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Gloria Foster

Gloria Foster
The Oracle (i).gif
Foster in The Matrix Reloaded as The Oracle
Born (1933-11-15)November 15, 1933
Chicago, Illinois
Died September 29, 2001(2001-09-29) (aged 67)
New York City, New York
Resting place Kensico Cemetery
Valhalla, New York
Occupation Actress
Years active 1964–2001
Spouse(s) Clarence Williams III (1967 - 1984, divorced)

Gloria Foster (November 15, 1933 – September 29, 2001) was an American actress, most known for her stage performances both on and off Broadway, including her acclaimed roles in plays In White America and Having Our Say, winning three Obie Awards during her career.

In films, she was perhaps best known as the Oracle in The Matrix (1999) and The Matrix Reloaded (2003), the latter film being her last. Gloria Foster also played the role of the mother of Yusef Bell in the mini series The Atlanta Child Murders which aired in 1985.

Gloria Foster was born on November 15, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois. As a young child she was put into custody of her mother's grandparents. Gloria Foster never knew who her father was and she moved to Janesville, Wisconsin after her mother was hospitalized for a mental illness. Her grandmother, Eleanor Sudds, and her grandfather, Clyde Sudds, raised Gloria Foster on a farm. As Gloria continued her education she returned to her hometown of Chicago and attended the University of Illinois, where she participated in plays, but did not focus on it. She took many different classes, including forensics, which she enjoyed a lot. Gloria Foster was not sure what occupation to pursue, until her godmother introduced her to the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. After she auditioned and was accepted, she knew that this was going to be her passion in life, the theater. She was one of the few African Americans at the Goodman School of Drama, but focused on her study of acting. During her studying at the Goodman School she also, "learned professional acting skills in the Court Theater at the University of Chicago". One of her most influential instructors was Bella Itkin, who cast Gloria in many classical roles. Her next step in life was to move to New York to pursue a career on Broadway.


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