RIP LYNN STALMASTER

1927-2021

Lynn Stalmaster was the first casting director to be conferred an Academy Award, having received an Honorary Oscar in 2016.

He worked with Desilu on several projects, the first being the “I Love Lucy” summer replacement series “Those Whiting Girls” (1957). 

He moved on to the Desilu Western “The Sheriff of Cochise” (1957-58)… 

Desilu’s crime series “Official Detective” (1957-58)…

and Desilu’s helicopter series “Whirlybirds” (1957-59). 

He cast the second episode of Desilu’s “Guestward Ho!” in 1960.

Starting with Desilu’s gangster series “The Untouchables” (1960-63), Stalmaster teamed with James Lister to create Stalmaster-Lister Co.  

Stalmaster-Lister cast Desilu’s circus series “The Greatest Show On Earth” (1963-64) one episode of which featured Lucille Ball. 

Lynn Stalmaster’s last collaboration with Lucille Ball and Desilu was casting her feature film Yours, Mine, and Ours in 1968. 

He provided the cast of eight films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966), In the Heat of the Night (1967), Fiddler on the Roof (1971), Deliverance (1972), Bound for Glory (1976), Coming Home (1978), Tootsie (1982) and The Right Stuff (1983). Of those, only In the Heat of the Night (1967) was a winner in the category.

Lynn Stalmaster died on February 12, 2021 at age 93.