Frances Foster, actor, director and teacher died June 17, 1997 at Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage. She was 73. Born in Yonkers, New York, Ms. Foster’s career began after completing a three year scholarship at the American Theatre Wing Academy and continued until her untimely death. Ms. Foster most recently appeared as Sadie in the critically acclaimed play Having Our Say, in Chicago, on Broadway, and at The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angles. She was a founding member of the Negro Ensemble Company in New York and appeared in most of the productions which made NEC the national treasure it became. Ms. Foster was proclaimed by Mel Gussow of the New York Times as one of America’s finest actors. A few of her NEC productions were The First Breeze of Summer, The River Niger, The Styp of the Blind Pig and many, many more. Her other stage credits included Fences, A Raisin in the Sun, The Amen Corner, The Crucible, Boesman and Lena, Member of the Wedding and Do Lord Remember Me, for which she received an Audelco Award. Ms. Foster worked at the Alley Theatre in Houston, The Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., Center Stage in Baltimore and Seattle Repertory Theatre. Ms. Foster’s film credits include Spike Lee’s Clockers, Crooklyn and Malcolm X. In addition, she also appeared in The Juror, Distinguished Gentlemen, Piece of the Action, Five Corners and Cops and Robbers, just to name a few. Ms. Foster was proud to have been the first African American woman to ever appear in a commercial on national television. In addition to her stage, television and screen work, Ms. Foster sat on Council at Actors Equity, the highest governing body of that union; was very involved in the Civil Rights Movement and was a mentor and teacher to many young actors.

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