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Robert Foulk was an American character actor prominent in film and television throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Born on May 5, 1908, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to railroad agent Miller Foulk and Alice Casselberry, he initially studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. During his time there, he developed an interest in theatre and made his Broadway debut at age 23 as Jake Canon in "As Husbands Go." He reprised this role two years later and supported his acting career by casting road companies for Broadway productions and working with show press agents. While playing Watson Brown in the Broadway production "John Brown," he formed a friendship with renowned director-producer-actor George Abbott. This connection led to steady work under Abbott in successful Broadway plays such as "Boy Meets Girl," "Brother Rat," and "Room Service," where Foulk understudied for Eddie Albert.
An introduction to Bette Davis resulted in Foulk being hired by Warner Bros., not as an actor but as a dialog director. Relocating to Hollywood in 1939, he served in this role on films including The Sea Hawk (1940) and The Maltese Falcon (1941). In 1942, Foulk joined the U.S. Army Air Forces and was assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit in Culver City, California, producing training films. After his discharge in 1946, he worked as a dialog director for Cecil B. DeMille on Unconquered (1947) and made his non-military film acting debut in Road House (1948).
Foulk became a recognizable character actor, frequently portraying police officers, sheriffs in Westerns, thugs, and other roles often characterized by limited intelligence. His television appearances included recurring roles on series such as Lassie (1954), Bonanza (1959), The Rifleman (1958), Father Knows Best (1954), and as Curly Bill Brocius on Tombstone Territory (1957). Alongside his acting career, Foulk continued practicing architecture, designing homes including one for playwright Sam Spewack. He also participated in local theatre in the Los Angeles area but never returned to Broadway.
Foulk was briefly married to actress Alice Frost in 1933 before marrying actress Barbara Slater in 1947. The couple had one daughter, June Landis Foulk, born on July 20, 1948. Robert Foulk passed away on February 25, 1989.
