CASTING BY: The Star Makers of Hollywood

Have you ever stopped to wonder who the people are behind the scenes—the ones who cast the stars and assemble the unforgettable ensembles in your favorite films and TV series? They’re the quiet power players of Hollywood… the professionals who often spot magic before the rest of the world even knows it exists. As someone who’s lived in that world (I’ve helped cast more than 100 unscripted television series in the reality TV space), I can tell you firsthand: casting takes far more than just a good eye for talent. It takes instinct, psychology, creativity, patience—and sometimes a little bit of faith. After all, today’s unknown auditioning actor could very well become tomorrow’s household name.

So what exactly does a casting director do? In short, they bring characters to life. Casting directors collaborate closely with directors and producers, break down scripts, hold auditions, present multiple casting options, negotiate deals, and ultimately ensure that every role—large or small—fits the project’s creative vision. Along the way, they frequently discover new stars, champion overlooked performers, and help launch careers that shape entertainment history.

In many ways, casting directors are Hollywood’s ultimate talent matchmakers. Using deep industry knowledge and finely tuned instincts, they assemble the right performers for every role—often making the difference between a good production and a truly unforgettable one. When casting is right, audiences believe the story, connect with the characters, and fall in love with the performances.

I recently had the opportunity to interview legendary casting director Joel Thurm, whose candid memoir Sex, Drugs & Pilot Season: Confessions of a Casting Director pulls back the curtain on his extraordinary career as VP of Talent and Casting at NBC, Paramount Studios, and CBS. Our unforgettable conversation spans Episodes 155 and 156 of Hollywood Obsessed Podcast—click HERE to listen now.

In the meantime, read on to learn more about some of the exceptional casting directors—Hollywood’s true star makers—who helped introduce audiences to the performers who have defined the films and television series we love. Enjoy!

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Marion Dougherty – The Casting Revolutionary

Marion Dougherty stands as one of the most legendary and influential casting directors in Hollywood history. Her extraordinary body of work includes Lethal Weapon, The World of Henry Orient, Midnight Cowboy, Looking For Mr Goodbar, The World According to Garp, and Batman. In the 1970s, Dougherty helped transform casting from a purely administrative task into a powerful creative force—forever changing how films were made.

From the late 1950s through the early 1990s, Dougherty was instrumental in shaping numerous legendary careers while also guiding and supporting waves of women as they began working in Hollywood. She launched the careers of Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Glenn Close Mel Gibson, Jon Voight, Bette Midler and countless other iconic actors., making fearless casting decisions that would leave a lasting impact on the film industry.

Her filmography reads like a master class in cinematic history. Dougherty’s work on The World of Henry Orient, Hawaii, and Midnight Cowboy helped define an era of fearless, actor-driven storytelling. In 1972, she made history with Slaughterhouse-Five, becoming one of the first casting directors to receive a full title card credit—a milestone moment in the fight for recognition of the craft. From 1979 to 1999, she served as Vice President of Casting at Warner Bros., where her influence shaped decades of studio filmmaking.

In 1991, a coalition of prominent filmmakers and actors—including Clint Eastwood, Woody Allen, and Al Pacino—petitioned the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to award Dougherty an honorary Oscar. Sadly, that long-overdue recognition never came before her passing in 2011.

Dougherty’s legacy is powerfully captured in Casting By (2012), the acclaimed documentary that chronicles her career and her often-heated battles with directors over casting choices. The film also exposes the Directors Guild of America’s long-standing efforts to eliminate the “casting director” credit altogether, effectively blocking Oscar recognition for nearly a century.

Thankfully, this year, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences will finally present its first Oscar for Achievement in Casting—a historic moment decades in the making. One can’t help but imagine Marion Dougherty smiling, knowing that casting directors are at last being recognized for their artistry and their essential role in bringing stories to life.

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Lynn Stalmaster – The Father of Modern Casting

Widely regarded as the most famous casting director in Hollywood history, Lynn Stalmaster set the gold standard for modern casting, amassing more than 400 film and television credits over an extraordinary career.

