Norman Foster
Biography
Norman Foster was an American film director and actor who was born as John Hoeffer on December 13, 1903, in Richmond, Indiana, and died on July 7, 1976. Early in his career, he worked as a cub reporter on a local newspaper in Indiana before traveling to New York to find a better newspaper job. After finding no vacancies and visiting theatrical agencies, he secured stage work, later appearing on Broadway in the 1929 George S. Kaufman and Ring Lardner play June Moon. He also acted in London, England. His transition into film began with crowd scenes before he advanced to larger roles. His film acting credits include Prosperity in 1932, Pilgrimage in 1933, and Rafter Romance in 1933 with Ginger Rogers.
Career overview
Norman Foster was an American film director and actor who was born as John Hoeffer in Richmond, Indiana, on December 13, 1903. Before entering the entertainment industry, he worked as a cub reporter on a local newspaper in Indiana. He subsequently traveled to New York in hopes of securing a better newspaper job, but finding no vacancies, he approached several theatrical agencies. This effort led to stage work, and he later appeared on Broadway in the 1929 George S. Kaufman and Ring Lardner play June Moon. In addition to his Broadway work, he acted in London, England.
His film career began with work in crowd scenes before he transitioned into larger roles. Among his film acting credits are Prosperity in 1932, Pilgrimage in 1933, and Rafter Romance in 1933 alongside Ginger Rogers. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 112 known credits, with a primary focus on directing. Norman Foster passed away on July 7, 1976, at the age of 72.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Other Side of the Wind (2018) as Billy Boyle
- They'll Love Me When I'm Dead (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- The Green Hornet (2005) Director
- It's All True (1993) Director
- Crazy Horse and Custer: The Untold Story (1990) Director
- Woman in the Rain (1976) as Assistant Director for HighShine
- The Green Hornet (1974) Director
- Double Solitaire (1974) as Ernest Potter
- The Deathhead Virgin (1974) Director
- Play It as It Lays (1972) as Abortionist
- Cannon (1971)
- The Legend of Custer (1968) Director
- Custer (1967) Director
- Batman (1966) Director
- The Green Hornet (1966) Director
- The Monroes (1966) Director
- Brighty of the Grand Canyon (1966) Writer
- Brighty of the Grand Canyon (1966) Director
- The Loner (1965) Director
- Indian Paint (1965) Director
- Indian Paint (1965) Screenplay
- The New Loretta Young Show (1962) Director
- Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates (1962) Director
- Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates (1962) Teleplay
- Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates (1962) Associate Producer
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1961) Director
- Adventures in Paradise (1959) Director
- Bat Masterson (1958) Director
- The Sign of Zorro (1958) Screenplay
- The Sign of Zorro (1958) Director
- The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca (1958) Director
- Zorro (1957) Director
- Zorro (1957) Writer
- Tombstone Territory (1957) Director
- Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956) Director
- Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956) Writer
- Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955) Director
- Davy Crockett Goes to Congress (1955) Director
- Davy Crockett at the Alamo (1955) Director
- Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race (1955) Director
- Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race (1955) Writer
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) Director
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) Writer
- Davy Crockett (1954) Director
- Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter (1954) Director
- The Disneyland Story (1954) as Self
- Letter to Loretta (1953) Director
- Sombrero (1953) Director
- Sombrero (1953) Screenplay
- Cavalcade of America (1952) Director
- Sky Full of Moon (1952) Director
- Sky Full of Moon (1952) Writer
- Navajo (1952) Writer
- Navajo (1952) Director
- Woman on the Run (1950) Director
- Woman on the Run (1950) Screenplay
- Father Is a Bachelor (1950) Director
- The Bewitched House (1949) Original Story
- Tell It to the Judge (1949) Director
- Rachel and the Stranger (1948) Director
- Kiss the Blood Off My Hands (1948) Director
- El canto de la sirena (1948) Director
- El canto de la sirena (1948) Writer
- El ahijado de la muerte (1946) Director
- The Hour of Truth (1945) Director
- The Hour of Truth (1945) Screenplay
- La Fuga (1944) Director
- La Fuga (1944) Writer
- Journey into Fear (1943) Director
- It's All True (1943) Director
- Santa (1943) Director
- Scotland Yard (1941) Director
- Ride, Kelly, Ride (1941) Director
- Charlie Chan in Panama (1940) Director
- Viva Cisco Kid (1940) Director
- Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (1939) Director
- Mr. Moto's Last Warning (1939) Director
- Mr. Moto's Last Warning (1939) Screenplay
- Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation (1939) Director
- Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation (1939) Screenplay
- Charlie Chan in Reno (1939) Director
- 20,000 Men a Year (1939) Assistant Director
- Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938) as Hoodlum in Tavern
- Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938) Screenplay
- Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938) Director
- Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (1938) Director
- Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (1938) Original Story
- Walking Down Broadway (1938) Director
- Sunday Night at the Trocadero (1937) as Norman Foster
- Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937) Director
- Think Fast, Mr. Moto (1937) Writer
- Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) Director
- Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) Screenplay
- Fair Warning (1937) Director
- Fair Warning (1937) Screenplay
- The Leavenworth Case (1936) as Detective Bob Grice
- Fatal Lady (1936) as Phillip Roberts
- Everybody's Old Man (1936) as Ronald Franklin
- High Tension (1936) as Eddie Mitchell
- I Cover Chinatown (1936) as Eddie Barton
- I Cover Chinatown (1936) Director
- Super Speed (1935) as Randy Rogers
- Ladies Crave Excitement (1935) as Don Phelan
- The Bishop Misbehaves (1935) as Donald Meadows
- Suicide Squad (1935) as Larry Barker
- The Hoosier Schoolmaster (1935) as Ralph Hartsook
- Behind the Evidence (1935) as Tony Sheridan
- Escape from Devil's Island (1935) as Andre Dion
- The Fire-Trap (1935) as Bill Farnsworth
- Behind the Green Lights (1935) as Detective Lt. Dave Britten
- Orient Express (1934) as Carlton Myatt
- Strictly Dynamite (1934) as Fleming
- Elinor Norton (1934) as Bill Foster
- Professional Sweetheart (1933) as Jim
- Rafter Romance (1933) as Jack
- Pilgrimage (1933) as Jim 'Jimmy' Jessop (Hannah's son)
- State Fair (1933) as Wayne Frake
- Walls of Gold (1933) as Barnes Ritchie
- Alias the Doctor (1932) as Stephan Brenner
- Skyscraper Souls (1932) as Tom Shepherd
- Under Eighteen (1932) as Alf
- The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood (1932) as Maurice Cohen
- Play Girl (1932) as Wallace 'Wally' Dennis
- Week-End Marriage (1932) as Ken Hayes
- Prosperity (1932) as John Warren
- Girl of the Rio (1932) as Johnny Powell
- Strange Justice (1932) as Wally Baker
- Steady Company (1932) as Jim
- Up Pops the Devil (1931) as Steve Merrick
- Men Call It Love (1931) as Jack
- Confessions of a Co-Ed (1931) as Hal Evans
- No Limit (1931) as Douglas Thayer
- Reckless Living (1931) as Doggie
- It Pays to Advertise (1931) as Rodney Martin
- Young Man of Manhattan (1930) as Toby McLean
- Gentlemen of the Press (1929) as Ted Hanley
- Love at First Sight (1929)