Lynn Stalmaster

Casting Executive


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

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.

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

"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." 

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Lynn Stalmaster on his impressive career in feature films and the incredible directors with whom he worked
03:15
Lynn Stalmaster on actors in whose careers he's played an instrumental role
02:13
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Welcome Back, Kotter starring Gabe Kaplan, John Sylvester White, and John Travolta
05:02
Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope
02:28
Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps starring Richard Crenna, and on why he became a producer
02:03
Lynn Stalmaster on how diversity in casting changed during his career
01:52
Full Interview

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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

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting AfterMASH
00:28

Ben Casey

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ben Casey
01:37

Chicago Hope

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope
02:28

Combat!

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Combat!
01:05

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Crime of the Century for HBO, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination
01:37

Entertainers, The

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Entertainers starring Jack Lemmon and Ishi: The Last of His Tribe
02:26

Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter starring Jeff Goldblum
02:17

Executioner's Song, The

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Executioner's Song
01:24

Footsteps

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps
01:20
Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps starring Richard Crenna, and on why he became a producer
02:03

Get Smart

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Get Smart, Again
00:31

Gunsmoke

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Gunsmoke
02:55
Lynn Stalmaster on the process of casting Gunsmoke
03:09
Lynn Stalmaster on the challenges of casting Gunsmoke
01:20

Hey Landlord!

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hey Landlord!
02:33

Hogan's Heroes

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hogan's Heroes
01:01

Hotel

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hotel and Paper Dolls
03:06

Katherine

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Katherine starring Sissy Spacek, Art Carney, and Henry Winkler
02:04

Kung Fu

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Brandon Lee in Kung Fu and casting Buck James
02:20

Letters From Frank

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Letters From Frank starring Art Carney and Maureen Stapleton, and Flesh and Blood with Denzel Washington
01:46

Mr. T. & Tina

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Mr. T. & Tina
01:41

My Favorite Martian

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting My Favorite Martian
01:44

NBC Matinee Theater

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Lynn Stalmaster on doing casting live television for NBC Matinee Theater
01:16

Paper Dolls

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hotel and Paper Dolls
03:06

Roots

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting LeVar Burton in Roots
01:20
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Roots produced by David L. Wolper and starring LeVar Burton
02:42
Lynn Stalmaster on the process of casting Roots
07:55
Lynn Stalmaster on the legacy of Roots
00:51

T.J. Hooker

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting William Shatner on T.J Hooker
01:21

Thorn Birds, The

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Thorn Birds
00:51

Three's Company

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting the pilot of Three's Company
01:18

Twilight Zone, The

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Lynn Stalmaster on doing casting for The Twilight Zone
01:58

Untouchables, The

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Untouchables
02:20

Welcome Back, Kotter

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting John Travolta on the Welcome Back, Kotter pilot
01:44
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Welcome Back, Kotter
05:02
Lynn Stalmaster on casting adult men as high school kids on Welcome Back, Kotter, and on how age factors in casting in general
03:08

Westerner, The

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Sam Peckinpah's The Westerner starring Brian Keith
02:06
Topics

Advice

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Lynn Stalmaster on advice to aspiring casting directors
02:15
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to actors meeting with a casting director
00:52

Anthology Drama

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting live television for NBC Matinee Theater
01:16

Historic Events and Social Change

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Lynn Stalmaster on how diversity in casting changed during his career
01:52

Hollywood Blacklist

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Lynn Stalmaster on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director
01:51

Industry Crossroads

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Lynn Stalmaster on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director
01:51

Representation on Television

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Lynn Stalmaster on how diversity in casting changed during his career
01:52

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

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting live television for NBC Matinee Theater
01:16

Television Industry

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Lynn Stalmaster on dealing with the Hollywood Blacklist as a casting director
01:51
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to aspiring casting directors
02:15
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to actors meeting with a casting director
00:52
Lynn Stalmaster on how the casting business has changed since he started his career
03:09

Underrepresented Voices

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Lynn Stalmaster on how diversity in casting changed during his career
01:52
Professions

Casting Director

View Profession
Lynn Stalmaster on becoming a casting director, and what was gratifying to him about the process
03:53
Lynn Stalmaster on what he learned about casting during his time as an actor
06:40
Lynn Stalmaster on his learning process when he became a casting director
06:35
Lynn Stalmaster on what he looks for in an actor's training
05:33
Lynn Stalmaster on the casting director working with the director
04:21
Lynn Stalmaster on getting to know actors
02:56
Lynn Stalmaster on experiences he's had with difficult actors, and on the importance of the script
02:57
Lynn Stalmaster on working along side other casting directors
02:26
Lynn Stalmaster on working with agents
03:37
Lynn Stalmaster on what can turn him off of an actor
01:06
Lynn Stalmaster on hiring casting associates
04:50
Lynn Stalmaster on his typical involvement with a show once it was cast
02:56
Lynn Stalmaster on how influential networks were in the casting process
02:34
Lynn Stalmaster on how the casting business has changed over time
01:43
Lynn Stalmaster on the process of casting a project, and on what a casting director looks for
18:20
Lynn Stalmaster on the secret to working with so many varied personalities and celebrities
01:04
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to aspiring casting directors
02:15
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to actors meeting with a casting director
00:52

