Lucius Fisher "Buddy" Foster IV (born July 12, 1957) is an American former child actor. Beginning his professional acting career at the age of eight, Foster is known for his roles in various television series throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, including ''

Mayberry R.F.D. ''Mayberry R.F.D.'' (abbreviation for Rural Free Delivery) is an American television series produced as a spin-off continuation of ''The Andy Griffith Show''. When star Andy Griffith decided to leave his series, most of the supporting characters ...

'' (1968–1971). With the death of

Arlene Golonka Arlene Leanore Golonka (January 23, 1936 – May 31, 2021) was an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing Millie Hutchins on the television comedy ''The Andy Griffith Show'' and Millie Swanson on ''Mayberry R.F.D.'', and often ...

, he is the sole surviving regular cast member of the series. Foster is the older brother of actress and director

Jodie Foster Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster (born November 19, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, three British Academy Film Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and the hono ...

Early life

Foster was born on July 12, 1957, the only son and third of four children born to Lucius Fisher Foster III and Evelyn Ella "Brandy" (née Almond). His parents divorced in the early 1960s, and his mother obtained a job in the entertainment industry to support her children.

Career

Actor

As a child actor, Foster appeared in co-starring roles on the television series ''

Hondo Hondo may refer to: Places * Rio Hondo (disambiguation), the name of several locations, derived from the Spanish word for "deep" Canada * Hondo, Alberta, an unincorporated community United States * Hondo, New Mexico, an unincorporated com ...

'' and ''

Green Acres ''Green Acres'' is an American television sitcom starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm. Produced by Filmways as a sister show to '' Petticoat Junction'', the series was first broadc ...

'' (both 1967) and '' Mayberry, R.F.D.'' (1968–1971), as well as appearing in guest-starring roles on numerous other television series throughout the 1970s including ''

The Six Million Dollar Man ''The Six Million Dollar Man'' is an American science fiction and action television series, running from 1973 to 1978, about a former astronaut, USAF Colonel Steve Austin, portrayed by Lee Majors. After a NASA test flight accident, Austin ...

''. Buddy Foster appeared on the '' Dragnet'' TV series in the 1969 episode "Burglary Auto: Juvenile Genius" as James "Watermelon" Chambers. In 1967 he appeared on ''

Petticoat Junction ''Petticoat Junction'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970. The series takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley; her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and ...

'', in the episode: "Temperance, Temperance", as Clint Priddy. He is also the voice talent of the little boy in the famous 1969

Tootsie Pop A Tootsie Pop (known as Tutsi Chupa Pop in Latin America) is a hard candy lollipop filled with the chocolate-flavored chewy Tootsie Roll candy. They were invented in 1931 by an employee of The Sweets Company of America. Tootsie Rolls had themsel ...

commercial Mr. Owl How Many Licks Does It Take? and often confused and credited to Peter Robbins. He made his final screen appearance with a small role in the

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stu ...

feature film, ''

Foxes Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve sp ...

'' (1980), which starred his sister, Jodie Foster.

Author

In 1997, Foster authored the book, ''Foster Child'', in which he chronicled his account of his and Jodie's childhood. In the book, he alleged that Jodie was a

lesbian A lesbian is a Homosexuality, homosexual woman.Zimmerman, p. 453. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate n ...

bisexual Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whic ...

, and that their mother had a sexual relationship with another woman. Jodie Foster called the book " cheap cry for attention and money, filled with hazy recollections, fantasies, and borrowed press releases. Buddy has done nothing but break our mother's heart his whole life."

Footnotes

References

External links

* Living people Male actors from Los Angeles American male child actors American male television actors American male film actors 20th-century American male actors Western (genre) television actors 1957 births {{US-tv-actor-1950s-stub