Person
Foster H. Phinney
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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 t…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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1977
Opening Night
Movie Production Manager
-
1977
The Death of Richie
Movie First Assistant Director
-
1973
Little Cigars
Movie Assistant Director
-
1972
Banacek
TV show Assistant Director
-
1972
The Woman I Love
Movie Assistant Director
-
1958
Twilight for the Gods
Movie Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
-
1958
The Colossus of New York
Movie
-
1957
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Movie Stand In
-
1956
High Society
Movie Party Guest (uncredited)
-
1955
Guys and Dolls
Movie Card Player at Barbershop (uncredited)
-
1955
The Crooked Web
Movie Bar Patron (uncredited)
-
1955
It's Always Fair Weather
Movie Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
-
1954
The Country Girl
Movie Theatre Patron (uncredited)
-
1954
Living It Up
Movie Wedding Guest (uncredited)
-
1953
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Movie Ship Passenger (uncredited)
-
1952
The Merry Widow
Movie Reception Guest (uncredited)
More credits
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1952
Affair in Trinidad
Movie Party Guest (uncredited)
-
1952
Don't Bother to Knock
Movie
-
1951
Let's Make It Legal
Movie Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
-
1951
Iron Man
Movie Fight Crowd Spectator (uncredited)
-
1950
All About Eve
Movie Sarah Siddons Awards Guest (uncredited)
-
1950
Louisa
Movie Party Guest (uncredited)
-
1948
Wallflower
Movie Night Club Patron (uncredited)
-
1947
Monsieur Verdoux
Movie Night Club Patron (uncredited)
-
1947
Humoresque
Movie Party Guest (uncredited)
-
1946
Deception
Movie Concertgoer (uncredited)
-
1946
The Bamboo Blonde
Movie Montgomery, Magazine Reporter (uncredited)
-
1946
Bedlam
Movie Lord Sandwich (uncredited)
-
1945
A Walk in the Sun
Movie
-
1945
Two O'Clock Courage
Movie Club Patron (uncredited)
-
1944
Experiment Perilous
Movie Party Guest (uncredited)
