title: Buddy Foster
text: # Buddy Foster
  
  Lucius Fisher Foster IV (born July 12, 1957), known professionally as Buddy Foster, is an American former child actor. Beginning his professional acting career at the age of eight, Foster had roles in television series from the late 1960s through the early 1970s, including Mayberry R.F.D. (1968–1971). With the death of Arlene Golonka, he became the sole surviving regular cast member of the series. Foster is the older brother of actress and director Jodie Foster.
  
  ## Early life
  
  Foster was born on July 12, 1957, the only son and third of four children born to Lucius Fisher Foster III and Evelyn "Brandy" (née Almond) Foster. His parents divorced in the early 1960s, and his mother obtained a job in the entertainment industry to support her children.
  
  ## Career
  
  ### Actor
  
  As a child actor, Foster appeared in a regular role on the 1967 TV western Hondo. and Mayberry, R.F.D. (1968–1971), as well as appearing in guest-starring roles on numerous other television series throughout the 1970s including The Six Million Dollar Man.
  
  Buddy Foster appeared on the Dragnet TV series in the 1969 episode "Burglary Auto: Juvenile Genius" as James "Watermelon" Chambers. In 1967, he appeared on Petticoat Junction, in the episode: "Temperance, Temperance", as Clint Priddy.
  
  He voiced the little boy in the famous 1969 Tootsie Pop commercial Mr. Owl "How Many Licks Does It Take?", often miscredited to fellow child actor Peter Robbins.
  
  Foster made his final screen appearance with a small role in the United Artists feature film, Foxes (1980), which starred his sister, Jodie.
  
  ### Author
  
  In 1997, Foster authored the book, Foster Child, in which he chronicled his account of his and Jodie's childhood. In the book, he alleged that Jodie was a lesbian or bisexual, and that their mother had a sexual relationship with another woman.
  
  Jodie Foster called the book "[a] cheap cry for attention and money, filled with hazy recollections, fantasies, and borrowed press releases. Buddy has done nothing but break our mother's heart his whole life."
  
  ## Footnotes
  
  * ↑ Peter Robbins is the young voice actor who portrayed Charlie Brown in the 1960s animated "Peanuts" movies.
  