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Frances Foster
Frances Foster
Frances Foster
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Frances Helen Foster (née Brown; June 11, 1924 – June 17, 1997)[1][2] was an American film, television and stage actress. In addition to being an actress, Foster was also an award–winning stage director and an original member of the Negro Ensemble Company. Moreover, in 1955, she became the first African American to appear in a nationally broadcast television commercial.

Key Information

Life and career

[edit]

Foster was born in Yonkers, New York,[1] the daughter of George H. Brown, a postal worker, and Helen E. Lloyd.[3][4] From 1949 through 1952, she studied acting at American Theatre Wing in Manhattan; three years later, she made her stage debut as Dolly May in The Wisteria Trees at the City Center Theater.[5] That same year, several black-owned papers reported that Foster had, on Procter & Gamble's behalf, gained the distinction of being the first African American to appear in a nationally aired television commercial.[6] Many years later, in the days following her death, the New York Amsterdam News noted that Foster took great pride in being the one who had broken that barrier.[2]

Foster was an original member of the Negro Ensemble Company,[7][8], performing in over 25 of its productions from 1967 to 1986. She won a 1985 Obie Award for sustained excellence of performance. She was also a recipient of two AUDELCO Awards, one as an actress and the other as a director for work at the New Federal Theatre in Manhattan. In 1978, she received the best actress award for Do Lord Remember Me, and the best director award in 1983 for Hospice.[5]

Foster also appeared in several films, including Malcolm X, Crooklyn, and Clockers, as well as the recurring role of Vera on the soap opera Guiding Light from 1985 to 1994. She's also known for her appearance as Gertie Vinson in one of the most infamous episodes of Good Times, "The Dinner Party". (In that episode, the character of Gertie is forced to eat dog food.)

Personal life and death

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Foster was married at least three times. In 1941 she married Robert Standfield Foster, with whom she had one child, a son.[5] In June 1961, she married actor Roy Glenn.[9][10] From 1983 until her own death, she was married to Morton Goldsen, acquiring three stepchildren from his previous marriage in the process.[5]

On June 17, 1997, at age 73, Foster died of a cerebral hemorrhage at Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. In lieu of flowers being sent, Foster left instructions that donations be made in her name to Hale House in New York City, as well as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.[2][11] On September 15 a memorial service was conducted in Harlem at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.[12] Foster's remains are interred at the Pine Lawn Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York.[2]

Selected credits

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Theatre

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Year Production Role Theatre(s) Notes
1996 The Juror Housewife, Juror
1995 Having Our Say[13] Miss Sadie Delany (standby) Booth Theatre
The Young Man from Atlanta[14] Clara Signature Theatre
1992 Malcolm X Woman Outside Audubon Ballroom
1990 Ground People[15] Viola America Place Theatre
1986 House of Shadows[16] Cassie America Place Theatre
1982 Do Lord Remember Me[17] Unknown American Place Theatre
1980 Zooman and the Sign[18] Ash Boswell Theatre Four
1978 Nevis Mountain Dew[19] Everelda Philibert Griffin St. Mark's Playhouse 1979 Drama Desk Award nomination, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play[20]
1975 The First Breeze of Summer[21] Gremmer Palace Theatre
1972 The River Niger[22][23][24] Grandma Wilhelmina Brown St. Mark's Playhouse[22]
Brooks Atkinson Theatre[23][24] 		Originally an Off-Broadway production that was transferred to Broadway.[22][23][24]
1971 Rosalee Pritchett[25] Rosalee 'Rose' Pritchett St. Mark's Playhouse
1970 The Good Woman of Setzuan[26] Mrs. Mi Tzu Vivian Beaumont Theater
1968 Kongi's Harvest[27] Ogbo Aweri
Segi 		St. Mark's Playhouse
1965 Day of Absence[28] Supervisor
Aide 		St. Mark's Playhouse Program of two one-act plays by Douglas Turner Ward.
Happy Ending[28] Vi St. Mark's Playhouse Program of two one-act plays by Douglas Turner Ward.
1963 The Last Minstrel[29] Mrs. Ash Pocket Theatre
1959 A Raisin in the Sun[30] Ruth Younger (understudy)
Beneatha Younger (understudy) 		Ethel Barrymore Theatre
Belasco Theatre
1956 Take a Giant Step[31] Violet Jan Hus Playhouse
1955 The Wisteria Trees[5] Dolly May City Center Theater

