Welcome to the official Central Casting blog. We are the #1 casting agency for Background Actors, Stand-ins, Doubles and more in TV & movies. Follow this page for all the latest news & info that is "Straight Out of Central Casting!"
90 Day Countdown to 90 Years!
/CHEERS!
Kicking off our 90th celebration with a bang at our Los Angeles offices! Thanks to everybody who came to help celebrate!
90 YEARS OF CENTRAL CASTING IN TELEVISION & MOVIES
Here is a quick montage of how Central Casting has been referenced in TV & film over the past 90 years.
LEGACY - CARL JOY (1939-2013)
Carl Joy was the head of Central Casting, from 1977 to 2004. He retired in 2011. It has been almost 2 years to the day since he passed away at the age of 74. There is no doubt Central Casting would not be where it is today without the stellar leadership of Mr. Carl Joy.
Supreme Court Ruling - Re-enactment with Central Casting talent
Watch our amazing actors in action as they re-enact the recent Supreme Court ruling of same-sex marriage. It almost felt like the real thing until the director yelled "cut" and everyone broke for lunch.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Win exclusive Central Casting gear including a hat, portable phone charger, phone holder and more!
The rules are simple:
– Print out one of the two custom selfie cards (on the right)
– Be creative and take a selfie of a customized card that best describes yourself
– Follow us on Instagram @central_casting
– Tag us on your entry and include #centralcastingcontest
***Please do not post from set or in studio provided costumes***
We will repost some of the entries
Contest ends this Thursday (12/3) @ 12pm PT
We will then choose our favorite and announce the winner.
"CENTRAL CASTING" - They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
Clip from Sydney Pollack's They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969). Jane Fonda's character is a struggling actress during the Great Depression. Good thing today Central Casting is not "all sewed up".
LEGACY
Cartoon illustration of the Central Casting staff from around the seventies.
LEGACY
Central Casting office during the eighties.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
A special #thanks to all of our background actors from our very own Jennifer Bender.
FRONT & CENTRAL
We will be celebrating our 90th on December 4th by showing our appreciation to our stellar background actors. Check your local Central Casting Facebook page for more details.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Instagram Contest! We have upgraded the prize to a Central Casting 90th anniversary gift bag! To all those who have reposted on Instagram already you have been added to the raffle. For those who have not, repost this on Instagram with #centralcastingcontest by 1pm PT tomorrow for a chance to win this swag bag. We will contact the winner tomorrow. Good luck!
FRONT & CENTRAL
Can you name this now leading Hollywood actor before he was famous by this old Central Casting headshot?
LEGACY
This is the original document signed on December 4th, 1925 making Central Casting an official business entity. Almost 90 years later and we are still going strong.
"CENTRAL CASTING" - Political Campaigns
Politicians from all over the world love using the term "Central Casting".
"CENTRAL CASTING" - Swing Vote (2008)
Here is another Central Casting reference from the Kevin Costner movie Swing Vote.
LEGACY
December, 1934. Extras getting on the elevator to Central Casting offices on the 3rd floor of the Hollywood & Western Building.
LEGACY
Central Casting featured in a 1988 48 Hours special on Hollywood. Our SVP Franklyn Warren who has been with Central for over 30 years can be seen in the blue shirt.
ON YOUR MARK - Michael Kelly, DGA
Director Michael Kelly who happens to be the nephew of the late great Gene Kelly gives a great reminder to all of those who are apart making film & TV.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Morning registration at Central Casting Los Angeles. The weather is starting to cool down so please come prepared.
"CENTRAL CASTING" - The New Yorker
We love this cartoon by Christopher Weyant of The New Yorker.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Franklyn with some of our friends from #Nickelodeon posing at the Kings game from our suite in the Staples Center.
"CENTRAL CASTING" - Singin' In The Rain (1952)
We love this shout out from the 1952 classic Singin' in the Rain with Gene Kelly.
LEGACY
The grand opening of the Hollywood & Western building. The original location of Central Casting which occupied the 3rd floor.
SPOTLIGHT
We were proud to provide background talent for Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers which helped bring these epic scenes to life. A sincere thank you to all of our Veterans on this day.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Late night at Central Casting LA is when we get support from our canine friends. This is Cashew with little Luigi trying to photobomb.
ON YOUR MARK - Thomas Boucher, DGA
Thomas Boucher, AD from hit shows like Silicon Valley and Togetherness has some helpful advice for background actors on set.
CHEERS!
1st AD Jennifer Wilkinson of ABC's Revenge gives a fun Happy Birthday shoutout.
