Robert Foulk


Robert C. Foulk, was an American television and film character actor best remembered for having portrayed Sheriff H. Miller in the CBS series, Lassie, a role which he filled in eighteen episodes from 1958 to 1962.

Early years

Foulk attended the University of Pennsylvania, studying to be an architectural draftsman.

Stage

Acting

Foulk's Broadway credits include What a Life, Brother Rat, Boy Meets Girl, and two productions of As Husbands Go in 1930 and in 1932.

Directing

Foulk was an aide to producer-director George Abbott, and he went on to direct productions in places such as Palos Verdes.

Television

Between 1953 and 1959, Foulk was cast in thirteen episodes of the NBC anthology series, The Loretta Young Show. From 1954 to 1957, he was cast in five episodes as Ed Davis in the sitcom Father Knows Best with Robert Young, when the series aired on NBC. In 1956, he played Jackley in the Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Club serial "The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure."
In 1957 and 1958, Foulk played the outlaw Curly Bill Brocius in three episodes, "Gunslinger from Galeville", "Ride Out at Noon" and "Skeleton Canyon Massacre", of the western television series, Tombstone Territory, with Pat Conway as Sheriff Clay Hollister. By contrast in 1958, Foulk was cast as Sheriff Brady in the film, The Left Handed Gun. From 1959 to 1960, he had the recurring role of bartender Joe Kingston in the NBC western series, Wichita Town, with Joel McCrea and Jody McCrea. Foulk appeared in five episodes of The Rifleman. He played the blacksmith in "The Second Witness", "Three Legged Terror" and "Outlaw's Inheritance". He played Johannson in "The Raid" and Herbert Newman in "The Lost Treasure of Canyon Town".
Foulk made four guest appearances on CBS's Perry Mason, all of them as a law-enforcement officer including the 1958 episode 'The Case of the Buried Clock'. He made thirteen appearances on NBC's Bonanza, mostly as a sheriff or deputy sheriff. He also had recurring roles as Mr. Wheeler and Roy Trendall, former Hooterville phone company president, in sixteen episodes of CBS's Green Acres, starring Eddie Albert. In the early 1970s, Foulk made four guest appearances on CBS's Here's Lucy in various roles.

Architecture

In addition to acting, Foulk worked as an architectural draftsman. An article in the Chicago Tribune reported, "... he keeps his finger in architecture because he finds it good therapy for the tensions that build up while performing."

Personal life

In the 1930s, Foulk was married to actress Alice Frost. In 1947, he married Barbara Slater, who was an actress starring in two Three Stooges short features. She left Hollywood in the same year. They remained married to each other until his death in 1989. He is buried at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

Filmography

Film