Basic Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Evelyn Ella Almond |
| Also Known As | Evelyn “Brandy” Foster; Evelyn Della Almond; Evelyn Della “Brandy” Almond Foster |
| Birth | 1928 (often cited as September 21, 1928) |
| Birthplace | Rockford, Illinois, USA |
| Death | May 2019 (commonly reported as May 13–14, 2019) |
| Age at Death | 90 |
| Occupations | Big-band singer; Hollywood publicist; talent manager |
| Known For | Early manager and guiding force in Jodie Foster’s career |
| Spouse / Partner | Formerly married to Lucius Fisher Foster III; later lived openly with a female partner |
| Children | Lucinda “Cindy,” Constance “Connie,” Lucius “Buddy” IV, Alicia Christian “Jodie” |
| Grandchildren | Widely cited as 15 grandchildren, plus multiple great-grandchildren |
| Noted Health | Passed from complications related to dementia |
Content Sections
Evelyn Ella Almond, known as Brandy Foster, lived with rhythm and determination. She began under bandstand lights with a microphone and concluded as a quiet creator of modern Hollywood celebrity. Her narrative is like an orchestra’s hum—unseen but always heard—guiding, cueing, steadying.
Early Years and Big-Band Roots
Radio ruled and swing ruled dance floors when Evelyn was born in 1928 in Rockford, Illinois. She toured as a big-band vocalist in the 1940s and 1950s, her voice lifting smoke and capturing a night. Poise, timing, and the belief that performance is craft and calling were learnt those years.
Domestic stability and future turbulence came with marriage to Air Force lieutenant colonel turned Los Angeles entrepreneur Lucius Fisher Foster III. Evelyn became a single mother in Los Angeles after the marriage terminated before Jodie’s birth.
From Singer to Publicist: The Hollywood Pivot
In the 1960s, Evelyn shifted into publicity, working in the circle of producer Arthur P. Jacobs and publicizing major stars. Publicity was performance by other means: finding the angle, polishing the image, building a narrative. The job demanded stamina, social dexterity, and a keen eye for opportunity. Evelyn had all three. It was here that she learned the geometry of Hollywood — how power moves, how reputation holds, how a single role can rewrite a career.
Mother, Manager, Maestro: Guiding Two Careers
Evelyn first managed her son Buddy’s child-acting trajectory in the late 1960s and 1970s, steering him through TV work that made him familiar to American living rooms. Those lessons — dealing with agents, directors, schedules, on-set realities — became the blueprint for a more audacious project: shepherding Jodie Foster from child performer to singular adult artist.
Under Evelyn’s management, Jodie’s early modeling and TV work grew into complex film choices. A ferocious commitment to quality, a readiness for risk, and a framework of long-term planning set the tempo. Career-defining roles in the mid-1970s and onward signaled a deliberate shift: Jodie would be more than a precocious face; she would be an actor with gravitas. Evelyn managed Jodie through a first Oscar nomination, and remained at the helm through Jodie’s second Academy Award in 1991 — a four-decade arc of guidance that balanced maternal care with steely professional discipline.
A Family Constellation
Her family had layers like a Hollywood storyboard. After divorcing, Evelyn raised four children in Los Angeles and lived openly with a woman. Careers were established on kitchen tables and decisions were sometimes as important as studio releases in the practical, creative, demanding, and protective household. Cindy and Connie were more quiet, Buddy was changed by early celebrity, and Jodie rose to global fame.
Evelyn’s legacy is widespread. She has fifteen grandkids and several great-grandchildren, demonstrating her multi-generational influence and compassion. She set alarms, checked scripts, and taught resilience behind the headlines and marquee lights.
Later Years, Legacy, and Remembrance
Evelyn left public management in the 1990s as Jodie became a Hollywood legend. Work was done diligently, fearlessly, and often invisibly. She died at 90 from dementia problems in May 2019. Family memories showed a woman with unshakeable pragmatism and musicality in her soul: a manager and artist who could read the crowd and the occasion.
If there is a single motif in Evelyn’s story, it is the conductor’s hand: never center stage, always essential. She tuned careers like instruments, set tempo, and anticipated crescendos. For the youngest of her children, she turned opportunity into architecture, building bridges from childhood fame to adult mastery.
Timeline Highlights
- 1928: Birth in Rockford, Illinois (commonly noted as September 21).
- 1940s–1950s: Touring big-band singer.
- Mid-1950s: Birth of Lucinda “Cindy” (October 26, 1954) and Constance “Connie” (October 30, 1955).
- 1957: Birth of Lucius “Buddy” Foster IV (July 12, 1957).
- 1962: Birth of Alicia Christian “Jodie” Foster (November 19, 1962).
- 1960s: Publicist in Hollywood; transition into talent management.
- 1970s–1991: Manages Jodie Foster’s career through early roles and two Academy Awards.
- May 2019: Death at age 90, following dementia-related complications.
Family Overview
| Name | Relation | Birthdate | Notable Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucius Fisher Foster III | Ex-husband | — | Air Force lieutenant colonel; later Los Angeles developer |
| Lucinda “Cindy” Foster | Daughter | October 26, 1954 | Appeared in select film/photo credits; kept a lower public profile |
| Constance “Connie” Foster | Daughter | October 30, 1955 | Maintained a private life away from the spotlight |
| Lucius “Buddy” Foster IV | Son | July 12, 1957 | Former child actor; managed by Evelyn in early career |
| Alicia Christian “Jodie” Foster | Daughter | November 19, 1962 | Acclaimed actor and director; managed by Evelyn through major milestones |
Career Milestones
| Year/Period | Milestone | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s–1950s | Big-band singer | Built stagecraft, timing, and audience insight |
| 1960s | Hollywood publicist | Mastered narrative-building and media strategy |
| Late 1960s–1970s | Managing Buddy Foster | Gained tactical experience with child stardom |
| 1970s onward | Managing Jodie Foster | Orchestrated transition to challenging adult roles |
| 1991 | Jodie’s second Academy Award | Culmination of long-term management arc |
Financial Notes
Evelyn’s work lived largely behind the scenes, in contracts, phone calls, and decisions that shaped the public careers of others. Her personal net worth was not commonly published, and the focus of her legacy remains the creative and managerial influence she exerted rather than financial metrics.
FAQ
Who was evelyn ella almond?
She was a big-band singer turned Hollywood publicist and the longtime early manager of Jodie Foster.
When was she born and when did she die?
She was born in 1928 and died in May 2019 at age 90.
What was her role in Jodie Foster’s career?
She managed Jodie from childhood through early adult roles, guiding her through two Academy Awards.
How many children did she have?
She had four children: Cindy, Connie, Buddy, and Jodie.
What did she do before becoming a talent manager?
She toured as a big-band singer and worked as a Hollywood publicist.
Where was she raised?
She was raised in Rockford, Illinois, in the American Midwest.
Did she have a published net worth?
Her personal net worth was not publicly reported in authoritative detail.
Did she live with a partner after her divorce?
Yes, she lived openly with a female partner at points in her life.
