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. .
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance, Obie Award for Performance, Obie Award for Best Performance
Nominations
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress - Film
Movies
The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Cool World, Leonard Part 6, Nothing But a Man, The Angel Levine, Separate but Equal, The Comedians, The House of Dies Drear, City of Hope, To All My Friends on Shore, Man and Boy, Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
TV Shows
Separate but Equal, The Atlanta Child Murders
Star Sign
Scorpio
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Fact
1
She was a lifelong liberal Democrat.
2
Studied at the University of Chicago, making her stage debut at the Court Theatre.
3
Gloria Foster died during filming of The Matrix Reloaded, reprising her role as the Oracle. She had almost completed her scenes for this film, but had not shot any for the third film.
4
Studied at Chicago's Goodman Theater.
5
Won an Obie for the play "In White America" in 1963.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Matrix Reloaded
2003
The Oracle
Soul Food
2000
TV Series
Ella Lester
The Matrix
1999
Oracle
Law & Order
1992-1997
TV Series
Satima Tate
Percy & Thunder
1993
TV Movie
Sugar Brown
City of Hope
1991
Jeanette
Separate But Equal
1991
TV Mini-Series
Vivian 'Buster' Marshall
Leonard Part 6
1987
Medusa Johnson
The Cosby Show
1987
TV Series
Dr. Barbara Bracy
The Atlanta Child Murders
1985
TV Mini-Series
Camille Bell
The House of Dies Drear
1984
TV Movie
Sheila Small
American Playhouse
1983
TV Series
Mrs. Hatch
The White Shadow
1980
TV Series
Miss Bridges
Top Secret
1978
TV Movie
Judith
To All My Friends on Shore
1972
TV Movie
Serena
Man and Boy
1971
Ivy
The Bill Cosby Show
1970
TV Series
Dolores Winters
The Angel Levine
1970
Sally
Mod Squad
1969-1970
TV Series
Janny Wells / Janny Wills
The Outcasts
1968
TV Series
Sabine
I Spy
1968
TV Series
Shana
The Comedians
1967
Mrs. Philipot
Nothing But a Man
1964
Lee
East Side/West Side
1963
TV Series
Babysitter
The Cool World
1963
Mrs. Custis
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years
2001
TV Mini-Series documentary
Narrator
A History of God
2001
TV Movie documentary
The Voice of History
The 49th Annual Tony Awards
1995
TV Special
Herself - Presenter: Best Costume Design
Working in the Theatre
1995
TV Series documentary
Herself
Bill Cosby Salutes Alvin Ailey
1989
TV Movie
Herself
The 12th Annual People's Choice Awards
1986
TV Special
Herself
Freedom Spectacular
1964
TV Movie
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Matrix: Path of Neo
2005
Video Game
Oracle
The Matrix Reloaded Revisited
2004
The Oracle
The Burly Man Chronicles
2004
Video documentary
Herself
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2004
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Film: Best Supporting Actress
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
1988
Razzie Award
Razzie Awards
Worst Supporting Actress
Leonard Part 6 (1987)
Known for movies
The Matrix (1999) as Oracle
The Matrix Reloaded (2003) as The Oracle
Leonard Part 6 (1987) as Medusa Johnson
Separate But Equal (1991) as Vivian 'Buster' Marshall
$700,000