Stalmaster established himself early as a creative powerhouse, working seamlessly across both television and feature films. During the height of his career, he cast more than 60 films in a single decade, including Fiddler on the Roof, Harold and Maude, The Cowboys, Deliverance, Rollerball, Silver Streak, Black Sunday, Coming Home, Convoy, The Rose, Superman, and Being There—a résumé that helped define American cinema of the 1960s and ’70s.

His impact on television was equally profound. Stalmaster cast landmark series such as Gunsmoke, The Untouchables, and My Favorite Martian, shaping some of the most enduring characters in television history. His work extended to multiple Academy Award–winning films, including In the Heat of the Night, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Right Stuff, and Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables.

In 1968, Stalmaster made history as the first casting director to receive a stand alone credit card in the main titles of a feature film, beginning with The Thomas Crown Affair. From that moment forward, “Casting by Lynn Stalmaster” became a mark of excellence, appearing in the opening titles of more than 180 films.

In recognition of his monumental contributions, Stalmaster became the first casting director to receive an Academy Award when he was honored with an Honorary Oscar in 2016. Two years later, the Casting Society of America established the Lynn Stalmaster Award for Career Achievement, further cementing his legacy. Past honorees include Annette Bening, Laura Dern, and Geena Davis.

Lynn Stalmaster passed away in 2021 at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy that permanently elevated both the art and recognition of casting in Hollywood.

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Joel Thurm – The Star Discoverer

Joel Thurm is a legendary Hollywood casting director and former Vice President of Talent and Casting for Paramount Television and NBC, whose influence can be felt across some of the most iconic films and television series of all time. His work helped shape pop culture classics such as Grease, Airplane!, Taxi, and The Golden Girls, while also discovering and championing future superstars including John Travolta, the Phoenix family, and Tom Cruise.

As Head of Casting at Spelling–Goldberg Productions, Thurm played a pivotal role in assembling the casts of blockbuster television hits like Charlie’s Angels, Starsky & Hutch, and Fantasy Island. He later brought that same creative instinct to NBC, where his keen eye for talent helped define a golden era of television. His extensive credits also include Cheers, Hill Street Blues, The Love Boat, L.A. Law, and many other cornerstones of American TV.

On the feature film side, Thurm’s casting legacy includes Grease, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Airplane!, and The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. He famously championed John Travolta for The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, identified the Phoenix family—including River and Joaquin—at an early age, and was involved in the early casting of future stars such as Madonna and Jason Bateman.

Thurm recounts his remarkable career in his candid and highly entertaining memoir, Sex, Drugs & Pilot Season: Confessions of a Casting Director, offering an insider’s look at the casting process and Hollywood history from someone who lived it.

To hear my unforgettable, in-depth conversation with Joel Thurm, tune in to Hollywood Obsessed Podcast Episodes 155 and 156—click HERE to listen now.

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Sarah Finn – The Blockbuster Builder

Sarah Finn is the highest-grossing casting director in history and the creative architect behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Her casting choices launched and shaped an entire generation of global stars while redefining what modern blockbuster casting could be. Beyond Marvel, Finn’s instincts for originality and emotional truth shone in Everything Everywhere All at Once, proving her range extends far beyond franchises into bold, character-driven storytelling.

Ellen Lewis – Scorsese’s Casting Partner

Ellen Lewis is a longtime and trusted collaborator of Martin Scorsese, playing a vital role in casting many of his most acclaimed films, including The Departed and Killers of the Flower Moon. Renowned for assembling richly layered ensembles, Lewis balances star power with authenticity, bringing depth, nuance, and emotional credibility to some of modern cinema’s most ambitious and enduring works.

Allison Jones – The Ensemble Whisperer

Allison Jones is synonymous with perfectly calibrated ensemble casting, particularly in comedy. She helped define a generation of television with The Office, Freaks and Geeks, Parks and Recreation, Veep, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place, and What We Do in the Shadows. Jones is celebrated for discovering and nurturing talent that would go on to dominate film and television, with work marked by naturalism, razor-sharp comedic instincts, and an uncanny ability to find performers who feel instantly real.

