Ethel Winant

Casting Director / Executive

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her three-and-a-half-hour interview, Ethel Winant (1922-2003) discusses her background in theater and how she got her start in television as a volunteer for Studio One, produced by Worthington Minor. Winant talks about her shift into casting and her job with David Susskind's Talent Associates. She speaks about her experience as one of the first, high-ranking female executives in television, working for CBS and NBC. Winant's fondest memories in television focus on her work as a casting director for Playhouse 90, and the talented people she worked with: John Houseman, John Frankenheimer, Martin Manulis, Fred Coe, and Hubbell Robinson. Additionally, she talks about casting ensemble shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Sunny Parich conducted the interview on August 7, 1996 in Beverly Hills, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"It's harder to be a good casting director now because the world is so much bigger. I used to have this simple advice which was to watch a lot of television, watch a lot of movies, start making lists, and every time you see somebody that you like, write their name down. Keep lists, keep cards, do all that. I don't know if it's possible anymore, but I think it's really what it's about -- seeing as many people as you can."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "Days of Wine and Roses"

01:47

Ethel Winant on rising up through the ranks at CBS as a woman

01:26

Ethel Winant on being the first female executive at CBS and dealing with other executives like William S. Paley

05:58

Ethel Winant on casting The Mary Tyler Moore Show

04:45

Ethel Winant on advice to aspiring casting directors

02:06

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her early life and influences; on her college years and working at the Pasadena Playhouse; on her early involvement in television via the Pasadena Playhouse; on seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair

On her experience during World War II; on moving to New York City in 1945 and on the cultural and artistic scene in Manhattan at that time; on working with Tennessee Williams as an agent's assistant

On working in the Broadway theater and getting involved with casting for television via Studio One

Chapter 2

On going to work for David Susskind at Talent Associates; on the first television show she cast, Justice, and on casting Armstrong Circle Theatre; on dealing with the network on casting blacklisted actors and minorities on television in the '50s and on the kind of talent that was drawn to the classic anthology series of the era

On casting Playhouse 90; on casting various Playhouse 90 productions, including "Days of Wine and Roses"; on the importance of casting and on the different types of casting

Chapter 3

On the craft of casting for television; on learning how to cast for television and on dealing with directors and producers when casting; on casting Suzy Parker in Playhouse 90's production of "The Death of Manolete"

On the differences between a casting director and a talent scout; on casting The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on casting Perry Mason

On helping to cast All in the Family and other shows for CBS; on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist on shows like Armstrong Circle Theatre

Chapter 4

On dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director; on difficulties she encountered in casting minority actors for shows like Playhouse 90 and The United States Steel Hour's production of "Doomsday at Noon"

On Playhouse 90's productions of "Portrait of a Murderer" and "Judgement at Nuremberg", and on network and sponsor censorship

On being named Vice President of Talent and Casting at CBS; on rising up through the ranks at CBS as a woman

Chapter 5

On being the first female executive at CBS and dealing with other executives like William S. Paley; on her mentors, including Audrey Wood and Irene Selznick, and how she felt about her career; on the then-current state of television

On producing The Great Adventure; on becoming Vice President of Movies and Miniseries at NBC in 1975 and later going to work for Metromedia; on producing made-for-television movies and miniseries and on not wanting to work on feature films; on career highlights

Chapter 6

On various accolades she's received; on career regrets; on the Golden Age of Television and what represents the best of television; on advice to aspiring casting directors

On her personal qualities and what she might have done without television; on how she'd like to be remembered; on various people with whom she has worked in her career

Chapter 7

On various people she's worked with in her career

On B-roll clips from her career: Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward on the set of Playhouse 90; Jack Lemmon and cast on the set of Playhouse 90; with the staff of Playhouse 90; Buster Keaton and cast on the set of Playhouse 90; Cliff Robertson and Piper Laurie on the set of Playhouse 90's production of "Days of Wine and Roses"; cast photo of The Mary Tyler Moore Show; with her best friend in high school; on the set of Andersonville with John Frankenheimer; a script for Shogun; John Houseman

Shows

All in the Family

Ethel Winant on helping to cast for All in the Family and other shows for CBS

02:46

Armstrong Circle Theatre

Ethel Winant on the first television show she cast, Justice, and on casting Armstrong Circle Theatre

02:11

Ethel Winant on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist on shows like Armstrong Circle Theatre

