Before Meg Foster ever appeared on our television screens, she was already building a life around her passion — not for fame, but for the craft of acting. Born May 10, 1948, in Reading, Pennsylvania, and raised in Rowayton, Connecticut, Meg grew up surrounded by creativity and the grounding influence of her four siblings. She found comfort in storytelling and performance early on, a path that eventually led her to New York City’s Neighborhood Playhouse, where she studied under the legendary Sanford Meisner.
Her early theater work was wide-ranging and formative. Roles like Miss Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer and Feeney Evans in George Bernard Shaw’s The Shewing Up of Blanco Posnet weren’t glamorous, but they were vital. These characters taught her how to carry a scene, feel a story’s rhythm, and fully inhabit the emotional lives of others. By 1969, she earned her first television role in NET Playhouse—a small part, but the beginning of a remarkable journey.
Throughout the 1970s, Meg built a steady television career, with appearances on Barnaby Jones, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Hawaii Five-O. Her intensity on screen and haunting, crystal-blue eyes made her unforgettable. Audiences connected with her raw authenticity. When she took on the role of Hester Prynne in the miniseries The Scarlet Letter, critics took notice. It was a defining performance—one that showcased her emotional depth and cemented her as a serious talent.
Then came a painful turn.
In the early 1980s, CBS cast her as Christine Cagney in the original pilot of Cagney & Lacey. It was a groundbreaking opportunity—strong, complex women in leading roles. But only months later, Meg was abruptly replaced by Sharon Gless. No official explanation was given. Rumors swirled: Was she difficult on set? Did she clash with executives? None were confirmed, but the silence surrounding her dismissal spoke volumes—and it cost her dearly.