Carmen Cuba – The Rule Breaker

Carmen Cuba launched her casting career in 1999 with Larry Clark’s Bully, beginning a bold and eclectic body of work. She expanded into television with HBO’s Behind the Candelabra, earning an Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or Movie, followed by Emmy wins and nominations for Stranger Things. A frequent collaborator of Steven Soderbergh, her work spans from experimental films like Bubble to recent features including Black Bag and The Christophers. Her credits also include major projects for Ridley Scott such as The Martian and Alien: Covenant, showcasing remarkable versatility across genres and scale.

Juliet Taylor – The Actor’s Advocate

Juliet Taylor is one of Hollywood’s most revered casting directors, best known for her long collaboration with Woody Allen. He credits her with introducing him to actors including Jeff Daniels, Mary Beth Hurt, Patricia Clarkson, Mariel Hemingway, Dianne Wiest, Meryl Streep, Joaquin Phoenix, and Parker Posey. A six-time Casting Society of America Award winner, Taylor has cast over 100 films. In November 2024, she received an Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievement. Her work also includes landmark films such as Schindler’s List, reflecting her mastery of both intimate character studies and sweeping historical dramas.

Sharon Bialy – The Prestige Powerhouse

Sharon Bialy is an award-winning casting director whose work spans television, film, and theater. Her television credits include Julia, Barry, The Handmaid’s Tale, Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Perry Mason, Dead to Me, and The Comey Rule. Her films include El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, Copshop, and Secret in Their Eyes. A recipient of the 2011 Media Access Award for her commitment to casting actors with disabilities, Bialy is also the author of the acclaimed guide How to Audition on Camera. She has partnered with Sherry Thomas at Bialy/Thomas & Associates for over 25 years.

John Papsidera – The Epic Strategist

John Papsidera is best known for his collaborations with Christopher Nolan, casting epic, intricately structured films including The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, Oppenheimer, and Memento. His feature credits also include Zombieland, Venom, Jurassic World, The Suicide Squad, and DC Studios’ Superman (2025). On television, his work spans Westworld, The Expanse, Peacemaker, Wednesday, Yellowstone, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Renowned for assembling intelligent, emotionally grounded ensembles, Papsidera consistently balances spectacle with humanity.

Avy Kaufman – The Ensemble Architect

Avy Kaufman is celebrated for casting richly textured, emotionally complex ensembles in films such as Life of Pi and Lincoln. With more than 150 film and television credits, she has worked with directors including Steven Spielberg, John Sayles, Jodie Foster, and Wes Craven. Her credits include Brokeback Mountain, Matewan, Little Man Tate, The Sixth Sense, Succession, Mare of Easttown, Tár, and Babygirl. Her work blends established stars with unexpected discoveries, creating performances that feel both intimate and epic.

Debra Zane – The Modern Classicist

Debra Zane’s work spans genres while consistently delivering unforgettable performances. Her credits include American Beauty, Catch Me If You Can, Dreamgirls, War of the Worlds (2005), Ocean’s Eleven, Traffic, Galaxy Quest, and The Hunger Games. Known for pairing emerging talent with seasoned actors, Zane’s casting choices have helped define modern classics that endure across generations.

Rich Delia – The Authenticity Hunter

Born and raised on Long Island, Rich Delia began his career as an actor and theater artist before transitioning into casting. As founder of Rich Delia Casting, he has built an impressive résumé including the IT franchise, King Richard, Game Night, Shazam!, and Birds of Prey. In 2015, he won the Artios Award for Dallas Buyers Club. His work is prized for its authenticity, emotional depth, and powerful ensemble chemistry.

