About
"The director is the final voice. He must be pleased and satisfied. You're not just casting an isolated part. You have to find a blend. I don't want to use the word chemistry, but you're orchestrating an ensemble."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Lynn Stalmaster (1927-2021) talks about his early years as an actor and how he transitioned into becoming a casting director. He describes his early career, and casting shows including Gunsmoke, NBC Matinee Theater, The Twilight Zone, and The Untouchables. He discusses network involvement in the casting process, and the particular challenges of casting for each genre, including Westerns, comedies, dramas, and made-for-television movies. Stalmaster speaks of casting many television series in the 1960s and '70s including Hogan’s Heroes; Welcome Back, Kotter; and Hey Landlord!, as well as the made-for-television movies The Entertainers, Katherine, The Executioners Song, and Get Smart Again. He goes into detail about casting the smash hit miniseries Roots in 1977, and The Thorn Birds in 1983. He concludes with advice for both aspiring casting directors and for actors appearing in front of casting directors. Karen Herman conducted the interview on November 15, 2002 in Century City, CA.
Highlights
Lynn Stalmaster on his impressive career in feature films and the incredible directors with whom he worked
Lynn Stalmaster on actors in whose careers he's played an instrumental role
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Welcome Back, Kotter starring Gabe Kaplan, John Sylvester White, and John Travolta
Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope
Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps starring Richard Crenna, and on why he became a producer
Lynn Stalmaster on how diversity in casting changed during his career
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his name, his early childhood and education; on his early acting experience; on becoming a casting director, and what was gratifying to him about the process
On what he learned about casting during his time as an actor; on his learning process when he became a casting director
Chapter 2
On what he looks for when casting an actor; on the relationship between the casting director and the film's director
On casting LeVar Burton in Roots; on casting John Travolta on the Welcome Back, Kotter pilot; on working along side other casting directors
On the importance of the script and sometimes taking a chance on an actor; on working with agents; on casting Gunsmoke
Chapter 3
On the process of casting Gunsmoke; on hiring casting associates; on casting NBC Matinee Theater and The Twilight Zone
On dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director; on casting the Desilu series The Untouchables; on starting to work on feature films with directors like Robert Wise
On casting Ben Casey, The Westerner, and The New Breed; on his typical involvement with a show once it was cast; on casting Combat!
Chapter 4
On casting My Favorite Martian and Hogan's Heroes; on how influential networks were in the casting process; on casting Welcome Back, Kotter
On casting Mr. T. & Tina and Garry Marshall's Hey Landlord!; on casting the pilot of Three's Company starring John Ritter; on working with Aaron Spelling
On the particular challenges of casting movies made for television; on casting and producing Footsteps starring Richard Crenna
Chapter 5
On working with Richard Crenna on Footsteps, which he produced; on casting Sissy Spacek and Jack Lemmon in films in the 1970s and 1980s; on casting Denzel Washington on a made-for-television movie; on casting The Shadow Box with Paul Newman
On casting The Executioner's Song; on casting The Thorn Birds, Ernie Kovacs Between the Laughter, and Get Smart, Again
On casting Roots; on diversity in television
Chapter 6
On the legacy of Roots; on casting William Shatner on T.J. Hooker; on casting AfterMASH; on casting Hotel and Paper Dolls; on casting Brandon Lee in Kung Fu and casting Buck James
On casting Chicago Hope, and on working with David E. Kelley; on how the casting business has changed over time
On how he conducts his casting sessions; on what casting directors look for
Chapter 7
On his more recent casting projects; on his fondest professional memories
On the secret to working with so many varied personalities and celebrities; on advice to aspiring casting directors and actors; on career highlights and regrets; on actors whose career he has helped and how he woud like to be remembered
Shows
AfterMASH
Lynn Stalmaster on casting AfterMASH
Ben Casey
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ben Casey
Chicago Hope
Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope
Combat!
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Combat!
