Bill Foster (performer)
William Wallace Foster (January 23, 1932 – May 10, 2000), known as The Fox, was an Emcee on the first season of Comedy Central's The Man Show under the show's original hosts, Adam Carolla and Jimmy Kimmel. He was billed as "The World's Fastest Beer Drinker", a feat which he performed in an appearance on the TV show Taxi as well as numerous times on The Man Show.
| Bill Foster | |
|---|---|
 Bill Foster, as shown on his now out-of-print LP Songs Banned in Boston | |
| Birth name | William Wallace Foster |
| Born | January 23, 1932 |
| Died | May 10, 2000 (aged 68) Santa Monica, California |
| Nationality | American |
Career
Foster was a performer of what he called "songs your mother wouldn't sing." Foster had an album called Songs Banned in Boston, which is out of print. Prior to his television career he owned The Fox Inn, a bar in Santa Monica, California, where he performed nightly from 1961 to 1989. At the end of the night, the crowd would start chanting, "On your head! On your head!" He would carefully fold a towel, put it on the floor, stand on his head, and then drink a beer while upside down faster than anyone could drink one standing up. The Fox also spent time playing on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's campus between 1972-1987. He regularly chugged beers on campus while playing his piano and singing, long before alcohol consumption laws were ever enforced on campus. Foster appeared as a champion fast beer drinker and demonstrated his skill in a 1978 episode of Taxi, "The Great Line". Foster was also featured on an episode of NBC's early 80s reality TV show Real People.
Bill was crowned King of the 12th Occasional Doo Dah Parade in Pasadena, California on November 13, 1988. He presided over the Parade on November 27, 1988, along with Queen Richelle Small.
As an MC on The Man Show, Foster chugged beers and sang songs with the audience. He could chug two mugs of beer in less than two seconds, typically after performing the traditional German drinking cheer, "Zicke, Zacke, Zicke, Zacke, Hoi, Hoi, Hoi!".[1][2]
After the sale of The Fox Inn, Foster continued to perform with his companion and agent Nancy Grade in and around Los Angeles. He played regular engagements at Weber's in Reseda, Mom's Cantina in Brentwood, MVP Sports Bar in Simi Valley, and American Pie in Santa Monica.
Illness and Death
On May 10, 2000, Foster died at his home in Santa Monica, California after a long battle with prostate cancer. During the first episode of The Man Show (season 2) Carolla and Kimmel mention The Fox's absence due to becoming ill and wishes him the best.
During the episode's epilogue, a message read:
Shortly after taping this episode, our good friend "The Fox" passed away from Prostate Cancer. His family asks that we honor his memory by urging our male viewers to get their prostates checked regularly. With early detection his death could have been prevented. We will miss him a lot...
After The Fox's passing the hosts sporadically continued his traditional German cheer "Zicke Zacke Zicke Zacke hoi hoi hoi!" with a glassful of beer in hand at the conclusion of the show's episodes thereafter.