About
"My advice is no matter what part of the business you're in, learn that aspect of the business but also create something for yourself."
In his three-hour-and-forty-minute interview, Reuben Cannon talks about his early years and moving to Los Angeles, where he took a job in the Universal mailroom. He recalls moving up at Universal into the casting department and becoming the first African American casting director. Cannon helped cast Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, and Baretta, and worked with Alex Haley on casting Roots: The Next Generations. Cannon discusses forming his own company, Reuben Cannon & Associates, and outlines casting Bruce Willis in Moonlighting, Michael J. Fox in Palmerstown U.S.A., and Oprah Winfrey in The Color Purple, which led to him later casting her in the miniseries The Women of Brewster Place. Cannon also describes his long-time working relationship with Stephen J. Cannell and casting The A-Team and The Greatest American Hero. He talks about becoming a producer, and later going to work with Tyler Perry, producing his feature films as well as his TBS series House of Payne. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on October 17, 2014 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Reuben Cannon on casting The A-Team
Reuben Cannon on casting Tenafly and being diverse in his casting
Reuben Cannon on casting and co-producing Amen
Reuben Cannon on his partnership with Oprah Winfrey on The Women of Brewster Place and meeting Maya Angelou
Reuben Cannon on how the business of casting has changed since he started
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on moving to Los Angeles and starting at Universal
On working in the mailroom at Universal; on getting into casting at Universal; on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son
On casting Tenafly; on casting Roots: The Next Generations
On starting his own company; on casting Palmerstown, U.S.A.; on casting Lazarus Syndrome
Chapter 2
On his company Reuben Cannon & Associates; on casting Greatest American Hero, A-Team, and Hunter
On casting the feature film A Soldier's Story; on casting The Winds of War; on casting Santa Barbara
On casting Moonlighting; on the importance of chemistry between actors in a project
On casting the feature film "The Color Purple"; on casting Amerika; on casting the feature film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"
Chapter 3
On casting the feature "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"; on casting Touched By an Angel and The Bernie Mac Show; on what makes a good casting director and the craft of casting
On the process of casting; on a typical casting session
On casting and co-producing The Women of Brewster Place; on his partnership with Oprah Winfrey on The Women of Brewster Place and meeting Maya Angelou
On casting "Desperado" and producing "Get on the Bus"
Chapter 4
On producing the feature film "Dancing in September"; on producing the feature "Down in the Delta"; on producing "Woman Thou Art Loosed"
On meeting Tyler Perry; on working with Tyler Perry's studio; on executive producing House of Payne
On how casting has changed since he started; on advice to aspiring casting directors and producers; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
A-Team, The
Reuben Cannon on casting The A-Team
Amen
Reuben Cannon on casting and co-producing Amen
Baretta
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son
Bernie Mac Show, The
Reuben Cannon on casting The Bernie Mac Show
Emergency!
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son
Reuben Cannon on casting Emergency!
Greatest American Hero, The
Reuben Cannon on casting The Greatest American Hero
Herman Wouk's The Winds of War
Reuben Cannon on casting Winds of War
Hunter
Reuben Cannon on casting Hunter
Ironside
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta and Sanford and Son
Lazarus Syndrome, The
Reuben Cannon on casting Louis Gossett, Jr. in The Lazarus Syndrome
Moonlighting
Reuben Cannon on casting Moonlighting
Palmerstown U.S.A.
Reuben Cannon on casting Palmerstown U.S.A.
Rockford Files, The
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son
Roots: The Next Generations
Reuben Cannon on going to work for Warner Bros. and casting Roots: The Next Generations
Reuben Cannon on working with Alex Haley and the producers of Roots: The Next Generations
Sanford and Son
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son
Santa Barbara
Reuben Cannon on casting the soap opera Santa Barbara
Touched By an Angel
Reuben Cannon on casting Touched By an Angel
Topics
Advice
Reuben Cannon advice to aspiring casting directors
Reuben Cannon on advice to aspiring producers
Historic Events and Social Change
Reuben Cannon on how the business of casting has changed since he started as the first black casting director
Representation on Television
Reuben Cannon on how the business of casting has changed since he started as the first black casting director
Television Industry
Reuben Cannon on how the business of casting has changed since he started as the first black casting director
Reuben Cannon advice to aspiring casting directors
Reuben Cannon on advice to aspiring producers
Underrepresented Voices
Reuben Cannon on how the business of casting has changed since he started
Professions
Casting Director
Reuben Cannon on the importance of chemistry in casting
Reuben Cannon on what makes a good casting director and the craft of casting
Reuben Cannon on the process of casting
Reuben Cannon on a typical casting session
Reuben Cannon advice to aspiring casting directors
Producers
Reuben Cannon on advice to aspiring producers
Talent Professionals
Reuben Cannon on the importance of chemistry in casting
Reuben Cannon on what makes a good casting director and the craft of casting
Reuben Cannon on the process of casting
Reuben Cannon on a typical casting session
Reuben Cannon advice to aspiring casting directors
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Reuben Cannon on casting The Greatest American Hero
Reuben Cannon on casting The A-Team
Comedy Series
Reuben Cannon on casting and co-producing Amen
Reuben Cannon on casting The Bernie Mac Show
Reuben Cannon on executive producing House of Payne
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta and Sanford and Son
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
Reuben Cannon on casting Moonlighting
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta and Sanford and Son
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta and Sanford and Son
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta and Sanford and Son
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Reuben Cannon on casting Santa Barbara
Drama Series
Reuben Cannon on casting Touched By an Angel
Reuben Cannon on casting Palmerstown U.S.A.
Medical Dramas
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta and Sanford and Son
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Reuben Cannon on casting Winds of War
Reuben Cannon on casting Amerika
Reuben Cannon on casting and co-producing The Women of Brewster Place
Reuben Cannon on casting Roots: The Next Generations
People
Marlon Brando
Reuben Cannon on going to work for Warner Bros. and casting Roots: The Next Generations
Stephen J. Cannell
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son
Michael J. Fox
Reuben Cannon on casting Michael J. Fox in Palmerstown U.S.A.
Redd Foxx
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son
James Garner
Reuben Cannon on casting for Ironside, Emergency!, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son
Alex Haley
Reuben Cannon on working with Alex Haley and the producers of Roots: The Next Generations
Reuben Cannon on casting Palmerstown U.S.A.
Sherman Hemsley
Reuben Cannon on casting Sherman Hemsley and co-producing Amen
Alfred Hitchcock
Reuben Cannon on working in the mailroom at Universal
Quincy Jones
Reuben Cannon on working in the mailroom at Universal
William Katt
Reuben Cannon on casting William Katt on The Greatest American Hero
Stan Margulies
Reuben Cannon on going to work for Warner Bros. and casting Roots: The Next Generations
George Peppard
Reuben Cannon on casting George Peppard on The A-Team
Della Reese
Reuben Cannon on casting Della Reese on Touched By an Angel
Connie Sellecca
Reuben Cannon on casting Connie Sellecca The Greatest American Hero
Cybill Shepherd
Reuben Cannon on casting Cybill Shepherd on Moonlighting
Bruce Willis
Reuben Cannon on casting Bruce Willis on Moonlighting
Oprah Winfrey
Reuben Cannon on casting Oprah Winfrey in the feature film "The Color Purple"
Reuben Cannon on casting and co-producing The Women of Brewster Place
David L. Wolper
Reuben Cannon on going to work for Warner Bros. and casting Roots: The Next Generations