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Crime of the Century for HBO, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination
Entertainers, The
Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Entertainers starring Jack Lemmon and Ishi: The Last of His Tribe
Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter starring Jeff Goldblum
Executioner's Song, The
Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Executioner's Song
Footsteps
Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps
Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps starring Richard Crenna, and on why he became a producer
Get Smart
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Get Smart, Again
Gunsmoke
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Gunsmoke
Lynn Stalmaster on the process of casting Gunsmoke
Lynn Stalmaster on the challenges of casting Gunsmoke
Hey Landlord!
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hey Landlord!
Hogan's Heroes
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hogan's Heroes
Hotel
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hotel and Paper Dolls
Katherine
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Katherine starring Sissy Spacek, Art Carney, and Henry Winkler
Kung Fu
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Brandon Lee in Kung Fu and casting Buck James
Letters From Frank
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Letters From Frank starring Art Carney and Maureen Stapleton, and Flesh and Blood with Denzel Washington
Mr. T. & Tina
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Mr. T. & Tina
My Favorite Martian
Lynn Stalmaster on casting My Favorite Martian
NBC Matinee Theater
Lynn Stalmaster on doing casting live television for NBC Matinee Theater
Paper Dolls
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hotel and Paper Dolls
Roots
Lynn Stalmaster on casting LeVar Burton in Roots
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Roots produced by David L. Wolper and starring LeVar Burton
Lynn Stalmaster on the process of casting Roots
Lynn Stalmaster on the legacy of Roots
T.J. Hooker
Lynn Stalmaster on casting William Shatner on T.J Hooker
Thorn Birds, The
Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Thorn Birds
Three's Company
Lynn Stalmaster on casting the pilot of Three's Company
Twilight Zone, The
Lynn Stalmaster on doing casting for The Twilight Zone
Untouchables, The
Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Untouchables
Welcome Back, Kotter
Lynn Stalmaster on casting John Travolta on the Welcome Back, Kotter pilot
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Welcome Back, Kotter
Lynn Stalmaster on casting adult men as high school kids on Welcome Back, Kotter, and on how age factors in casting in general
Westerner, The
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Sam Peckinpah's The Westerner starring Brian Keith
Topics
Advice
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to aspiring casting directors
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to actors meeting with a casting director
Anthology Drama
Lynn Stalmaster on casting live television for NBC Matinee Theater
Historic Events and Social Change
Lynn Stalmaster on how diversity in casting changed during his career
Hollywood Blacklist
Lynn Stalmaster on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director
Industry Crossroads
Lynn Stalmaster on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director
Representation on Television
Lynn Stalmaster on how diversity in casting changed during his career
Television Industry
Lynn Stalmaster on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to aspiring casting directors
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to actors meeting with a casting director
Lynn Stalmaster on how the casting business has changed since he started his career
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Lynn Stalmaster on casting live television for NBC Matinee Theater
Underrepresented Voices
Lynn Stalmaster on how diversity in casting changed during his career
Professions
Casting Director
Lynn Stalmaster on becoming a casting director, and what was gratifying to him about the process
Lynn Stalmaster on what he learned about casting during his time as an actor
Lynn Stalmaster on his learning process when he became a casting director
Lynn Stalmaster on what he looks for in an actor's training
Lynn Stalmaster on the casting director working with the director
Lynn Stalmaster on getting to know actors
Lynn Stalmaster on experiences he's had with difficult actors, and on the importance of the script
Lynn Stalmaster on working along side other casting directors
Lynn Stalmaster on working with agents
Lynn Stalmaster on what can turn him off of an actor
Lynn Stalmaster on hiring casting associates
Lynn Stalmaster on his typical involvement with a show once it was cast
Lynn Stalmaster on how influential networks were in the casting process
Lynn Stalmaster on how the casting business has changed over time
Lynn Stalmaster on the process of casting a project, and on what a casting director looks for
Lynn Stalmaster on the secret to working with so many varied personalities and celebrities
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to aspiring casting directors
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to actors meeting with a casting director