SPOTLIGHT
Central Casting's Juliette B. Lewis was featured on this Wall Street Journal special about the life of a background actor.
CHEERS!
Pauley Perrette and Brian Dietzen giving Central Casting a happy birthday shout out from the set of NCIS.
LEGACY
A unique view of Central Casting's call floor from the 1940's. That wall contained the names of all available talent.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Flashback to 2011 for this Rock of Ages casting call for principal roles with director Adam Shankman at our Los Angeles location.
SPOTLIGHT
Central Casting New York featured on ABC's 20/20 earlier this year in an episode exposing potential scams in casting companies.
SPOTLIGHT
Arthur Tovey (1904-2000) a career background actor with Central Casting had roles in over 300 films from Gone With the Wind (1939) to Rocky (1976) and Back to the Future (1985).
FRONT & CENTRAL
Our staff Toni, Laura & Raquel recreating Hollywood's golden age at the LA office on Friday.
CHEERS!
In the spirit of Halloween, we share this very cool tribute from John Kassir, voice of "The Crypt Keeper"
"CENTRAL CASTING" - Portlandia
Central Casting plug from this pretty hilarious episode of Portlandia.
LEGACY
Hollywood actress Norma Shearer opening the doors to the original Central Casting building with a golden key.
SPOTLIGHT
You never know what you can be booked as next when you're with Central Casting. Check out our own Klair Bybee as Senator Bernie Sanders on Ellen.
ON YOUR MARK - Sean Mulcahy, DGA
Tuesday tips for Stand-Ins from veteran multi-cam TV Director Sean Mulcahy.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Central Casting Louisiana is currently taking submissions to re-create the Krewe of Boo parade for the upcoming Jack Reacher: Never Go Back movie starring Tom Cruise. Open flyer for more details.
details
CHEERS!
MADtv's Debra Wilson giving Central Casting an awesome 90th birthday shout.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Independent radio show 99% Invisible recently visited Central Casting in Los Angeles and recorded interviews with several members of our team to get insight on the actual company behind the catch phrase "straight out of Central Casting". Click below to listen to the podcast.
SPOTLIGHT
Let's hear it for our Central Casting Louisiana background actors in Our Brand Is Crisis. In theaters everywhere next Friday!
LEGACY
Throwback to a pic of Central Casting LA building taken in 1997. Do we have any followers that have been with us since those days?
LEGACY
Central Casting featured in "A Star is Born" from 1937. This was a time during the Great Depression when there was an overflow of hopefuls flocking to Hollywood.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Our amazing Central Casting Louisiana team at this year's New Orleans Film Festival.
CHEERS!
Seasoned veteran actor Robert Torti giving us a great 90th shout out. Full version can be seen on our blog.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Traffic moving at the current Central Casting LA.
"CENTRAL CASTING" - Barack Obama
Free publicity from the President of the United States, Barack Obama. We love it!
CHEERS!
Awesome shout out from Central Casting member Anthony Greer.
LEGACY
Flashback to a time when Central Casting had far too many members than were needed in a Film industry that began scaling back the size of productions. As of today, we are busy casting thousands per day.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Mornings at Central Casting LA and well deserved to those early birds that got their ticket.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Anthony Rich, Director of The Big Bang Theory and a founder of Central Casting University will be at our Burbank location today for the popular Stand-in class. You do not want to miss out on this opportunity.
SPOTLIGHT
The actors in the new American Horror Story: Hotel are straight out of Central Casting. Super creepy! Check it out on Wednesdays on FX.
LEGACY
This archway was the entrance to Central Casting from 1925-1965. There would be long lines to get in the door not unlike today.
FRONT & CENTRAL
These little guys are "Straight out of Central Casting". Get your own selfie card from our offices or open and print from the right column on this page.
ON YOUR MARK - Molly Rodriguez, DGA
AD Molly Rodriguez whose credits include Nashville, Switched At Birth, Dexter and NCIS: Los Angeles, offers background acting tips. Central Casting's ON YOUR MARK features experienced Film & TV Directors giving priceless advice on how to succeed as a background actor or stand-in.
LEGACY
Art Bronson, head of Central Casting seen here on the beach set of Imitation of Life in 1958.
ON LOCATION
Amazing Central Casting actors in action during a shoot this summer in LA. Looks so real!
"CENTRAL CASTING"
Central Casting reference from the cartoon "Dastardly and Muttley In Their Flying Machines" from way back in 1969! Comment if and where you have heard Central Casting used as a catch phrase.
LEGACY
Central Casting's Founder Will Hays (center-right) and first President Fred Beetson (center-left) circa 1929.