References

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Frances Foster

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Frances Foster (June 11, 1924 – June 17, 1997), born Frances Helen Brown, was an American actress and theater director renowned for her foundational role in African American theater. She co-founded the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) in 1967 alongside Douglas Turner Ward and Robert Hooks, an institution dedicated to producing works by and about Black Americans, where she performed in over 25 productions and directed several others until 1986. Foster's career spanned stage, film, and television, emphasizing authentic portrayals of Black experiences amid limited mainstream opportunities during the civil rights era. Trained at the American Theatre Wing from 1949 to 1952, Foster debuted professionally in 1955 in a revival of The Wisteria Trees and understudied lead roles in the original Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun (1959). Early breakthroughs included appearances in Douglas Turner Ward's satirical plays Day of Absence and Happy Ending (1965), which highlighted racial dynamics and influenced the development of Black theater ensembles. Her directing work, such as Hospice (1983) at the New Federal Theatre, earned her an AUDELCO Award for best direction. In film, Foster appeared in supporting roles across decades, notably in three Spike Lee productions: Malcolm X (1992), Crooklyn (1994), and Clockers (1995). On television, she had recurring roles in soap operas like Guiding Light (1988–1994) and guest spots in series such as Law & Order. Foster received the Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance in 1985, along with multiple AUDELCO honors, recognizing her versatility and commitment to elevating Black narratives in theater and beyond.

Early Life and Education

Birth and Family Background

Frances Foster was born Frances Helen Brown on June 11, 1924, in Yonkers, New York. She was the daughter of George H. Brown, a postal worker, and Helen E. Lloyd. Foster was raised in Yonkers, where her family resided during her early years. Limited public records detail her siblings, though she had at least one sister, Beverly Tate.

Training in Acting

Foster received formal training in acting at the American Theatre Wing in Manhattan, studying there from 1949 to 1952. This program equipped her with essential performance techniques, enabling her subsequent entry into professional theatre. No additional formal acting education is documented prior to her 1955 stage debut in The Wisteria Trees.

Theatre Career

Early Stage Work and Breakthroughs

Foster made her professional stage debut in 1955, portraying Dolly May in the revival of The Wisteria Trees at New York City Center, a production that ran from February 2 to February 13. This appearance marked her entry into New York theatre following training at the American Theatre Wing from 1949 to 1952. In 1959, Foster served as understudy for the roles of Ruth Younger and Beneatha Younger in the original Broadway production of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, which ran from March 11, 1959, to June 25, 1960. She performed the lead role of Ruth Younger during the run, contributing to one of the first Broadway plays written by a Black woman and a landmark in African American theatre. A significant early breakthrough came in 1965 when Foster appeared in a double bill of Douglas Turner Ward's Day of Absence and Happy Ending at St. Mark's Playhouse. These satirical works highlighted racial dynamics in America and gained attention for Ward's innovative approach, paving the way for expanded opportunities in Black theatre; Day of Absence later became a cornerstone production for the Negro Ensemble Company. Her involvement underscored her growing presence in productions addressing Black experiences prior to the formal establishment of major ensembles dedicated to such works.

Involvement with Negro Ensemble Company

Frances Foster co-founded the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) in 1967 alongside Douglas Turner Ward and Robert Hooks, establishing it as a professional theatre ensemble dedicated to producing works by and about Black Americans. The company's inception addressed the underrepresentation of Black talent in mainstream theatre, providing a platform for original plays and training opportunities amid the civil rights era's push for cultural autonomy. Foster remained actively involved with the NEC from its founding through 1986, performing in over 25 productions and contributing to its reputation for innovative, ensemble-driven works. Notable roles included her appearance in the 1969 premiere of Man Better Man by Errol John, the 1970 revival of Douglas Turner Ward's Day of Absence, and the 1978 production of Nevis Mountain Dew by N. Richard Nash. She also featured in the NEC's 1976 Broadway transfer of The First Breeze of Summer by Leslie Lee, which highlighted the company's ability to elevate Black narratives to larger audiences. Her sustained contributions earned Foster an Obie Award in 1985 for Sustained Excellence of Performance, recognizing her versatility and commitment to the ensemble's artistic standards. Through these efforts, Foster helped cultivate a generation of Black theatre artists, fostering plays that emphasized authentic cultural experiences over assimilationist tropes prevalent in broader industry offerings.

Directing Achievements and Notable Productions

Foster directed the play Hospice in 1983 at the New Federal Theatre in New York City, a production that explored themes of terminal illness and family dynamics within an African-American context. For this work, she received the AUDELCO Award for best direction, recognizing her ability to elicit nuanced performances from the cast. Her directing career also included stagings at prominent institutions such as Lincoln Center Theater and La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, where she contributed to experimental and culturally significant works emphasizing authentic emotional depth and precise casting choices. These efforts underscored her transition from acting to behind-the-scenes leadership in Black theatre, building on her foundational role in the Negro Ensemble Company.