Talent Coordinator

View Profession
Lynn Stalmaster on the particular challenges of casting movies made for television
06:24

Talent Professionals

View Profession
Lynn Stalmaster on becoming a casting director, and what was gratifying to him about the process
03:53
Lynn Stalmaster on what he learned about casting during his time as an actor
06:40
Lynn Stalmaster on his learning process when he became a casting director
06:36
Lynn Stalmaster on what he looks for in an actor's training
05:33
Lynn Stalmaster on the casting director working with the director
04:21
Lynn Stalmaster on getting to know actors
02:56
Lynn Stalmaster on experiences he's had with difficult actors, and on the importance of the script
02:57
Lynn Stalmaster on working along side other casting directors
02:26
Lynn Stalmaster on working with agents
03:37
Lynn Stalmaster on what can turn him off of an actor
01:05
Lynn Stalmaster on hiring casting associates
04:50
Lynn Stalmaster on his typical involvement with a show once it was cast
02:56
Lynn Stalmaster on how influential networks were in the casting process
02:34
Lynn Stalmaster on the particular challenges of casting movies made for television
06:24
Lynn Stalmaster on how the casting business has changed over time
01:43
Lynn Stalmaster on the process of casting a project, and on what a casting director looks for
18:10
Lynn Stalmaster on the secret to working with so many varied personalities and celebrities
01:04
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to aspiring casting directors
02:15
Lynn Stalmaster on advice to actors meeting with a casting director
00:52
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
Lynn Stalmaster on casting live television for NBC Matinee Theater
01:16
Lynn Stalmaster on doing casting for The Twilight Zone
01:58

Comedy Series

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting AfterMASH
00:28

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting the Desilu series The Untouchables starring Robert Stack
02:18
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Quinn Martin's The New Breed
00:44
Lynn Stalmaster on casting William Shatner on T.J Hooker
01:21

Drama Series

View Genre
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Combat!
01:05
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Brandon Lee in Kung Fu and casting Buck James
02:20

Medical Dramas

View Genre
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ben Casey
01:37
Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope
02:28

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps, and on why he became a producer
02:03
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Katherine starring Sissy Spacek, Art Carney and Henry Winkler
03:03
Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Entertainers starring Jack Lemmon and Ishi: The Last of His Tribe
02:26
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Letters From Frank and Flesh and Blood
01:46
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Amber Waves and The Executioner's Song
02:48
Lynn Stalmaster on casting The Torn Birds starring Richard Chamberlin and Barbara Stanwyck
00:51
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter
01:55
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Roots
12:28
Lynn Stalmaster on the legacy of Roots
00:51

Western Series

View Genre
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Gunsmoke
04:30
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Sam Peckinpah's The Westerner starring Brian Keith
02:06
People

Aaron Spelling

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Lynn Stalmaster on working with Aaron Spelling
01:59

Brian Keith

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Sam Peckinpah's The Westerner starring Brian Keith
02:06

David E. Kelley

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope starring Mandy Patinkin
02:28

David L. Wolper

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Roots produced by David L. Wolper and starring LeVar Burton
02:42

Denzel Washington

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Flesh and Blood with Denzel Washington
01:18

Garry Marshall

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hey Landlord! with Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
02:33

Jeff Goldblum

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter starring Jeff Goldblum
02:17

Jerry Belson

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Hey Landlord! with Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson
02:33

John Ritter

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting the pilot of Three's Company starring John Ritter
01:20

John Travolta

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting John Travolta on Welcome Back, Kotter
01:52
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Welcome Back, Kotter starring Gabe Kaplan, John Sylvester White, and John Travolta
05:02

LeVar Burton

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting LeVar Burton in Roots
01:20
Lynn Stalmaster on casting Roots produced by David L. Wolper and starring LeVar Burton
02:42

Mandy Patinkin

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope starring Mandy Patinkin
02:28

Pat Morita

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Mr. T. & Tina starring Pat Morita
01:41

Paul Newman

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Paul Newman in various projects
00:45

Quinn Martin

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Quinn Martin's The New Breed
00:44

Richard Crenna

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting and producing Footsteps starring Richard Crenna
01:19

Robert Stack

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting the Desilu series The Untouchables starring Robert Stack
02:20

Robert Wise

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Lynn Stalmaster on starting to work on feature films with directors like Robert Wise
02:56

Sam Peckinpah

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting Sam Peckinpah's The Westerner starring Brian Keith
02:06

William Shatner

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Lynn Stalmaster on casting William Shatner on T.J Hooker
01:21

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