SPOTLIGHT
More fall TV premieres. Look for our background cast in these shows.
CHEERS!
Thanks to Straight Outta Compton's @alexandrashipppp for helping us celebrate! Looking forward to her taking the world by #storm as the next Ororo Munroe in 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse.
SPOTLIGHT
Central Casting New York enjoyed casting the background actors on Freeheld. Opens today!
LEGACY
Background Actors waiting patiently at Central Casting back in 1936.
CENTRAL CASTS: Name That Show
Central Casting Los Angeles cast the background actors for this Warner Bros blockbuster.
CHEERS!
Celebrating with our Central Casting University 101 Class: The Background Actor with guest speaker Thomas Boucher, DGA.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Recent open call for Amazon's award winning Transparent at our Los Angeles location. Congrats to Transparent on their 5 Emmy wins!
SPOTLIGHT
More TV premieres this week featuring actors from Central Casting. Set your DVRs and make sure to watch!
FRONT & CENTRAL
Here are the fresh faces of Central Casting from our LA, New York and Louisiana locations.
ON YOUR MARK - Gary Goldman, DGA
Producer/Director Gary Goldman (Entourage/Shameless) gives advice for background actors.
LEGACY
Central Casting front desk in September of 1958. Some of these background actors pictured can be seen in iconic movies spanning decades.
CHEERS!
Thanks to Devious Maids' Wole Parks for the shout out. Be sure to check out the Premium Rush actor's upcoming movie Man Down featuring Shia LaBeouf, Kate Mara and Gary Oldman.
CENTRAL CASTING UNIVERSITY
Central Casting University at our Burbank location offers free classes to our members featuring seasoned Film & TV Directors/AD's. This first hand knowledge is priceless. The next available class is today at 3pm with first time speaker Thomas Boucher, DGA. Visit the website for more details.
SPOTLIGHT
Fall TV premieres are here. Look for our background cast members this week on the above shows.
SPOTLIGHT
ABC's Castle premieres tomorrow night. Here is a snippet of an outstanding segment the show produced on the background cast from Central.
ON LOCATION
Time lapse clip of Central Casting actors returning to set from lunch. Summer 2015.
ON YOUR MARK - Paula Case, DGA
Paula Case, an AD whose credits include The Whole Ten Yards, J. Edgar & American Sniper discusses how to be selected for specific roles.
Central Casting's ON YOUR MARK features experienced Film & TV Directors with tips on how to succeed as a background actor or Stand-in.
LEGACY
Marian L. Mel was the Director of Women's Division at Central Casting in the early years. Here she is interviewing some classy ladies back in 1935.
CENTRAL HALL OF FAME
Central Casting Hall of Famer Richard Cabral sat down with Mandalit del Barco this morning on NPR. Congratulations to Richard on his Emmy Nomination for his performance in ABC’s American Crime @richardcabralofficial #richardcabral #mandalitdelbarco #NPR #ABC #americancrime
SPOTLIGHT
Central Casting New York cast the background for the box office number one movie, The Perfect Guy. Congratulations to all those involved! #theperfectguy
THE DIRECTOR'S VIEW - Babu Subramaniam, DGA
For "The Director's View" we sit down with many TV & Film Directors to discuss their stories, advice for actors and their relationships working with Central. Great info straight from the source of those who can help you succeed in this industry.
ON LOCATION
Our Casting Directors hoping they have been good all year for The Mentalist in 2010.
FRONT & CENTRAL
A few of our Casting Directors and our little mascot Luigi. Thanks for the artwork by one of our talented actors.
CENTRAL HALL OF FAME
Congrats to Central Casting Hall of Famer Alison Brie starring in the feature comedy Sleeping With Other People in theaters today! Also a big shout out to our awesome background talent we cast in this movie.
LEGACY
Central's casting office circa 1935! Busy then and busy now. #TBT Follow and share your stories on Instagram.
CENTRAL CASTS: Name That Show
Central Casting cast thousands of background actors in Louisiana for this Universal Studios 2015 summer blockbuster.
ON YOUR MARK - Danny Silverberg, DGA
AD Danny Silverberg whose credits include Pitch Perfect 2, Glee, House of Lies and Suburgatory, offers background acting tips.
FRONT & CENTRAL
Summer 2015, Los Angeles - 80' Rocker TV Show
LEGACY - NOW & THEN
Our original location for the first 40 years. Hollywood Blvd & Western Ave in Hollywood.
CHEERS!
Starting our 90 day countdown with a Big Bang!
OUR NEW OFFICIAL 90TH ANNIVERSARY LOGO