Talent Coordinator
Lynn Stalmaster on the particular challenges of casting movies made for television
Talent Professionals
Lynn Stalmaster on becoming a casting director, and what was gratifying to him about the process
Lynn Stalmaster on what he learned about casting during his time as an actor
Lynn Stalmaster on his learning process when he became a casting director
Lynn Stalmaster on what he looks for in an actor's training
Lynn Stalmaster on the casting director working with the director
Lynn Stalmaster on getting to know actors
Lynn Stalmaster on experiences he's had with difficult actors, and on the importance of the script
Lynn Stalmaster on working along side other casting directors
Lynn Stalmaster on working with agents
Lynn Stalmaster on what can turn him off of an actor
Lynn Stalmaster on hiring casting associates
Lynn Stalmaster on his typical involvement with a show once it was cast
Lynn Stalmaster on how influential networks were in the casting process
Lynn Stalmaster on the particular challenges of casting movies made for television
Lynn Stalmaster on how the casting business has changed over time
Lynn Stalmaster on the process of casting a project, and on what a casting director looks for
Lynn Stalmaster on the secret to working with so many varied personalities and celebrities
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to aspiring casting directors
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to actors meeting with a casting director
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Lynn Stalmaster on casting live television for NBC Matinee Theater
Lynn Stalmaster on doing casting for The Twilight Zone
Comedy Series
Lynn Stalmaster on casting AfterMASH
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Lynn Stalmaster on casting the Desilu series The Untouchables starring Robert Stack
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Quinn Martin's The New Breed
Lynn Stalmaster on casting William Shatner on T.J Hooker
Drama Series
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Combat!
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Brandon Lee in Kung Fu and casting Buck James
Medical Dramas
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ben Casey
Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps, and on why he became a producer
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Katherine starring Sissy Spacek, Art Carney and Henry Winkler
Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Entertainers starring Jack Lemmon and Ishi: The Last of His Tribe
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Letters From Frank and Flesh and Blood
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Amber Waves and The Executioner's Song
Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Torn Birds starring Richard Chamberlin and Barbara Stanwyck
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Roots
Lynn Stalmaster on the legacy of Roots
Western Series
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Gunsmoke
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Sam Peckinpah's The Westerner starring Brian Keith
People
Jerry Belson
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hey Landlord! with Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
LeVar Burton
Lynn Stalmaster on casting LeVar Burton in Roots
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Roots produced by David L. Wolper and starring LeVar Burton
Richard Crenna
Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps starring Richard Crenna
Jeff Goldblum
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter starring Jeff Goldblum
Brian Keith
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Sam Peckinpah's The Westerner starring Brian Keith
David E. Kelley
Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope starring Mandy Patinkin
Garry Marshall
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hey Landlord! with Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
Quinn Martin
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Quinn Martin's The New Breed
Pat Morita
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Mr. T. & Tina starring Pat Morita
Paul Newman
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Paul Newman in various projects
Mandy Patinkin
Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope starring Mandy Patinkin
Sam Peckinpah
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Sam Peckinpah's The Westerner starring Brian Keith
John Ritter
Lynn Stalmaster on casting the pilot of Three's Company starring John Ritter
William Shatner
Lynn Stalmaster on casting William Shatner on T.J Hooker
Aaron Spelling
Lynn Stalmaster on working with Aaron Spelling
Robert Stack
Lynn Stalmaster on casting the Desilu series The Untouchables starring Robert Stack
John Travolta
Lynn Stalmaster on casting John Travolta on Welcome Back, Kotter
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Welcome Back, Kotter starring Gabe Kaplan, John Sylvester White, and John Travolta
Denzel Washington
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Flesh and Blood with Denzel Washington
Robert Wise
Lynn Stalmaster on starting to work on feature films with directors like Robert Wise
David L. Wolper
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Roots produced by David L. Wolper and starring LeVar Burton