(August 3, 1957 – December 5, 2024)
Carol Goldwasser, whose expertise in casting helped to shape TV series like Hannah Montana and Dog with a Blog, died unexpectedly at her home after minor surgery. She was 67.
For over two decades, Goldwasser worked in casting in Los Angeles and New York while transforming the television landscape with her keen eye for new and emerging talent. Among her successes were Hannah Montana, Austin & Ally, Dog with a Blog and Cousins for Life, which she cast alongside her former partner Howard Meltzer. She was a champion of young talent such as Zac Efron, Khary Payton and Alison Brie.
She began at Breakdown Services, but launched her casting career as an assistant to Stuart Howard in New York City. In 1991, she ventured out to Los Angeles with no job, but quickly became a casting associate for Melrose Place and for the pilot of My So-Called Life. From 1994-1996 she became Manager of Casting at Disney/Touchstone Television, where she supervised casting of all Disney/Touchstone pilots, series and movies of the week.
Responsible for finding and developing new talent, she was promoted to Director of Casting for Disney/Touchstone Television in New York City from 1996-1998. She thrived as an independent casting director for over a decade — becoming the gold standard in children’s television — until her retirement to Palm Springs in 2019.
