Biography for
Ken Foree

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Large, likable and muscular actor Ken Foree was born as Kentotis Alvin Foree on February 29, 1948 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Foree attended Loyola University in Chicago and studied acting at Michael Shulman's Performing Gallery in New York City. He began his career in Off-Broadway theater and worked as an assistant manager at a restaurant in Greenwich Village in order to keep himself afloat during his salad days. Ken made his film debut in "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings." He's since essayed a substantial array of often strong and commanding characters on either side of the law in both movies and television alike. Foree gave a fine and impressive performance as tough swat team officer Peter Washington in George Romero's outstanding "Dawn of the Dead." He also had a sizable supporting part in Romero's offbeat follow-up feature "Knightriders." Ken was marvelously engaging as affable cop Buford "Bubba" Brownlee in Stuart Gordon's splendid "From Beyond" and once again solid as rugged survivalist Benny in "Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III." Foree has portrayed hard-nosed police officers in such pictures as "The Dentist," "Sleepstalker," "True Blood," and "Terror Squad." He had a nice cameo as a stern televangelist in the excellent "Dawn of the Dead" remake. More recently Ken had a terrific role as super mack daddy pimp Charlie Altamont in "The Devil's Rejects" and made a brief, yet memorable appearance as rough'n'tumble truck driver Big Joe Grizzley in Rob Zombie's "Halloween" remake. Foree showed a softer and more sensitive side as father Roger Rockmore on the hit Nickelodeon TV series "Kenan & Kel." He also played a recurring part on the popular daytime soap opera "General Hospital." Among the TV shows Ken has done guest spots on are "Due South," "The X Files," "Babylon 5," "Matlock," "Dallas," "Cheers," "Quantom Leap," "Hunter," "Beauty and the Beast," "Moonlighting," "Knight Rider," "The Fall Guy," "Benson," "The A-Team," "Hill Street Blues," "The Dukes of Hazzard," and "Kojak." His hobbies include surfing, boxing, weightlifting, and watching basketball. In addition, Foree enjoys history and traveling. Ken Foree lives in Los Angeles.

Trivia

Owned a restaurant, Deli Lite, in California.

When playing the televangelist in the Dawn of the Dead (2004) remake, he quoted the same line he said as Peter in Dawn of the Dead (1978): "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth."

Foree Electronics, the store that employs Shaun in Shaun of the Dead (2004), is named after Ken Foree as an inside joke.

His fellow "Dawn of the Dead" co-star Gaylen Ross also hails from Indianapolis, Indiana.

Avid Motorcylist.

Good friends with Will Smith.

Was considered for the role of Uncle Phil on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990).

Drives a Blue Cadallic Similar to the one used in The Devil's Rejects (2005).

Personal Quotes

Great films always hold up. If you can't appreciate the great silent movie "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Saving Private Ryan" in the same breadth, you are missing a whole lot. The same rules apply to horror films: the great ones will always have legs.

I've had a varied career. Some fans remember me as the actor who always plays the heavy; others say I always play the police detective. "Dawn of the Dead" had some influence on my being brought aboard on a few projects, I'm sure. I am just a working actor, although I do believe in fate.

[on film conventions] I enjoy people, especially people who like me. Conventions and film festivals are where the fans congregate. I can't speak for other celebrities, but for me nothing is better than watching movies and talking to the folks who love me. Call me crazy!

[on horror films] I am a fan, you know. I grew up with the "scare me to death" kind of chills every Friday night on Chiller Theater or whatever the Friday night scary movie series was in my home town. I grew up with that, wanting to be afraid and terrorizing my brothers.

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