Phil Foster

Phil Foster (born Fivel Feldman; March 29, 1913 – July 8, 1985) was an American actor and performer, best known for his portrayal of Frank DeFazio in Laverne & Shirley.

Foster was born Fivel Feldman in Brooklyn, New York City on March 29, 1913, the son of immigrants from Russia who had changed their name from Vishnodosky.

[2] At the height of the Great Depression, Foster started in the dramatic field, playing in halls, back rooms and wherever possible during a period when theaters weren't available.

Among Foster's many television appearances were guest-starring roles in Ten-Four Productions' telefilm The Great American Traffic Jam and NBC's $weepstake$ and Games People Play.

It was Garry Marshall, an old friend whom he helped get started as a comedy writer for Joey Bishop and other entertainers, who lured Foster again to Hollywood, first to appear in The Odd Couple and then to co-star in Laverne & Shirley, at which time he was living in Fort Lee, New Jersey.