As a long-time fan and admirer of Carol Goldwasser, I was deeply saddened to learn of her passing. Her contributions to the world of casting, particularly in children’s TV shows, have left an indelible mark on my childhood memories and countless others.
Casting director Carol Goldwasser, known for discovering talent for hit children’s TV series like ‘Hannah Montana’, ‘Austin & Ally’, ‘Dog With a Blog’, and ‘Cousins for Life’, passed away recently at the age of 67.
Goldwasser passed away suddenly on December 5, at her residence in Palm Springs, following a routine operation, as confirmed by her friend and manager, Theodore Gekis.
For over two decades, Goldwasser has been renowned for her unique “Hi, Doll!” salutation and for cultivating the talents of stars like Zac Efron, Khary Payton, and Alison Brie. She managed castings in both Los Angeles and New York during this time.
Marc Hirschfeld, a former executive vice president of casting at NBC, stated, ‘Carol was an incredibly gifted casting director and it was always enjoyable to be around her.’ She had a consistently optimistic and energetic spirit, and her positive attitude was sometimes frustratingly cheerful. The world will miss her sunny presence.
1957 saw the birth of Goldwasser in Freeport, New York. As a child prodigy on the piano, he graduated with high honors from East Meadow High School in 1975, standing as the school’s second-highest graduate (salutatorian).
After completing both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music performance and education, with highest honors, from the University at Buffalo, she initially planned to teach music. However, she quickly discovered that her true passion lay within the entertainment industry.
Goldwasser initially worked at Breakdown Services, then shifted her career in casting by assisting Stuart Howard in New York City. In 1991, she moved to Los Angeles without a job, but soon landed as a casting associate for Fox’s ‘Melrose Place’ and the 1993 pilot of ABC’s ‘My So-Called Life’.
Between 1994 and 1996, she served as a manager responsible for casting at Disney/Touchstone Television. During this period, she oversaw the casting for all pilots, series, and movies of the week produced by Disney/Touchstone. From 1996 to 1998, she moved to New York and took on the role of director of casting for Disney/Touchstone Television there.
Following stints on television series like UPN’s “The Hughleys” and NBC’s “Inside Schwartz”, Goldwasser leveraged her skills to contribute significantly to the development of Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana” (2006-11), “Austin & Ally” (2011-16) and “Dog With a Blog” (2012-15), as well as “Hannah Montana’s” spin-off, Nickelodeon’s “Cousins for Life” (2018-19). In these productions, she collaborated with her former partner Howard Meltzer on the casting process.
For over a decade, I flourished as an autonomous casting director, making my mark in the industry. Then, in 2019, I chose to retire and move to the tranquil haven of Palm Springs, where I continue to enjoy a peaceful life.
Goldwasser, who held the position of chairperson for the diversity committee within the Casting Society of America, accumulated two CSA Artios Awards out of eleven nominations and was also nominated for Television Casting Director of the Year by the Heller Awards throughout their professional journey.
As I type this, my heart is heavy knowing that my dear sister Diana, her partner Philip, and our cherished feline companion Nala are the ones left standing in my absence. The upcoming month of January shall see a gathering to honor my life’s journey, with more information to come on the specifics.
Following Carol’s prosperous and lengthy career in casting, I was thrilled to see her embark on a new journey and discover genuine joy during her retirement. She truly flourished,” Ann Maney stated. “I will dearly miss my cherished friend. Farewell, Doll!
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2024-12-13 01:54