---
name: "Barry Foster"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/barry-foster"
fi1m_id: "barry-foster"
imdb_id: "nm0287687"
tmdb_id: 8225
wikidata_id: "Q291002"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "21 August 1927"
died: "11 February 2002"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-05T04:35:02.192936+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Barry Foster

## Identity

Barry Foster

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/barry-foster
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** barry-foster
- **IMDb ID:** nm0287687
- **TMDB ID:** 8225
- **Wikidata ID:** Q291002
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Foster_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291002, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0287687/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8225

Actor. Born 21 August 1927 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England, UK. Died 11 February 2002.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 21 August 1927, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England, UK
- **Died:** 11 February 2002
- **Active:** 1972–1987
- **Also known as:** John Barry Foster
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Foster_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q291002, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0287687/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/8225

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Maurice*](https://film.one/film/maurice.md) (83)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Barry Foster was an English actor. Born John Barry Foster in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, he trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

He appeared in films including *Battle of Britain* (1969), *Ryan's Daughter* (1970), *Frenzy* (1972) as Robert "Bob" Rusk, *The Wild Geese* (1978) and *Maurice* (1987) as Dean Cornwallis. He played the title role in the television series *Van der Valk* (1972–1992).

Foster also worked extensively in theatre, radio and television over a career spanning nearly fifty years. He died in 2002.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, screenonline.org.uk.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Maurice* (1987), Fi1m 83, as Dean Cornwallis — [page](https://film.one/film/maurice.md)
- *Smiley's People* (1982), Fi1m 82, as Saul Enderby — [page](https://film.one/tv/smileys-people.md)

## Complete filmography (80)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Rancid Aluminium* (2000), as Doctor
- *Joseph Losey: The Man with Four Names* (1998), Actor
- *Roger Roger* (1998), series, as Pieter Eugene
- *The Wind in the Willows* (1995), as Boatman (voice)
- *Party Time* (1992), as Gavin
- *A Curious Suicide* (1990), as Roger
- *King of the Wind* (1990), as Mr. Williams
- *Chillers* (1990), series, as Roger
- *Maurice* (1987), as Dean Cornwallis — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/maurice.md)
- *Succubus* (1987), as Mike
- *Three Kinds of Heat* (1987), as Norris
- *After Pilkington* (1987), as Derek
- *The Whistle Blower* (1986), as Charles Grieg
- *Hotel du Lac* (1986), as David Simmonds
- *Function Room* (1985), series, Actor
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Derek, David Simmonds
- *To Catch a King* (1984), as Max Winter
- *Dalgliesh* (1983), series, as Maxim Howarth
- *Death of an Expert Witness* (1983), series, as Dr. Maxim Howarth
- *Heat and Dust* (1983), as Major Minnies
- *Smiley's People* (1982), series, as Saul Enderby — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/smileys-people.md)
- *A Woman Called Golda* (1982), as Major Orde Wingate
- *How Many Miles to Babylon?* (1982), as Major Glendinning
- *Bergerac* (1981), series, as Howard Bailey
- *Random Moments in a May Garden* (1981), as David
- *Beyond the Next Mountain* (1981), as Alan Montforce
- *Rabbit Pie Day* (1980), as The Major
- *The Rear Column* (1980), as Barttelot
- *Danger on Dartmoor* (1980), as Mr. Green
- *A Family Affair* (1979), series, as Richard Barnes
- *The Wild Geese* (1978), as Thomas Balfour
- *The Three Hostages* (1977), as Richard Hannay
- *Premiere* (1977), series, as Major
- *Sweeney!* (1977), as Elliott McQueen
- *Orde Wingate* (1976), as Orde Wingate
- *Practical Experience* (1976), as Bellamy
- *Old Times* (1975), as Deeley
- *The Last Word* (1975), as Edward
- *A Quiet Day in Belfast* (1974), as John Slattery
- *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Bellamy, David, Maj. Glendinning
- *Divorce His, Divorce Hers* (1973), series, as Donald Trenton
- *Divorce His - Divorce Hers* (1973), as Donald Trenton
- *Van der Valk* (1972), series, as Commissaris Simon "Piet" Van der Valk
- *Frenzy* (1972), as Robert "Bob" Rusk
- *Adventures of a Brown Man in Search of Civilization* (1972), as Narrator (voice)
- *Ryan's Daughter* (1970), as Tim O'Leary
- *Doomwatch* (1970), series, as Dr. Carson
- *Battle of Britain* (1969), as Sqd. Leader Edwards
- *The Guru* (1969), as Chris
- *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as John Dixon
- *Twisted Nerve* (1968), as Gerry Henderson
- *Inspector Clouseau* (1968), as Addison Steele
- *Omnibus* (1967), series, as John Stanley
- *Robbery* (1967), as Frank
- *The Family Way* (1966), as Joe Thompson
- *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as Phil
- *The Troubleshooters* (1965), series, as Robert Driscoll
- *The Interior Decorator* (1965), as Bellamy
- *Public Eye* (1965), series, as Gerald Gurney-Stuart
- *King and Country* (1964), as Lt. Webb
- *Thursday Theatre* (1964), series, as Jeff Smith
- *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Dan Sankey, Squadron-Leader Phil Osborne, Bellamy
- *Espionage* (1963), series, as Gerry Paynter
- *Playback* (1962), as Dave Hollis
- *Where the Difference Begins* (1961), as Richard
- *Sir Francis Drake* (1961), series, as Tom Brewster
- *Drama 61-67* (1961), series, as Monty Mays
- *Maigret* (1960), series, Actor
- *Surprise Package* (1960), as US Marshal
- *Sunday-Night Play* (1960), series, Actor
- *Worm in the Bud* (1959), as Edgar Malone
- *The Siege of Pinchgut* (1959), as Navy Rating (Uncredited)
- *Sea of Sand* (1958), as Cpl. Matheson
- *Sea Fury* (1958), as Vincent
- *Dunkirk* (1958), as Don R
- *Nicholas Nickleby* (1957), series, as Frank Cheeryble
- *Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst* (1957), as Petty Officer McCarthy
- *The Battle of the River Plate* (1956), as Bill Roper - Capt. Bell's Messenger, HMS Exeter
- *The Baby and the Battleship* (1956), as First Sailor at Dance
- *Sunday Night Theatre* (1950), series, as Trooper Bates · Supply Assistant Brooker, Tim Smith

## Gallery

- ![Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Opnamen voor Engelse TV-serie Comm. van der Valk in cafe Joop Heuvel t (1972)](https://film.one/media/person/286653/gallery-9210b3c5f735.jpg) Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Opnamen voor Engelse TV-serie Comm. van der Valk in cafe Joop Heuvel t (1972) — W. Punt for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Opnamen_voor_Engelse_TV-serie_Comm_van_der_Valk_in_cafe_Joop_Heuvel_te_Amsterda%2C_Bestanddeelnr_925-7952.jpg/1280px-Opnamen_voor_Engelse_TV-serie_Comm_van_der_Valk_in_cafe_Joop_Heuvel_te_Amsterda%2C_Bestanddeelnr_925-7952.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Barry Foster](https://film.one/media/person/286653/gallery-a2855c7f8418.jpg) Barry Foster — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/barry-foster