Oscar-nominated actor Robert Forster, best remembered for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, passed away on October 11, 2019, following a struggle with brain cancer. He was 78 years old.
Born in Rochester, New York in 1941, Forster earned his Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Rochester in 1964. Although he initially intended to study law, after appearing in such student performances as Bye Bye Birdie, Forster decided to pursue acting. The ruggedly handsome actor began his film career as an Army private in John Huston’s Reflections in a Golden Eye. He went on to play Army scout Nick Tana in The Stalking Moon before starring in the critically acclaimed Medium Cool alongside Verna Bloom, Peter Bonerz, and Marianna Hill.
Following appearances on such television series as Banyon and Nakia, Forster had lead roles in cult B-movies including Alligator, Vigilante, The Delta Force, and The Banker. Forster’s career saw a revival after starring as melancholy bail bondsman Max Cherry in Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. The part was written especially for Forster and earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1997. Thereafter he had consistent work, appearing in such films as Like Mike, Mulholland Drive, Me, Myself & Irene, Lucky Number Slevin, and Firewall.
Forster also starred in the television movie The Hunt for the BTK Killer, played baddie Arthur Petrelli in the hit NBC series Heroes, appeared as Tim Allen’s father on the Fox’s Last Man Standing, and starred in David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks: The Return. Forster also played Ed the “Disappearer,” who was tasked with giving Walter White a new identity on the Emmy Award-winning AMC crime drama Breaking Bad. He reprised this role for the Netflix spinoff feature El Camino, which was released on the day of his death.
He is survived by Denise Grayson, his partner of 16 years; a son from a previous relationship, Bobby Foster; three daughters from his first marriage, Elizabeth Foster Howell, Maeghen Perry Dimperio, and Kate Forster Simmons; and four grandchildren.