Film and Television Career

Soap Opera Roles

Foster's most prominent soap opera role was as Vera on Guiding Light, where she appeared in 14 episodes from 1988 to 1994. This recurring character contributed to her visibility in daytime television during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In addition to Guiding Light, Foster made guest appearances on several other soap operas, including One Life to Live, Ryan's Hope, and All My Children. These roles, though not recurring to the extent of her work on Guiding Light, underscored her versatility in the genre, often portraying supporting characters in ongoing narratives of family drama and interpersonal conflict typical of daytime serials.

Feature Films and Guest Appearances

Foster's feature film roles began early in her career with the supporting part of Poppy in the drama Take a Giant Step (1959). She continued appearing in films sporadically through the 1970s, including uncredited or minor roles in Cops and Robbers (1973) and as Sylvie in the horror film Legacy of Blood (1974), followed by Bea Quitman in the comedy A Piece of the Action (1977). In the 1980s, Foster took on parts such as Elva Briggs in the action thriller Enemy Territory (1987) and appeared in Five Corners (1988) and Streets of Gold (1986). Her film work gained prominence in the 1990s with roles in The Distinguished Gentleman (1992), and especially in three Spike Lee-directed productions: as the Woman Outside Audubon Ballroom in the biopic Malcolm X (1992), Aunt Song in the semi-autobiographical family drama Crooklyn (1994), and Gloria in the crime story Clockers (1995). She rounded out her film credits with a role as Housewife in The Juror (1996). Beyond feature films, Foster made guest appearances in non-soap television productions, including the PBS series Our Street (1971–1975), the miniseries King (1978) about Martin Luther King Jr., and North and South (1985). She portrayed Great-Grandmother Jeffers in the TV movie The House of Dies Drear (1984) and First Annie Lee Moss in the HBO biopic Citizen Cohn (1992). Additional guest spots included episodes of Law & Order in the 1990s and Commander Della Thorne in Viper (1994).

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Frances Foster married Robert Standfield Foster in 1941; the couple had one son, Terrell Foster, who resided in San Francisco at the time of her death. Robert Foster predeceased her in 1977. She remarried Morton Goldsen, with whom she lived for 14 years until her passing in 1997; Goldsen had three children from a prior marriage and six grandchildren. She was also survived by a sister.

Health Issues and Death

Frances Foster died on June 17, 1997, six days after her 73rd birthday, from a cerebral hemorrhage at Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. She had traveled to Virginia to attend her stepgrandson's high school graduation, where the sudden onset of the hemorrhage occurred. Friends and colleagues, including actress Hattie Winston, confirmed the cause of death, noting no prior public reports of chronic health conditions contributing to the event. Her passing was mourned by the theater community, particularly the Negro Ensemble Company, where she had been a founding member and key figure for decades.

Legacy and Recognition

Awards and Honors

Foster received the Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance in 1985, recognizing her off-Broadway contributions over multiple years. She earned two AUDELCO Awards, which honor achievements in Black theater: one for her performance in Do Lord Remember Me and another for directing Hospice in 1983, the latter shared with Bette Howard. In 1987, Foster was presented with the Adolph Caesar Award by the Negro Ensemble Company for her artistic achievements. Additional recognition included a 1979 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play and a shared Drama Logue Award in 1996 for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in Having Our Say alongside Lynne Thigpen.

Impact on African-American Theatre

Foster's co-founding of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) in 1967 alongside Robert Hooks and Douglas Turner Ward established a pivotal institution dedicated to authentic portrayals of African-American life, producing works that highlighted Black experiences and launched careers of numerous performers. Her sustained involvement with the NEC from 1967 to 1986, including appearances in over 25 productions such as Man Better Man (1969), Day of Absence (1970), Nevis Mountain Dew (1978), and the Broadway transfer of The First Breeze of Summer (1975), contributed to the company's reputation for high-quality, culturally resonant theatre that challenged prevailing stereotypes. This body of work helped elevate African-American theatre's visibility on national stages, fostering opportunities for Black artists in an era when such platforms were scarce. In addition to acting, Foster's directing efforts further advanced Black theatre; she helmed Hospice at the New Federal Theatre in 1983, earning an AUDELCO Award for Best Director, which recognized her skill in staging narratives relevant to African-American audiences. Her 1985 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence underscored decades of excellence in off-Broadway and regional productions, including AUDELCO honors for Best Actress in Do Lord Remember Me (1978) and a 1979 Drama Desk nomination for Nevis Mountain Dew. These achievements not only enriched the repertoire of Black-centered plays but also provided mentorship and pathways for emerging talent, influencing subsequent generations as evidenced by the NEC's enduring model for ensemble-driven, culturally specific productions.
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