The first casting director to win an Oscar passes away

The Oscar-winning casting director Lynn Stalmaster, who worked on nearly 200 movies, including West Side Story, Harold, Maude, Tootsie and more, has passed away. He was 93. Lynn died on February 12 in Los Angeles, Casting Society of America executive Laura Adler confirmed the news.

Lynn was renowned for his skill in spotting new talent and matching actors to the perfect roles. In 2016, he became the first casting professional to be honoured with an Oscar when he received a Governor’s Award tribute from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

From1950s to 1990s, Lynn served as an influential collaborator with filmmakers such as Mike Nichols, Norman Jewison, Blake Edwards, Arthur Hiller and many others. Expressing grief over Lynn’s demise, the Academy’s official Twitter handle shared his picture and wrote, “Lynn Stalmaster launched the careers of Jeff Bridges and Christopher Reeve. A trailblazer, in 2016, he became the first casting director to receive an Honorary Oscar, a testament to his impact on the industry. He will be missed.”