Ken Foree

Large, likable, and muscular actor 'Ken Foree' (qv) 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 & Motor Kings (1976)_ (qv). He has since amassed 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 A. Romero' (qv)'s _Dawn of the Dead (1978)_ (qv). He also had a sizable supporting part in Romero's offbeat follow-up feature, _Knightriders (1981)_ (qv). Ken was marvelously engaging as affable cop, Buford "Bubba" Brownlee, in 'Stuart Gordon' (qv)'s _From Beyond (1986)_ (qv) and was, once again, solid as rugged survivalist "Benny" in _Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)_ (qv). Foree portrayed hard-nosed police officers in such pictures as _The Dentist (1996)_ (qv), _Sleepstalker (1995)_ (qv), _True Blood (1989)_ (qv) and _Terror Squad (1988)_ (qv). He had a cameo as a stern televangelist in the _Dawn of the Dead (2004)_ (qv) remake by 'Zack Snyder' (qv). More recently, Ken had a terrific role as super mack daddy pimp, "Charlie Altamont", in _The Devil's Rejects (2005)_ (qv) and made a brief-yet-memorable appearance as rough-n-tumble truck driver, "Big Joe Grizzley", in the remake of _Halloween (2007)_ (qv) by 'Rob Zombie' (qv). Foree showed a softer and more sensitive side as "Roger Rockmore" on the hit Nickelodeon TV series, _Kenan & Kel (1996)_ (qv). He also played a recurring part on the popular daytime soap opera _General Hospital (1963)_ (qv). Among the TV shows on which Ken has done guest spots are _Due South (1994)_ (qv), _The X-Files (1993)_ (qv), _Babylon 5 (1993)_ (qv), _Matlock (1986)_ (qv), _Dallas (1978)_ (qv), _Cheers (1982)_ (qv), _Quantum Leap (1989)_ (qv), _Hunter (1984)_ (qv), _Beauty and the Beast (1987)_ (qv), _Moonlighting (1985)_ (qv), _Knight Rider (1982)_ (qv), _The Fall Guy (1981)_ (qv), _Benson (1979)_ (qv), _The A-Team (1983)_ (qv), _Hill Street Blues (1981)_ (qv), _The Dukes of Hazzard (1979)_ (qv) and _Kojak (1973)_ (qv). His hobbies include surfing, boxing, weightlifting and watching basketball. In addition, Foree enjoys history and traveling. 'Ken Foree' (qv) lives in Los Angeles.::woodyanders