Frank Dudley Foster (7 August 1924 – 8 January 1973) was an English actor.

Early life Frank Dudley Foster was born in Knaresborough, Yorkshire West Riding, England, on 7 August 1924, as the youngest child to Frank Geden Foster, a civil engineer, and his wife, Ruth Chapman (née Butler), a barmaid. He had two siblings, a brother, John Geden Foster, and a sister, Ruth Butler 'Jill' Foster. His family had established links with the theatre as both of his siblings also appeared on the stage.

Foster attended Pocklington School, a private school, in Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire. He began service as a navigator in the Royal Air Force when he left school. After he was demobbed, he studied chemistry at the University of Leeds.

Career Foster joined the recently formed Bradford Civic Playhouse Theatre School in 1948. After turning professional, he spent several successful years with Northern repertory companies. From the late 1950s and into the early 1960s, he was a member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, based at London's Theatre Royal Stratford East. In her autobiography, Joan's Book, Littlewood recalled that Foster had a wealthy father who financed some of the troupe's productions.

Foster appeared in The Night Walker in 1966.

Personal life Foster married Eileen Mary Kennally, an actress, in Sunderland, Durham, in April 1952. They had two sons together, Mark A Foster () and Benjamin Dudley Foster ().

Death On 8 January 1973, Foster died at his home 3 Holly Hill, Hampstead in Greater London. He was 48. His death was said to be a suicide by hanging. His body was discovered by his wife, Eileen. She found him hanging from the stairs at their home, cut him down with a bread knife and tried to revive him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. His father, who was said by a close family friend to be the driving force behind Foster in his career, had died at the age of 81, exactly a week before his son. The close family friend added: "He pushed Dudley on to better things and encouraged him all the way". He was buried at Hampstead Cemetery in West Hampstead, London.

Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1954Six Characters in Search of an AuthorThe Stage CarpenterTelevision film1955Fast and LooseEpisode: "Episode #2.4"Othello1956The Tamer TamedTelevision film1957No Road BackFingerprint Man1958The Two-Headed SpyGestapo AgentIncident at Echo SixSergeant CarmichaelTelevision film1958, 1960–1961, 1965Play of the WeekWarden Regan, Harry Smith, Inspector Beecroft, Sweeney4 episodes1959The Invisible ManCable Car OperatorEpisode: "Odds Against Death"Operation BullshineGunnerThe Four Just MenLuigiEpisode: "The Crying Jester"Interpol CallingKiller In HatEpisode: "Last Man Lucky"1959–1962ITV Television PlayhouseMr. Gregory, Bamford, Paul Munning, George, Harry5 episodes1960Scotland YardDetective Inspector HodgsonEpisode: "Special Duty"Man in the MoonN.A.R.S.T.I Security GuardJulius CaesarCasca2 episodesPolice SurgeonGeorge BatesEpisode: "Operation Mangle"Saturday PlayhouseHarry MigglewoodEpisode: "A Run for the Money"1960–1962BBC Sunday-Night PlayLance-Cpl. Broughton, Gherea, Ed Horner, Roberts, Mr. Miller5 episodes1960–1961, 1967, 1971Armchair TheatreHugo, George Gladwin, Tom Fenton4 episodes1961JangoStore ManagerEpisode: "The Itching Fingers of Lady Ffoukes"No ThoroughfareFotheringayTelevision filmSykes and a...Episode: "Sykes and a Surprise"Coronation StreetTom Hayes7 episodesEcho Four TwoTom DukesEpisode: "Frozen Fire"Ghost SquadVic DiamondEpisode: "The Eyes of the Bat"The Wakefield Shepherd's PlayFirst ShepherdShort film1962Term of TrialDet. Sgt. KiernanBootsie and SnudgeCapt. ChepstowEpisode: "The Importance of Being Jumbo"1962–1863, 1965Drama 61-67Gilbert Platt, Sam Carver, Inspector Morris3 episodes1962, 1964, 1971Z-CarsDet. Insp. Dunn, Supt. Dunn, Leonard Smith16 episodes1963It Happened Like ThisHickmanEpisode: "The Hill of Lions"The Plane MakersHarryEpisode: "The Silent and the Damned"RicochetPeter DexterMoonstrikePhilippeEpisode: "Round Trip"24-Hour CallGeorge ManningEpisode: "People Are So Kind"Zero OneAbdul PashaEpisode: "Triple Cross"FestivalEisenringEpisode: "The Fire Raisers"1963–1964First NightJohn Farley, Anderson2 episodes1963–1964Edgar Wallace MysteriesPeter Dexter, Philip Teasdale2 episodes1963, 1965, 1970Steptoe and SonMartin, Mr. Stonelake, Car Salesman, The Detective4 episodes1964Comedy PlayhouseMr. GibsonEpisode: "The Mascot"CraneCharlesEpisode: "Two Rings for Danger"Taxi!Eddie RyderEpisode: "We've Got to Live in the Winter"The Hidden TruthErnest MaletEpisode: "The Boiler Suite Shape"Story ParadeAdam HarpurEpisode: "A Dragon to Kill"1965The VillainsDave WilliamsEpisode: "Three to a Cell"The Sullavan BrothersRandEpisode: "The Gallows in My Garden"Thursday TheatreSgt. Maj. Tommy LodgeEpisode: "Celebration"The WorkerMr. GreyEpisode: "A Democratic Democratism"Never Mention MurderPhilip TeasdaleThe SaintJonesEpisode: "The Abductors"The Little OnesSupt. CarterSix of the BestOtto MulchroneEpisode: "Porterhouse: Private Eye"Here's HarryEpisode: "The Indentification Parade"A Study in TerrorHome SecretaryThe Mask of JanusErnest FoxEpisode: "The Public Interest"BlackmailJoe GriffinEpisode: "First Offender"Barney Is My DarlingEpisode: "The Twenty Six Year Itch"A Letter for LizVideo1965, 1967, 1969The AvengersPhilip Leas, Mr. Goat, Parker3 episodes1965, 1969The Wednesday PlayAntrobus, The Expert2 episodes1965–1966, 1972Public EyeMr. Paggot, Gordon Ansell, Major Thursby-Byers3 episodes1966Danger ManGiorgioEpisode: "The Contessa"Theatre 625KirillEpisode: "The Twelfth Hour"Three Rousing TinklesShort, Near, Sharp ManEpisode: "The Best I Can Do for You by Way of a Gate-leg Table Is a Hundred-weight of Coal"No Hiding PlaceBowdlerEpisode: "The Night Walker"CooperamaEpisode: "Episode Five"Bat Out of HellInspector Clay5 episodesHorizonEdward HastingsEpisode: "Hand Me My Sword, Humphrey"1966–1968Harry WorthBaker, William J. Rankin, Mr. Boothroyd, Neville Culpepper4 episodes1966, 1969Thirty-Minute TheatreFrank, Mr. Burton2 episodes1967Uncle CharlesC.S.M. LeeEpisode: "Gentle Counsels"Who Is Sylvia?Episode: "A Pool of Blood and a Red Carnation"The NewcomersMr. Fielding6 episodesMickey DunneSpecs LoganEpisode: "Over the Hill"The InformerJames HughesEpisode: "Here's Where Who Takes Over?"For Schools and Colleges: DramaBook-KeeperEpisode: "Bad Business"A Hundred Years of Humphrey HastingsHumphrey Hastings, Edward Hastings6 episodes1968City '68Jim RalstonEpisode: "The Old Country"The GamblersOther manEpisode: "Try a Little Tenderness"1968–1969Life with CooperVarious2 episodes1969Where's Jack?BlueskinDoctor WhoMaurice Caven5 episodesThe ExpertAlbert CarrEpisode: "Flesh and Blood"Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)George FosterEpisode: "All Work and No Pay"Moon Zero TwoWhitsun1970Foreign ExchangeLeoCodenameBaznaEpisode: "Have a Word with Greco"If It Moves, File ItFoster6 episodesThe Rise and Rise of Michael RimmerFedermanWuthering HeightsMr. GreenIt's a Terrible Waste of an EggHumphrey HastingsTelevision film1971Play for TodayDarklyEpisode: "Billy's Last Stand"That's Your FuneralGrimthorpe2 episodesCatweazleHector KenleyEpisode: "The Ghost Hunters"Birds on the WingSir George WestEpisode: "Episode #1.2"DulcimaSymesQuest for LoveGrimshawThe Rivals of Sherlock HolmesChief Supt. VyvyanEpisode: "The Duchess of Wiltshire's Diamonds"The Persuaders!HeatherEpisode: "Anyone Can Play"The Fenn Street GangMr. StringerEpisode: "All Mod Cons"I Can See It AllHumphrey HastingsTelevision film1972Jason KingAckroydIt's Murder But Is It ArtInspector Hook6 episodesFollow Me!Mr. MayhewEpisode: "An Author in Search of Two Characters"Stage 2Strange passenger, EberkopfEpisode: "Peer Gynt"Harriet's Back in TownStanley Pemberton2 episodesThat's Your FuneralGrimthorpe1973Mistress PamelaJonathanPosthumous release

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