Gloria Foster, a renowned actress, is best known for her iconic role as The Oracle in The Matrix (1999) and The Matrix Reloaded (2003),but her illustrious career spanned an impressive four decades on stage and screen.
Born on November 15, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, Foster was placed in the custody of her grandparents and raised on a farm. She later returned to Chicago to attend the University of Illinois, where she discovered her passion for acting. Foster's breakthrough came when she was accepted into the prestigious Goodman Theatre in Chicago, performing on various stages around the city before moving to New York City in the early 1960s.
In New York, Foster made her stage debut in "A Raisin in the Sun" and went on to win an Obie Award for her outstanding performance in "In White America," where she portrayed 27 different characters. Her remarkable talent earned her a two-page article in Life Magazine, and she soon became a sought-after actress, often being written roles specifically for her. Throughout her career, Foster won a total of four Obie Awards, including two for her performances in "A Raisin in the Sun" and "Having Our Say" in 1995.
Foster's first film role was in The Cool World (1963),where she met her future husband, actor-director Clarence Williams III. The couple married but later divorced, and Foster never remarried.
Foster's film work was limited, with notable roles in Nothing But a Man (1964),The Comedians (1967),The Angel Levine (1970),Man and Boy (1971),Leonard Part 6 (1987),City of Hope (1991),and, of course, her iconic appearances in The Matrix trilogy.
In addition to her film work, Foster appeared in various television shows, including I Spy (1965),Mod Squad (1968),The Bill Cosby Show (1969),The White Shadow (1978),The Cosby Show (1984),Law & Order (1990),and Soul Food (2000). She also starred in several television movies, including The House of Dies Drear (1984) and the Golden Globe-nominated Separate But Equal (1991).
Foster returned to the stage in 1995, co-starring with Mary Alice in "Having Our Say." Tragically, she passed away on September 29, 2001, at the age of 67, due to complications from diabetes.
