2014 (Production)

2014-12-09 (Production)

English (Original)

Interviewee: Lynn Stalmaster
Interviewer: Mae Woods

Professional production

United States

Casting director Lynn Stalmaster is interviewed by Mae Woods at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood in 2014. Stalmaster starts with his early acting career and transition to casting director. He discusses the casting process, his collaborations with notable film directors, and selecting unknown actors for their breakthrough roles. Stalmaster discusses films from WEST SIDE STORY (1961) to THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987).

Casting director Lynn Stalmaster is interviewed by Mae Woods at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood on December 9, 2014. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Stalmaster reminisces on his Midwest childhood and his family’s subsequent move to Southern California. He recollects his teenage ambitions as a radio broadcaster and admits to not having much interest in the film industry. After a brief Army enlistment, Stalmaster discusses studying theater at UCLA before signing with MCA as an actor. He discusses his appearances in THE STEEL HELMET (1951) and FLYING LEATHERNECKS (1951), adding that he found limited work in front of the camera. Stalmaster speaks on his transition to casting director, starting with Gross-Krasne Productions then launching his own independent firm in 1955. Stalmaster remembers quickly cornering the television market and bringing new faces to GUNSMOKE (1955) and HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL (1955). He recalls casting his first feature film, I WANT TO LIVE! (1958), with director Robert Wise and working with him on WEST SIDE STORY (1961) and Stanley Kramer on JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG (1961).

Stalmaster explains his method of selecting actors from the theater, noting that they possess the discipline and preparedness needed for film portrayals. Stalmaster muses on serving as a casting consultant for Mike Nichols’ THE GRADUATE (1967) then receiving his first main title credit for Norman Jewison’s THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1968). He provides insight into selecting lead actors and speaks at length about the process for HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971), DELIVERANCE (1971) and SLEEPER (1973).

Stalmaster goes on to recall casting collaborations with directors Sydney Pollack (JEREMIAH JOHNSON, 1972; TOOTSIE, 1982), Richard Donner (SUPERMAN, 1978), and Brian de Palma (THE UNTOUCHABLES, 1987; CASUALTIES OF WAR, 1989). He discusses his work on Philip Kaufman’s THE RIGHT STUFF (1983) and describes casting 130 speaking roles, the largest ensemble of his career. Stalmaster concludes with thoughts on assigning lead roles to unknown players, advice for emerging casting directors, and ponders if he should have pursued his acting craft more seriously.

Lynn Stalmaster (1927-2021) was a film and television casting director. Stalmaster was born in Omaha, Nebraska and raised in Southern California. After earning a Master’s degree in Theater Arts from UCLA, he worked as an assistant for Gross-Krasne Productions, serving as both actor and casting director for the television series BIG TOWN (1950-1956). He appeared as an actor in THE STEEL HELMET (1951) and FLYING LEATHERNECKS (1951) before returning to casting, forming his own agency in 1955. He transitioned to features films in the early sixties with JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG (1961), WEST SIDE STORY (1961) and IRMA LA DOUCE (1963). He is noted as the first casting director to receive a main title screen credit, which was on director Norman Jewison’s THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1968). Stalmaster is credited for suggesting notable actors for offbeat roles, such as for Dustin Hoffman for THE GRADUATE (1967), Ruth Gordon for HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971), and for giving Ned Beatty his breakthrough role in DELIVERANCE (1972). Following the launch of Lynn Stalmaster & Associates in 1979, he became recognized as a Hollywood casting powerhouse, working on BEING THERE (1979), TOOTSIE (1982), and assisting director Philip Kaufman with the ensemble selection for THE RIGHT STUFF (1983). He would team with Brian De Palma to cast the critically acclaimed THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987) and CASUALTIES OF WAR (1989). Stalmaster was a recipient of the Casting Society of America’s Hoyt Bowers Award for Lifetime Achievement (2003) and received an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2016.

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