Robert Forster (1941-2019)
Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 9:24AM 
Photographed by © Hama Sanders
As you have undoubtedly heard by now the Oscar-nominated Robert Forster (of Jackie Brown fame) passed away last Friday of brain cancer at 78 years of age. This news came as quite a shock to us here at TFE, which is part of why we haven't mentioned it...
Just a year ago we were having coffee with him in Toronto -- he was there for the premiere of What They Had, -- and never would have guessed that there was just a year left. He was still vital in person and definitely onscreen. What They Had remains underseen which is a pity as it's one of his finest screen performances. He plays the husband of a woman with Alzheimers who refuses to face the reality of the situation.
But the film he's best remembered for today is surely Jackie Brown (1997). He received some of the best reviews of his career for his role as Max Cherry and was rewarded with a well-earned nomination at the Oscars. (He holds the curious distinction of being the only actor ever nominated for a Tarantino picture which was otherwise ignored by Oscar -- all the other Tarantino movies with acting nominations received at least three overall nominations)
Other key Forster roles:
Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)
Medium Cool (1969)
The Black Hole (1979) - This is the first movie I ever saw him in as a little kid
Alligator (1980)
Mulholland Drive (2001)
The Descendants (2011)
What They Had (2018)
Forster recently had a recurring role on the sitcom Last Man Standing and in the third season revival of Twin Peaks, but his last screen performance turned out to be another reprisal of a TV role. He returned to the role of "Ed Galbraith" in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie which was coincidentally released online on the day of his death.
Our hearts go out to his friends, co-workers, and family but especially Denise Grayson, his longtime partner, who is a personal friend of ours and who you've met before here at TFE.
Reader Comments (22)
For me, Forster in Jackie Brown is one of the all-time great supporting actor performances. It's a performance that sneaks up with you and stays with you. His face conveys so much, so effortlessly. You never want to stop watching Jackie and Max, and it's heartbreaking when they go separate ways.
I smiled so big when Margot Robbie walked past the "Jackie Brown tiles" (from the opening sequence) in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. They've been in The Graduate and other films but in my mind they belong to Pam. That movie is such a treasure.
Absolutely sublime in JACKIE BROWN (should've won that Oscar) and boy is he something special in REFLECTIONS too.
He never received a Globe nomination which made his Oscar nod all the more shocking. Pam and Sam were recognized with two precursors: the Globes and SAG only to be shut out on Oscar morning.
I saw many and many times Alligator on tv in my child times. So good, funny and smart. It was my first with Forster followed by the wonderful Reflections in a Golden Eye with Elizabeth Taylor devouring Marlon Brando scene by scene. And others. He's got a natural and not intimidating virility (like Gable and others old movies guys)that actors have lost from the 1970s on - to be virile became synonym of being arrogant. And never convincing. My mother used to call him "the heterosexual George Clooney". Never mind, she has a weird sense of humor. RIP Robert Forster.
Surprisingly, Jackie Brown is the Tarantino movie I think about more often these days. I say surprisingly, because it's not as flashy as others. It has a lot to do with his performance (and also Bridget Fonda).
Reflections in a Golden Eye is a mess but a must-see mess.
Stunning in Reflections and his Oscar nod in Jackie Brown is one of my favorite surprise nominations ever. His scenes with Pam Grier are among the best QT's ever written.
Wasn't he the first Hollywood star to go frontally nude (in Medium Cool)?
I also agree with Peggy Sue that Reflections in a Golden Eye is a "must-see mess". There is so much brilliant about it (the acting is exceptional across the board) but critics have long latched on to its clumsier elements to dismiss the whole thing. I believe it has a lot to do with the subject matter, which makes for uncomfortable viewing, not only for straights, but gays as well (the Marlon Brando character is hardly a role model).
R.I.P.
A year ago I caught up with him in "Medium Cool" on the big screen (thanks to my brother for suggesting!) and it was one of my favorite surprise movie going experiences of the year. He was really great in an interesting time-capsule of a movie. Thanks for the write up.
Would have gotten my vote that year
Soooo beautiful in his spring, the winter came to him very well. RIP.
May he RIP.
I was so stunned to hear he passed. In a complete coincidence, a few weeks ago I started going down the rabbit hole of all of his work. It has been so fun to discover some of his earlier roles, which you mention here. His presence always warms the screen. Max Cherry forever <3
He's also good in a small movie from 2002 called Diamond Men. (The movie is fine, he's predictably great in it.)
I will so miss seeing Robert Forster each week at the table kept reserved for him by the front window of Marco’s in West Hollywood.
He was always friendly and beyond gracious to anyone who approached him and still so handsome and charismatic.
REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE is such an iconic film debut, and his naked horseman drives me just as wild as it did Brando,
Jackie Brown and Max Cherry belong together spinning Delfonics records until the end of time...
A very special actor and the epitome of gentle virility. Maximum Cool.
I adored him in Jackie Brown, it was a sublime performance. He and Pam Grier just felt so True together. I know he did lots of other films and television and I hesitate to seemingly boil his body of work down to that one performance, but I will remember it always. RIP Robert.
My first exposure to him was the long ago TV series Banyon which was short lived but I loved as a kid and it's what I always connect him with even though I've seen plenty of his other work.
Loved Medium Cool! As noted Reflections in a Golden Eye is a big ol' mess of a movie but that cast keeps you watching.
I don't think even in his youth he ever achieved what could be considered stardom but he was always a reliable journeyman actor who could be counted on for adding something worthwhile to whatever he appeared in no matter the surrounding quality of that endeavor.
He was great in Jackie Brown as he just owned every moment he's in while he also knows how to be silent and not do anything yet display so much emotion. He was a masterclass actor and will definitely be missed.
He was something to watch in "Reflections" no wonder Brando goes crazy with lust. He had an interesting career .
If you think 'Reflections of a Golden Eye " is one crazy movie just try reading the book which is a lot crazier
Very sad. He is excellent in EL CAMINO so at least his final (?) role was a good one.
You made at least once a list of all oldest best actress winners. Could you maybe do this for all acting categories? I am not really are aware who of the older actors are even alive so it would be nice to appreciate the actors before the in memoriam posts.