Susanna Foster was an American actor who is best known for Phantom of the Opera, The Climax, and That Night with You. She was born on December 6, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois, and passed away on January 17, 2009, in Englewood, New Jersey.
Personal and Family Life
Susanna Foster, originally named Suzanne DeLee Flanders Larson, was brought to Hollywood by MGM when she was just 12 years old. She went to school there, alongside other famous stars like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. In 1948, she married opera singer Wilbur Evans, and together they had two sons named Philip and Michael. After their divorce in 1956, Foster chose to leave show business to focus on raising her children.
Challenges and Later Life
Foster faced many hardships after her marriage ended, including raising her two children in tough conditions. Tragically, her son Philip died from liver failure in 1985. Despite her struggles, she moved back to the East Coast and later lived in various nursing homes. She had a difficult time trying to relaunch her career, as health issues hindered her aspirations.
Death and Legacy
Susanna Foster passed away on January 17, 2009, at the age of 84. She spent her final years at The Lillian Booth Actor’s Home in Englewood, New Jersey, where she had been living since 2003. Foster is remembered for her beautiful singing voice and her role in the classic film Phantom of the Opera.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Phantom of the Opera | 1943-08-12 | Christine Dubois |
| The Climax | 1944-10-20 | Angela Klatt |
| That Night with You | 1945-09-28 | Penny Parker |
| Detour | 1992-01-01 | Evie |
| The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked | 2000-01-01 | Self |
| The Great Victor Herbert | 1939-12-29 | Peggy |
| Top Man | 1943-09-17 | Connie Allen |
| Glamour Boy | 1941-12-05 | Joan Winslow |
| Frisco Sal | 1945-02-22 | Sally Warren |
| This Is the Life | 1944-06-01 | Angela Rutherford |
| Bowery to Broadway | 1944-11-03 | Peggy Fleming Barrie |
| The Hard-Boiled Canary | 1941-06-08 | Toodles LaVerne |