Charles Foster, English-born Canadian writer and publicist, Died at 94

  Media, Writer

Charles Basil Foster was born on January 17, 1923, in Cheshire, England and died on April 23, 2017.

He was an English-born Canadian publicist, newspaper editor, author and songwriter.

In World War II he was a pilot with the Royal Air Force.

The RAF moved him to a base in Alberta, Canada for flight training and while on leave he visited Hollywood.

Now, he met Sidney Olcott, a Canadian-born silent film star who introduced him to numerous other expatriate Canadian actors in Hollywood including Mary Pickford.

When the war was over, Foster used these contacts to begin a career as a publicist in London and in Hollywood, working for such well-known performers as Marilyn Monroe, Richard Burton, Boris Karloff, Errol Flynn and Benny Hill.

Foster was also a songwriter, contributing such titles as “Goodnight Till Tomorrow” (as Basil Foster) for Issy Bonn and others.

He then became a writer for comedians in the 1960s including Bob Hope and Jack Benny and contributed scripts to a number of 1960s sitcoms including The Beverly Hillbillies.

Charles Foster passed away at 94 years old.