Mary Tyler Moore Show, The

Ethel Winant on casting The Mary Tyler Moore Show

04:45

Perry Mason

Ethel Winant on casting Perry Mason: Raymond Burr

03:03

Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

Ethel Winant on the kind of talent that was drawn to shows like Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

04:51

Playhouse 90

Ethel Winant on casting Playhouse 90

04:22

Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "Days of Wine and Roses": Cliff Robertson

01:07

Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "The Death of Manolete"

01:43

Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "The Last Clear Chance" starring Paul Muni

03:25

Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "The Old Man" -- the first production on television to utilize edited video tape

01:38

Ethel Winant on casting Suzy Parker in Playhouse 90's production of "The Death of Manolete"

01:18

Ethel Winant on difficulties she encountered in casting minority actors for shows like Playhouse 90 and The United States Steel Hour's production of "Doomsday at Noon"

04:51

Ethel Winant on Playhouse 90's productions of "Portrait of a Murderer" and "Judgement at Nuremberg", and on network and sponsor censorship

09:49

Playhouse 90: "Days of Wine and Roses"

Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "Days of Wine and Roses"

01:07

Playhouse 90: "The Death of Manolete"

Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "The Death of Manolete"

01:44

Ethel Winant on casting Suzy Parker in Playhouse 90's production of "The Death of Manolete"

01:18

Playhouse 90: "The Old Man"

Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "The Old Man" -- the first production on television to utilize edited video tape

01:38

Studio One

Ethel Winant on working in the Broadway theater and getting involved with casting for television via Studio One

07:15

United States Steel Hour, The

Ethel Winant on difficulties she encountered in casting minority actors for shows like Playhouse 90 and The United States Steel Hour's production of "Doomsday at Noon"

04:51

Topics

1939-40 World's Fair

Ethel Winant on early involvement in television via the Pasadena Playhouse and on seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair

02:56

Advice

Ethel Winant on advice to aspiring casting directors

02:06

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Ethel Winant on Playhouse 90's productions of "Portrait of a Murderer" and "Judgement at Nuremberg", and on network and sponsor censorship

09:49

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Ethel Winant on her mentors, including Audrey Wood and Irene Selznick, and how she felt about her career

06:59

Historic Events and Social Change

Ethel Winant on early involvement in television via the Pasadena Playhouse and on seeing television at the 1939 World's Fair

02:56

Ethel Winant on her experience during World War II

03:41

Hollywood Blacklist

Ethel Winant on dealing with the network on casting blacklisted actors and minorities on television in the '50s

02:08

Ethel Winant on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist on shows like Armstrong Circle Theatre

01:54

Industry Crossroads

Ethel Winant on dealing with the network on casting blacklisted actors and minorities on television in the '50s

02:08

Ethel Winant on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist on shows like Armstrong Circle Theatre

01:54

Ethel Winant on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director

06:10

Pivotal Career Moments

Ethel Winant on her mentors, including Audrey Wood and Irene Selznick, and how she felt about her career

06:59

Representation on Television

Ethel Winant on dealing with the network on casting blacklisted actors and minorities on television in the '50s

02:08

Ethel Winant on difficulties she encountered in casting minority actors for shows like Playhouse 90 and The United States Steel Hour's production of "Doomsday at Noon"

04:51

Ethel Winant on rising up through the ranks at CBS as a woman

01:26

Ethel Winant on being the first female executive at CBS and dealing with other executives like William S. Paley

05:58

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

Ethel Winant on the Golden Age of Television and what represents the best of television

05:40

Technological Innovation

Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "The Old Man" -- the first production on television to utilize edited video tape

01:38

Television Industry

Ethel Winant on dealing with the network on casting blacklisted actors and minorities on television in the '50s

02:08

Ethel Winant on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist on shows like Armstrong Circle Theatre

01:54

Ethel Winant on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director

06:10

Ethel Winant on Playhouse 90's productions of "Portrait of a Murderer" and "Judgement at Nuremberg", and on network and sponsor censorship

09:49

Ethel Winant on the then-current state of television

02:25

Ethel Winant on the then-future of television

03:51

Ethel Winant on advice to aspiring casting directors

02:06

Underrepresented Voices

Ethel Winant on dealing with the network on casting blacklisted actors and minorities on television in the '50s

02:08

Ethel Winant on difficulties she encountered in casting minority actors for shows like Playhouse 90 and The United States Steel Hour's production of "Doomsday at Noon"