David Rubin – The Studio Era Bridge

David Rubin began his career in New York on the production staff of Saturday Night Live before moving into casting on films such as Ragtime, Silkwood, and Amadeus. After relocating to Los Angeles, he partnered with legendary casting director Lynn Stalmaster on projects including The Name of the Rose, The Big Easy, and Spaceballs. His credits also include The English Patient, Hairspray, Men in Black, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Four Weddings and a Funeral, along with television projects like Big Little Lies and Sharp Objects. Rubin served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2019 to 2022.

Sasha Alpert – The Reality TV Casting Queen

Sasha Alpert holds a special place on this list—she gave me my first major break in unscripted casting. A true trailblazer, she is the multiple Emmy–winning Executive Vice President of Bunim/Murray Productions’ documentary division, BMP Films, which she founded in 2007. Under her leadership, BMP produced socially impactful documentaries including Autism: The Musical and Valentine Road.

Alpert also oversaw casting for all Bunim/Murray reality programming for seventeen years, shaping the foundation of modern unscripted television. Her credits include more than 25 seasons of The Real World, 11 seasons of Project Runway, Best Ink, and The Simple Life. She was instrumental in securing Television Academy recognition for unscripted casting, winning an Emmy for Born This Way and earning multiple nominations for Project Runway.

Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of reality TV casting, Sasha didn’t just shape shows—she built a discipline, championed its artists, and permanently changed how unscripted stories are cast and told.

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THE FIRST OSCAR NOMINEES FOR CASTING

For the first time ever, casting directors are being formally recognized with Oscar nominations—a long-overdue spotlight on the artists who shape a story long before the cameras roll. Casting is story architecture. It’s intuition, psychology, chemistry, bold risk-taking, and ensemble balance—all working in perfect harmony.

This historic inaugural group represents exceptional films, decades of influence, fearless choices, and tireless advocacy for actors at every stage of their careers. The first-ever nominees for Achievement in Casting are Nina Gold (Hamnet), Jennifer Venditti (Marty Supreme), Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle After Another), Gabriel Domingues (The Secret Agent), and Francine Maisler (Sinners).

Nina Gold is celebrated for her work on Rome, Game of Thrones, The Crown, and The Day of the Jackal, along with films including Les Misérables, The Martian, The Two Popes, Conclave, and five Star Wars films. She earns her Oscar nomination for her exquisite casting on Hamnet.

Jennifer Venditti, Emmy-nominated for Euphoria, is known for her fearless work on films like Uncut Gems and Good Time. For Marty Supreme, she blended professional and non-professional actors to create a textured, lived-in world—earning her a place among the Academy’s first casting nominees.

Francine Maisler, renowned for The Revenant and 12 Years a Slave, has built a career championing powerful, actor-driven storytelling. A two-time Emmy winner with additional nominations for work on Succession, The Underground Railroad, True Detective, and more, she receives her Oscar nomination for Sinners.

Cassandra Kulukundis began her journey as an intern on Paul Thomas Anderson’s Hard Eight and went on to cast Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, The Master, Licorice Pizza, and The Brutalist. Her nomination recognizes her work on One Battle After Another, continuing a career defined by bold, singular casting choices.

Gabriel Domingues, a Brazilian casting director, has worked across film and television on projects such as Paterno, The Blue Trail, Power Alley, Aruna’s Magic, and New Bandits. He earns his historic nomination for The Secret Agent, marking a major global moment for the craft.

To all the nominees—good luck. Whoever takes home the statue will forever be the first Casting Director to win an Oscar, and that’s no small thing. It’s inspiring, overdue, and absolutely worth celebrating.

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Some facts in this post were sourced from IMDb and Wikipedia.

And now that you know a bit more about Hollywood’s legendary star makers, do yourself a favor and tune in to my in-depth, nostalgia-packed conversation with Joel Thurm on the Hollywood Obsessed Podcast. Episodes 155 and 156 are a joyful, no-filter ride through TV and film history—filled with heart, humor, and pure classic Hollywood magic.

Listen here:

Episode 155 – HERE

Episode 156 – HERE

Curtain up on casting—at last!!