Dianne Crittenden, who was a highly experienced casting director, has died at 82 after battling cancer multiple times. She was known for her work on the original “Star Wars” movie, as well as films by Terrence Malick, Peter Weir, and Sam Raimi.
Crittenden mentioned in a 2019 interview with Empire that she and the casting team for “Star Wars” conducted auditions for over 3,500 actors before choosing Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher for the iconic roles of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa.
Crittenden explained that George Lucas believed that the technology and the story were the main attractions for the audience, rather than the actors. Therefore, they saw auditions from almost every eligible actor. She also emphasized the importance of a good agent for aspiring actors.
Crittenden remembered that several actors, including Sissy Spacek, John Travolta, and Amy Irving, auditioned for roles in “Star Wars” but ended up being selected for Brian De Palma's “Carrie.”
Crittenden recalled that Brian De Palma took away some of the actors that George Lucas liked, causing her frustration at the time.
Crittenden remembered how charming and “quirky” Carrie Fisher was in her audition for Leia, and recalled that she didn’t remember much from Mark Hamill’s audition for Luke.
Crittenden mentioned that George Lucas felt Mark Hamill's demeanor was suited for the role of a farmer in over his head, rather than a survivor who figures everything out.
Dianne Crittenden started her career in the 1970s after working as an elementary school teacher. She collaborated with director Howard Zieff on commercials and films like the 1975 movie “Hearts of the West” before becoming involved in the industry.
In the 80s, Crittenden worked as the head of casting at Warner Bros., contributing to films such as “Witness,” “Three Men and a Baby,” and “Murphy’s Romance.”
Crittenden also casted for well-known movies like “Spider-Man 2,” “The Thin Red Line,” and “Days of Heaven.”
Dianne Crittenden is survived by her brother, sister, stepdaughter, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, five nephews, four grandnephews, and one grandniece. Her husband, George Drabek, passed away in 2023.
