Mike Fenton, director for hundreds of movies and TV shows, including classics such as Chinatown, American graffiti, one flew over the Cuckoo’s nest, The bad news carries, Norma Rae, The Godfather: Part 2, The Goonies, ET, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc, Blade Runner, Back to the future and Chaplin died. He was 85. Fenton was also a co-founder of the Casting Society of America in 1982.
Steven Spielberg has worked on many projects with Fenton as director and producer, including The Sugarland Express, the director’s first feature. Spielberg was one of the first to consider the death of Fenton. Among other things, he remembered Fenton as a passionate advocate for the actors he plays.
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Spielberg:
Working with Mike Fenton was like working in a candy store – he made an explosion. His ardent support of actors was the legend, and after landing a film, the smile of any actor was seldom as wide as Mike. He not only supported actors, but also launched crusades. And he was a good actor himself, as he would always read an off-camera dialogue to create energy and mojo for the person reading for the role. Like the actors he pleaded for, Mike loved his role – and those around him loved him so much, and I will miss him very much.
Fenton’s advocacy also extended to those in his own profession. In 1982, he co-founded the American Society of Casting Directors, which later became the Casting Society of America.
“In 1980, we were the only large group to make films that did not have a union,” he said in a 2019 interview for the CSA Archival Project. ‘There were a number of people who decided they did not want a union. But David Rubin is a genius, and he was able to [mid-2000s] almost on their own to convince the casting directors that they need a union. And I think now the older directors I was talking about realize where I was shouting for a union in 1980. I hope they are just as much as I want to be because that is so important. ‘
Professionally, Fenton has nominated 11 careers in the CSA award and two wins, both for miniseries. He also received the 1989 Hoyt Bowers Award from the CSA for Lifetime Achievement. The award honors not only a large amount of work, but also ‘excellent cast’ and ‘excellent contributions to the cast’.
Fenton was also featured on television. In addition to many TV movies and miniseries, Fenton has included a series of classic 60’s, including That girl, Gomer Pyle: USMC and The Andy Griffith Show. Fenton was a co-producer on Ek Spy and exhibited seven sections of the hit program.
CSA co-chairs Russell Boast and Rich Mento released the following statement following the news of Fenton’s death:
Casting Society of America is saddened by the death of co-founder Mike Fenton. His remarkable achievements and his incredible work to raise awareness and appreciation for the cast define his legacy in the entertainment industry. CSA expresses its love and support to its cherished family and friends.
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Check out the CSA conversation with Mike Fenton for 2019 below.