1916-04-29 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 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.
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Twilight for the Gods | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1958-08-04 |
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High Society | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1956-07-17 |
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Guys and Dolls | Card Player at Barbershop (uncredited) | 1955-12-23 |
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The Crooked Web | Bar Patron (uncredited) | 1955-11-30 |
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It's Always Fair Weather | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1955-08-30 |
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Living It Up | Wedding Guest (uncredited) | 1954-08-04 |
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The Country Girl | Theatre Patron (uncredited) | 1954-12-15 |
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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes | Ship Passenger (uncredited) | 1953-07-14 |
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The Merry Widow | Reception Guest (uncredited) | 1952-09-05 |
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Don't Bother to Knock | 1952-07-18 | |
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Affair in Trinidad | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1952-07-29 |
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Let's Make It Legal | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | 1951-10-31 |
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All About Eve | Sarah Siddons Awards Guest (uncredited) | 1950-11-09 |
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Louisa | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1950-05-31 |
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Monsieur Verdoux | Night Club Patron (uncredited) | 1947-09-26 |
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Humoresque | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1947-01-25 |
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Deception | Concertgoer (uncredited) | 1946-10-26 |
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Bedlam | 1946-05-10 | |
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Two O'Clock Courage | Club Patron (uncredited) | 1945-04-13 |
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A Walk in the Sun | 1945-12-25 | |
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Experiment Perilous | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1944-12-18 |
