Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: No known aliases

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Columbus, Ohio, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 14

TV Involvements: 1


Most Famous Work

Biography

Foster Phinney dedicated much of his life to the motion picture business. Fresh out of high school, his suave and sophisticated appearance made it possible for him to break into the film business. He started appearing in scenes that required dress extras while still collecting an occasional paycheck as a soldier. Phinney faces an unusual problem, his elegant appearance made him an unlikely candidate to appear in the trenches in Hollywood's war time films but it enabled him to appear in socialite scenes that usually required much older men. This led him to garnering work as a stand-in in films in the 1940s and 1950s. By the time the 1950s rolled around, Phinney got his big break. He became the regular stand-in for Kirk Douglas. Douglas was so kind to him that Douglas considered him his good luck charm and gave him little roles in all of his films. While his work was steady, it was Douglas who got Phinney steady work as an assistant director. This began a second career where he worked as the assistant director on many shows including The Beverly Hillbillies where he had a character named after him. In the late 1970s, Phinney decided to retire leaving behind a multifaceted career which included being an extra, a bit part actor, an assistant director, and even a director.

Most Famous Work

All About Eve
Average
8

All About Eve

(1950) Sarah Siddons Awards Guest (uncredited)
The Country Girl
Average
7

The Country Girl

(1954) Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Affair in Trinidad
Average
6

Affair in Trinidad

(1952) Party Guest (uncredited)
Experiment Perilous
Average
6

Experiment Perilous

(1944) Party Guest (uncredited)
Deception
Average
7

Deception

(1946) Concertgoer (uncredited)
The Merry Widow
Average
6

The Merry Widow

(1952) Reception Guest (uncredited)
Humoresque
Average
7

Humoresque

(1947) Party Guest (uncredited)
The Crooked Web
Average
6

The Crooked Web

(1955) Bar Patron (uncredited)

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
1958 Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1956 Party Guest (uncredited)
1955 Card Player at Barbershop (uncredited)
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1954 Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1953 Ship Passenger (uncredited)
1952 Reception Guest (uncredited)
Party Guest (uncredited)
N/A
1951 Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1950 Sarah Siddons Awards Guest (uncredited)
Party Guest (uncredited)
1947 Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Party Guest (uncredited)
1946 Concertgoer (uncredited)
N/A
1945 N/A
Club Patron (uncredited)
1944 Party Guest (uncredited)
Year Character Movie/Tv

Production

Year Role Movie/Tv
1977 Production Manager
Year Role Movie/Tv

Directing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1977 First Assistant Director
1973 Assistant Director
1972 Assistant Director
Assistant Director
Year Role Movie/Tv

Join the discussion

Please Log in to comment