Phil Foster (March 29, 1913 – July 8, 1985) played the part of Frank DeFazio, Laverne's father and owner of The Pizza Bowl in Milwaukee, and then later, Cowboy Bill's in California, on Laverne & Shirley, which was his best known Hollywood acting role.
It was producer Garry Marshall, an old friend whom he helped get started as a comedy writer for Joey Bishop and other entertainers, who lured him again to Hollywood, first to appear in ABC-TV's The Odd Couple and then to co-star in Laverne & Shirley, at which time he was living in Fort Lee, New Jersey.[1]
Life and career[]
Born Fivel Feldman in New York City, Phil was a motion picture and television performer, best remembered for the role of Frank De Fazio on the TV sitcom series Laverne and Shirley.
Early career[]
Phil took his stage name's surname from Foster Avenue in Brooklyn. He had his first taste of performing when he was a child, when he and his pals began singing and dancing in front of movie theatres. Then he began appearing in amateur shows, competing for prizes. With him on occasion was another beginner named Jackie Gleason. At this time he began performing as a comic in night clubs by the mid-late 1930s.
Phil also started acting in the dramatic field, playing in halls, back rooms and wherever possible during a period when theatres weren't available. "We did all sorts of plays, including all of Clifford Odets' early works — for $28 to $35 a week, living three in a room eating — if there was any food around" he recalled. After serving the US Army during World War II, he returned to acting and appeared in series of short films for Universal Studios such as Battle of the Bulge (1951), Brooklyn Goes South (1952) and Conquest of Space (1955). He also at this time become a variety show favorite with an act comprising stories based on his curious childhood in Brooklyn. During the 1950s Foster made several comedy short subjects for Universal-International as "Brooklyn's Ambassador to the World". Because of his popularity he was chosen by George Pal to be one of the military space crewman on a trip to Mars in Conquest of Space.
Later acting credits[]
His other movie credits include The Patsy (1964), Hail (1973), Bang a Drum Slowly (1973) and The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington" (1977). For television, his other credits included The Patty Duke Show, The Odd Couple, The Love Boat, Blansky's Beauties and Fantasy Island.
Death[]
Foster died from a myocardial infraction in Rancho Mirage, CA, at age 72.[2]
References[]
- ↑ Kraushar, Jonathan P.. ""Bergen: Comics' Haven"", The New York Times (.com). Retrieved on August 14, 2017.
- ↑ Seller, Michael. ""Veteran Comic and TV Actor Phil Foster, 72"", Los Angeles Times, July 9, 1985. Retrieved on August 14, 2017.
External links[]
Phil Foster at the Internet Movie Database
Phil Foster at Find a Grave Memorial- Phil Foster article at Wikipedia
