Remembering Phil Foster, ‘Laverne & Shirley’s Frank DeFazio

For many fans of Laverne & Shirley, Phil Foster will always be Frank DeFazio, Laverne’s old-school father. Although his television fame arrived later in life, Foster’s journey through entertainment stretched across vaudeville stages, wartime service, early television and Hollywood sitcoms. In honor of the show’s 50th anniversary on January 27, 2026, let’s take a look back on Foster and his career.