R.I.P. Robert Forster (1941-2019)

Robert Forster

On October 11, 2019, actor Robert Forster passed away at the age of 78 in Los Angeles, CA. Over the course of a storied career, he's brought to life hundreds of memorable performances, giving his all to bring them to life. Among his most noteworthy roles was in the film Jackie Brown, for which he earned an Oscar nomination. His work expanded to TV as well, recently starring in shows like Last Man Standing, Breaking Bad, and Twin Peaks: The Return. As one of the most revered character actors of his generation, he helped to make cinema a more exciting place with tough, no-nonsense characters that, immediately stuck with the viewer. He will be missed though his incredible work will continue to live on.

Forster was born on July 13, 1941, in Rochester, New York. His father, Robert Sr. worked as an elephant trainer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus before serving as an executive at a baking supply company. He completed his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Rochester in 1964. It was here that he went from studying law to instead drama and gave performances in shows such as Bye Bye Birdie. He made his big-screen debut in 1967 with Reflections in a Golden Eye opposite Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor. His career would continue to be full of memorable roles throughout the next few decades, including Medium Cool and The Stalking Moon.

It wasn't until the mid-90s when he had a career resurgence thanks to Quentin Tarantino. In his follow-up to Pulp Fiction, the director cast Forster as Max Cherry. The role received critical acclaim and put him on a list of actors whom Tarantino helped to restore their careers. In the film, he hung up a Ringling Bros. post in honor of his father. He would even earn a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the role. This would lead to consistent popularity for the rest of his career where he would star in a variety of projects ranging from Like Mike to Mulholland Drive to Me Myself & Irene. 

In later years, he would continue to have consistent work on TV. He would play Tim Allen's dad on the comedy series Last Man Standing. He would also have significant roles in Breaking Bad and Twin Peaks: The Return. In the case of Twin Peaks, director David Lynch wanted to work with Forster on the original series but found time issues. When The Return came around, he was able to cast him in a prominent role. In the case of Breaking Bad, he would gain acclaim for the performance and it would lead to an Emmy Award win. He would reprise the role in the Netflix movie El Camino in 2019, released the exact same day of his death.

Up until the very end, Forster was someone who enjoyed acting and entertaining people. His roles were distinct, especially since he brought his whole heart and soul into every performance. What he leaves behind is 50+ years of entertainment that shows him growing and molding over time. While he's gone, his work will continue to speak for itself and remind us what the power of acting can bring to people around the world. He may have played a lot of hard-nosed characters, but he was always warm and capable of reaching just about anyone with his performances. He will be missed.