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Lynn Stalmaster, who was the first casting director to receive an Oscar, died today at his home in Los Angeles. He was 93 years old and his death was confirmed by Laura Adler of the Casting Society of America.
Stalmaster had a legendary vision for the cast. He is credited with moving Dustin Hoffman to The graduation, Christopher Reeve as Superman, and tabbing young John Travolta for a TV comedy classic Happy to see you again, Kotter, among many others.
The Governors Awards in November 2016 saw Stalmaster become the first casting director to receive an Oscar. The Honorary Oscar recognized his long and meritorious career.
Stalmaster also had another notable achievement: on Norman 1968 Jewison Film The Thomas Crown affair Stalmaster became the first casting director to receive a single card credit in the headlines.
Stalmaster has over 400 casting credits among them classics such as Inherit the wind (1960), The great Escape (1963), In the heat of the Night (1967), They shoot horses, don’t they? (1969), Harold and Maude (1971), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), Tootsie (1982), New 1/2 weeks (1986), and The bonfire of vanities (1990).
“Never compromise,” he said at the Governors Awards. “Regardless of the size of a role, even if it’s just a reaction.”
Stalmaster was not only good at spotting actors. For the 1972 film Issuance, he held a casting at an elementary school in Georgia. There he discovered Billy Redden, who is most remembered as the young banjo player. Ned Beatty was also cast for the film, his first major film role.
The list of Stalmaster credits includes William Shatner (Judgment at Nuremberg), take Burton for the hit series Roots; country singer Mac Davis in North Dallas Forty (1979); and named Oscar nominated Sam Shepard as Chuck test pilot Yeager in 1983 Good things.
Stalmaster was born November 17, 1927 in Omaha, Nebraska. His family then moved to Los Angeles and he attended Beverly Hills High School and UCLA, where he earned a master’s degree in theater arts. At the start of his career he was an actor in films such as The steel helmet (1951), written and directed by Samuel Fuller, and Ruffled leather collars (1951), with John Wayne.
The savvy Stalmaster has hedged his bets, however, working as an assistant producer and seguant to launch their shows after their original casting director retired. He became independent a few years later and has never looked back.
Casting Socity of America Co-Chairs Russell Boast and Rich Mento released a statement on the passing of Stalmaster.
“A trailblazer in our craft, Lynn was a trailblazer with over half a century of world-class film and television casting credits. He was a friend and a mentor to many of us. We offer our condolences to his family and friends. Lynn will be missed deeply, deeply. “They finished,”Thanks, Lynn, for showing us the way. “
Stalmaster’s family are preparing an announcement about his death. We’ll update with details of the survivors and a memorial when it’s released.
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