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Mike Fenton, the casting director behind hits like “Back to the Future,” “ET,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “The Godfather: Part II,” passed away this week, the Casting Society of America Friday. He was 85 years old.
“The Casting Society of America is saddened by the death of co-founder Mike Fenton. Her remarkable accomplishments and incredible work in raising awareness and appreciation for the casting profession define her legacy in the entertainment industry, ”ASC co-chairs Russell Boast and Rich Mento told TheWrap on Friday. “CSA extends her love and support to her cherished family and friends.
Steven Spielberg said working with Fenton was “like working in a candy store” because “he blew up the cast.”
“His staunch support of actors was a legend, and after landing a role, an actor’s smile was rarely as wide as Mike’s, ‘the’AND the extra-terrestrial ” director said in a statement. “He not only supported the actors, he launched crusades. And he was a really good actor himself, as he always read the dialogue off camera to create energy and mojo for the person reading the role.
“Mike helped me get through every moment of indecision when I had three good options and couldn’t choose. He was as responsible for some actors to take their big breaks in my films as I am, ”Spielberg added. “Much like the actors he championed for, Mike loved his role – and those around him loved him so much, and I will miss him dearly.
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An industry veteran with hundreds of credits under his belt, Fenton has died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, according to his son, Mick.
Born in 1935 in Los Angeles as Ronald Michael Fenton, Fenton joined Paramount as a casting director in 1963 after working in the mailroom of the Music Corporation of America and as an agent at the Agency. Ashley-Steiner. In 1971, he launched his own casting agency with Fred Roos in 1982 (then joined forces with Jane Feinberg and Judy Taylor. He then co-founded the Casting Society of America.
Other credits in the film include “American Graffiti”, “Chinatown”, “Young Frankenstein”, “Norma Rae”, 1982 “Blade Runner”, “A Christmas Story”, “Poltergeist”, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Footloose” And “Aliens”.
Fenton is survived by his wife Irene, his son Mick, his daughter-in-law Alison and two grandchildren.
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