Laura Adler, Casting Director Behind ‘American Dreams,’ Dies at 65

Laura Adler, a casting director who spent 16 years working on some of television's most memorable shows, died Thursday in Los Angeles. She was 65. The cause was a brief illness, according to those close to her. Ms. Adler had worked as a casting director on several television programs that reached millions of viewers across the country, leaving her mark on the entertainment industry through her work selecting actors for roles.

Background

Casting directors work behind the scenes in television and film, tasked with finding the right actors to bring characters to life. They review hundreds of auditions, conduct callbacks, and make recommendations to producers and directors about who should fill each role. The work requires a keen eye for talent and an understanding of what each character needs from an actor.

Ms. Adler spent much of her career in this field, building a reputation for her work across multiple television projects. Before her work as a casting director, she also served as an administrator with the Casting Society, an organization that represents professional casting directors and associates in the entertainment industry. Her involvement with the Casting Society gave her insight into the broader casting landscape and connected her with professionals across the field.

Key Details

During her 16-year career as a casting director, Ms. Adler worked on several television shows that became part of American pop culture. Among her credits were "Better Off Ted," a workplace comedy that aired on ABC and developed a devoted following despite its brief run. She also cast for "Dream On," an HBO series that ran for six seasons in the 1990s and was known for its pop culture references and satirical humor.

Her casting work extended to "The Goode Family," an animated sitcom created by Mike Judge, and "American Dreams," an NBC drama series that ran from 2002 to 2005. "American Dreams" followed teenagers in the 1960s and featured music and cultural moments from that era. The show gave opportunities to many young actors and became a launching pad for several careers in the industry.

Her Role in Television Production

Casting directors like Ms. Adler serve as important connectors between actors seeking work and producers seeking talent. They maintain relationships with agents, attend showcases and performances, and often discover new talent before they become widely known. The decisions made by casting directors can shape a show's entire tone and chemistry among actors.

What This Means

Ms. Adler's death marks the loss of someone who worked in the often-invisible machinery of television production. While viewers remember the actors they see on screen, casting directors rarely receive public recognition for their contributions. Yet their choices determine which actors appear in which roles, influencing the shows that millions of people watch and remember.

Her work on shows like "American Dreams" connected her to a generation of television viewers who grew up watching those programs. The show itself has remained relevant through streaming services, allowing new audiences to discover it decades after its original broadcast. Ms. Adler's casting choices continue to be seen by people watching these shows years after they first aired.

The casting profession itself has evolved since Ms. Adler began her career. Digital platforms and streaming services have changed how shows are produced and distributed, and casting directors have had to adapt to new methods of finding and auditioning talent. Yet the fundamental work remains the same: identifying actors who fit roles and can deliver performances that resonate with audiences.

"Casting directors are the unsung heroes of television production, making decisions that shape entire shows and launch careers," industry professionals have noted about the role casting directors play in entertainment.

Ms. Adler's career spanned a significant period in television history, from the 1990s through the early 2000s, when network television was still the dominant form of entertainment. She worked during a time before streaming services transformed how people watched television, when shows aired on specific nights and times and built audiences week after week.

Her involvement with the Casting Society also meant she was part of professional conversations about standards and practices in the casting field. The organization advocates for casting professionals and works to establish industry standards for how casting should be conducted.

Those who worked in the entertainment industry during the time Ms. Adler was active remember her contributions to shows that defined television for their generation. While her name may not be as well-known as the actors or producers she worked with, her fingerprints are on shows that millions of people watched and enjoyed.