Ellis Foster was an American actor. Foster’s theater credits included Sanctified with Congo Square Theatre in Chicago, for which he received the Black Alliance Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2009. Regional theater credits included The Piano Lesson with New American Theatre; Good Black with E.T.A. Theatre (Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actor); Cry the Beloved Country, A Christmas Carol, Let Me Live (Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actor), Unjustifiable Acts, I Am a Man, Spunk (Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Revue), all at Goodman Theatre; and I Am A Man with Goodman Theatre and Arena Stage.

His film and television work included Detroit 187, You’re Going to Prison, Quake, Early Edition, Bahama Hustle, Hoodlum and Poker House.