusJohn StanleyEpisode: "Actor, I Said"Thirty-Minute TheatrePhilEpisode: "The Sit In"1972-1992Van der ValkSimon 'Piet' Van der Valk1973ITV Saturday Night TheatreJohn DixonEpisode: "Pleased to Meet You"Divorce His, Divorce Hers Donald TrentonTelevision films1974Fall of EaglesKaiser William II7 episodes1976-1982BBC2 PlayhouseVarious3 episodes1982Smiley's PeopleSaul Enderby2 episodesA Woman Called Golda Orde WingateTelevision film1984After Pilkington Derek Newhouse1985Bergerac Howard BaileyEpisode: "The Last Interview"1986Hotel du LacDavid SimmondsTelevision film1986-1987Screen TwoDerek/David Simmonds2 episodes1989Inspector Morse Sir Alexander ReeceEpisode: "The Last Enemy"1995The Wind in the Willows BoatmanTelevision film1999Roger RogerPieter Eugene6 episodes
Radio The Quarry (1965) – Douglas Shemley in BBC Radio drama World from Rough Stones trilogy (1974) - Lord John, with Nerys Hughes as Nora, Hugh Ross as Walter and Carole Boyd as Arabella, in BBC Radio 4 Drama production of novels by Malcolm Macdonald Sherlock Holmes (1978) – Sherlock Holmes, with David Buck as Dr. Watson The George Cragge series (1995-1999) – DCI Frank Jefferson A Fall of Moondust (1981) – Chief Engineer Jim Lawrence Space Force (1984–85) – Saxon Berry Swing Swing Together (1987) – Sergeant Cribb in BBC Radio 4 Saturday Night Theatre dramatisation of novel by Peter Lovesey
Sources BFI Film & TV Database
References
External links
Obituary in the Independent 2002 Obituary in the Telegraph 2002 Obituary at the BBC 2002