Foster, Phil

Phil Foster (1913–1985) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and nightclub performer whose career spanned more than four decades. Born Fivel Feldman in Brooklyn, New York, to Russian Jewish immigrants, Foster rose to prominence through stand-up comedy, radio, television appearances, and nightclub performances. He later became widely known to television audiences as Frank DeFazio, the father of Shirley Feeney, on the hit sitcom Laverne & Shirley.

Foster developed deep ties to Englewood, New Jersey, where he lived during the height of his career. Throughout the 1960s, newspapers frequently referred to him as an "Englewood comedy star" and "television comic Phil Foster of Englewood," reflecting both his national reputation and his local prominence. Like many entertainers of the television era, Foster chose Bergen County as a home base because it offered suburban living within easy reach of New York City's theaters, television studios, and nightclubs.

More than simply a place of residence, Englewood became a source of inspiration for Foster's work. A 1964 newspaper profile noted that he found material for his comedy routines in the everyday experiences of suburban life, drawing on incidents involving his wife, Joan, and their two sons. As his career evolved, Foster moved beyond stories centered on his Brooklyn upbringing and increasingly found humor in the routines and relationships of family life in Englewood. The community itself became part of his creative process.

Foster's connection to Englewood extended well beyond his professional life. He participated in local organizations and community events, including entertaining nearly 200 attendees at an Englewood B'nai B'rith Lodge gathering held at the Jewish Community Center on Tenafly Road. His family was also actively involved in local institutions. A newspaper profile from 1964 noted that one of his sons played in the Englewood Little League, demonstrating the family's participation in neighborhood activities and civic life.

Foster was also closely connected to the historic Englewood Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States. During the 1950s, he joined fellow comedians Buddy Hackett, Joey Bishop, and Dick Shawn in acquiring an ownership interest in the club. At a time when northern Bergen County was becoming home to a growing number of entertainers, the club served as a social center where performers could gather away from television studios and nightclubs. Foster's involvement placed him at the center of a remarkable network of comedians who helped make Englewood a notable hub of American entertainment during the postwar era.

His life in Englewood reflects a broader story about the community's role in mid-twentieth-century American culture. While Foster achieved national success on stage and screen, he remained connected to local organizations, neighborhood activities, and community institutions. Today, he is remembered not only for his contributions to American comedy and television but also as one of the entertainers who helped establish Englewood's reputation as a home for nationally recognized performers. His life demonstrates how celebrity residents became active participants in the everyday life of the community they called home.

"Huffing and Puffing: Phil Foster, Englewood comedy star," The Record (Hackensack, NJ), August 31, 1964.

"Begging for Breakfast," The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 21, 1964, describing Foster's appearance at an Englewood B'nai B'rith Lodge event.

The Morning Call (Allentown, PA), August 21, 1964, noting that one of Foster's children played in the Englewood Little League.

Contemporary accounts of the Englewood Golf Club and its ownership group, including Phil Foster, Buddy Hackett, Joey Bishop, and Dick Shawn.

Biographical records of Phil Foster's career in comedy, television, and film.

 

ABC Television

Laverne and Shirley Cast 1976

ebay

1976

Public Domain