Robert Wallace Foster Jr., known professionally as Robert Forster, was born in Rochester, New York, to Grace Dorothy Montanarella and Robert Wallace Foster Sr., who worked as an elephant trainer and baking supply company executive. He had English, Irish, and Italian ancestry. Forster developed an interest in acting during his high school years at Madison High School, where he performed in musical revues as a song-and-dance man.
After graduating in 1959, Forster attended Heidelberg College, Alfred University, and the University of Rochester on football scholarships, continuing to perform in student theatrical revues. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Rochester in 1963.
Forster began his professional career with an apprenticeship at an East Rochester theater, where he performed in plays such as "West Side Story." He moved to New York City in 1965 and landed the lead in the two-character play "Mrs. Dally Has a Lover" opposite Arlene Francis. However, after the play concluded, he struggled to find consistent work in the theater.
Forster returned to Rochester, where he worked as a substitute teacher and construction worker until an agent from 20th Century-Fox offered him a five-picture deal. His film debut was a small role in the drama "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967),starring Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando.
Forster continued to appear in small and minor roles in films like "The Stalking Moon" (1968),"Medium Cool" (1969),and "Justine" (1969). He also took the lead in the short-lived TV series "Banyon" (1971). In the 1970s, Forster appeared in notable parts in "The Black Hole" (1979),"Avalanche" (1978),and the cult horror film "Alligator" (1980).
In the 1980s, Forster's career began to decline, and he was cast in small parts playing villains. He then started working as a motivational speaker and an acting coach in Hollywood film schools. However, his career was revitalized in the mid-1990s by writer-director Quentin Tarantino, who offered him a role in his film "Jackie Brown" (1997).
Forster's performance in "Jackie Brown" earned him an Academy Award nomination and recognition within the industry. He went on to appear in high-profile films such as "All the Rage" (1999),"Psycho" (1998),and "Supernova" (2000). Forster continued to act in big-budget Hollywood productions for the next two decades.
Robert Forster passed away on October 11, 2019, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 78. His final film, "El Camino" (2019),was released on the day of his death. He is survived by his four children, four grandchildren, and his long-time partner, Denise Grayson.