04:51

War

Ethel Winant on her experience during World War II

03:41

Women

Ethel Winant on rising up through the ranks at CBS as a woman

01:26

Ethel Winant on being the first female executive at CBS and dealing with other executives like William S. Paley

05:58

World War II

Ethel Winant on her experience during World War II

03:41

Professions

Casting Director

View Profession

Ethel Winant on the importance of casting and on the different types of casting

05:13

Ethel Winant on learning how to cast for television and on dealing with directors and producers when casting

04:26

Ethel Winant on the differences between a casting director and a talent scout

01:53

Ethel Winant on advice to aspiring casting directors

02:06

Talent Professionals

View Profession

Ethel Winant on the craft of casting for television

04:35

Ethel Winant on learning how to cast for television and on dealing with directors and producers when casting

04:26

Ethel Winant on the differences between a casting director and a talent scout

01:53

Ethel Winant on advice to aspiring casting directors

02:06

Genres

Classic Anthology Series

Ethel Winant on working in the Broadway theater and getting involved with casting for television via Studio One

07:05

Ethel Winant on the first television show she cast, Justice, and on casting Armstrong Circle Theatre

02:11

Ethel Winant on the kind of talent that was drawn to shows like Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

04:51

Ethel Winant on casting Playhouse 90

12:17

Ethel Winant on Playhouse 90's productions of "Portrait of a Murderer" and "Judgement at Nuremberg", and on network and sponsor censorship

09:49

Comedy Series

Ethel Winant on casting The Mary Tyler Moore Show

04:45

Drama Series

Ethel Winant on producing The Great Adventure

03:17

Legal Dramas

Ethel Winant on casting Perry Mason: Raymond Burr

03:03

People

Arthur Penn

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Ethel Winant on Franklin J. Schaffner, Arthur Penn, and Martin Manulis

01:34

Audrey Wood

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Ethel Winant on her mentors, including Audrey Wood and Irene Selznick, and how she felt about her career

06:59

Cliff Robertson

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Ethel Winant on casting for Playhouse 90's production of "Days of Wine and Roses": Cliff Robertson

01:07

Cloris Leachman

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Ethel Winant on casting The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Cloris Leachman

04:45

David Susskind

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Ethel Winant on going to work for David Susskind at Talent Associates

03:35

Ethel Winant on David Susskind and Mary Tyler Moore

02:00

Edward Asner

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Ethel Winant on casting The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Edward Asner

04:45

Frank Stanton

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Ethel Winant on Frank Stanton and Ralph Nelson

02:31

Franklin J. Schaffner

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Ethel Winant on Franklin J. Schaffner, Arthur Penn, and Martin Manulis

01:34

Fred Coe

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Ethel Winant on Fred Coe and John Frankenheimer

01:32

Fred Silverman

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Ethel Winant on Fred Silverman and Rod Serling

00:42

Gavin MacLeod

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Ethel Winant on casting The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Gavin MacLeod

04:45

George Roy Hill

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Ethel Winant on George Roy Hill

01:46

Grant Tinker

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Ethel Winant on Grant Tinker and Leonard Goldenson

00:37

Hubbell Robinson

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Ethel Winant on Hubbell Robinson and William S. Paley

01:57

John Frankenheimer

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Ethel Winant on Fred Coe and John Frankenheimer

01:33

John Houseman

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Ethel Winant on John Houseman

02:29

Martin Manulis

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Ethel Winant on Franklin J. Schaffner, Arthur Penn, and Martin Manulis

01:34

Mary Tyler Moore

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Ethel Winant on David Susskind and Mary Tyler Moore

02:00

Ralph Nelson

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Ethel Winant on Frank Stanton and Ralph Nelson

02:31

Raymond Burr

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Ethel Winant on casting Perry Mason: Raymond Burr

03:03

Ethel Winant on Raymond Burr

01:04

Rob Reiner

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Ethel Winant on helping to cast for All in the Family and other shows for CBS: Rob Reiner

02:46

Rod Serling

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Ethel Winant on Fred Silverman and Rod Serling

00:42

Ted Knight

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Ethel Winant on casting The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Ted Knight

04:45

Tennessee Williams

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Ethel Winant on working with Tennessee Williams as an agent's assistant

01:57

Valerie Harper

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Ethel Winant on casting The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Valerie Harper

04:45

William S. Paley

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Ethel Winant on being the first female executive at CBS and dealing with other executives like William S. Paley

05:59

Ethel Winant on Hubbell Robinson and William S. Paley

01:59