Dianne Crittenden, the casting director for the original Star Wars and other popular films such as Pretty Woman and Spider-Man 2, passed away on March 19 at the age of 82. She had a career spanning 40 years and was living in her home in Pacific Palisades at the time of her death.
Dianne Crittenden: Bio & Career
Dianne Crittenden was born in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, NY on August 6, 1941. She began her career in the entertainment field by collaborating with Howard Zieff, a photographer and director, on projects such as advertising campaigns, television commercials, and movies.
Crittenden’s initial undertaking in the role of casting director was the 1973 film Badlands, directed by Terrence Malick and featuring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek, which inspired Bruce Springsteen’s song “Nebraska” ten years later.
She also contributed to a handful of other productions, such as the award-winning 1976 miniseries Sybil starring Sally Field, before securing the opportunity of a lifetime as a casting director in a distant galaxy many years ago.
After collaborating with George Lucas on the iconic Star Wars, Crittenden’s career expanded to include being a casting director for numerous films directed by renowned names like Malick, Zieff, Reiner, Hiller, Weir, Marshall, Scott, and Raimi.
These films include Days of Heaven, The Thin Red Line, Hearts of the West, The Main Event, Oh, God!, The In-Laws, On Golden Pond, Witness, Green Card, Pretty Woman, Black Rain, Spider-Man 2, and many others.
Little Boy, a 2015 drama, marked Dianne Crittenden’s last credit as a casting director. In addition to this, she also contributed to the casting teams for Harry and Tonto (1974), The Day of the Locust (1975), A Star Is Born (1976), and other projects. Furthermore, she made brief appearances in three films, including Crocodile Dundee II.
Crittenden’s surviving family members include her brother, Donald Derfner; sister, Dori Carter; stepdaughter, Jennifer Crittenden; sister-in-law, Brenda Derfner; brother-in-law, Chris Carter; and five nephews.
Cause of Death
At the age of 82, Dianne Crittenden, a well-respected casting director known for her significant contributions to iconic films, has sadly passed away.
She lost her fight against multiple cancers and passed away peacefully at her home in Pacific Palisades, according to fellow casting director Ilene Starger. Starger warmly recalls Crittenden as both a guiding figure and a cherished companion,
“Dianne was my mentor; we’ve known each other for 44 years. She was also my dear friend—more like an older sister, really. So generous, kind, brilliant, and funny. A people magnet. Her knowledge of and insight into actors was extraordinary.”
