Alfred Louis Onorato, a former expertise supervisor who co-founded the Casting Society of America, died April 21. He was 88.
“Casting Society mourns the passing of Al Onorato, whose ardour and dedication and love for casting was pivotal in co-founding our group in 1982,” the org mentioned in an announcement. “Al helped construct what CSA is right now – a worldwide group with over 1200 members and a useful resource for the leisure trade worldwide. We are going to miss Al’s expertise, spirit and most of all, his friendship. We ship our deepest condolences to his household and associates.”
Onorato was born in Jersey Metropolis, NJ. After graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson College, his first job was as a web page at NBC Studios in New York Metropolis. Just a few years later, he adopted his beloved Dodgers to L.A. the place turned concerned within the trade. He labored for the most important studios in casting for films and TV, earlier than he went on to create the Casting Society of America with Mike Fenton and Joe Reich.
Later, Onorato selected to work as a expertise supervisor so he might deal with doing what he liked – advising and mentoring promising actors. He launched the careers of Mark Harmon, Katie Holmes, Kristin Chenoweth, Sean Murray, Elijah Wooden and was instrumental in bringing Gwen Verdon again to the trade.
He gained the Artios Award for casting the 1987 comedy Bagdad Café and was honored on the thirty fourth Annual Artios Awards for his lifetime contributions to casting.
A celebration of life is deliberate for Might 18 at 1 p.m. PT at Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. In lieu of flowers or different presents, the household suggests donations be made in Onorato’s title to St. Jude Youngsters’s Analysis Hospital.
Onorato is survived by his siblings Edward Onorato, Ronald Onorato, and Veronica Onorato Szallai, together with a number of nephews and a niece.
