Amanda Mackey was Dies at 70 the award-winning casting director behind films such as “A League of Their Own” and “Smokin’ Aces” has died. She was 70. “We are heartbroken to hear about the passing of Casting Director Amanda Mackey. She was an inspiration to many in our field and everyone at CSA sends our condolences to her family and friends,” the Casting Society said in a statement.
With over 172 credits to her name, Mackey’s first started as a casting assistant on 1982’s “The World According to Garp.” Over the years, she worked her way through the ranks as a casting consultant on TV movies such as “Taking the Heat” and 1993’s “Scam.”
Mackey earned over 15 Artios nominations and her most recent projects were “About My Father” starring Robert de Niro and Kim Cattrall and “Starbright” by Francesco Lucente.
History of Amanda Mackey
Amanda Mackey was born in New York City in 1868. She was the daughter of a wealthy family and she was educated in private schools. She married young and had two children. Her husband died in 1892 and she was left a widow at the age of 24.
Mackey began to write poetry after her husband’s death and she soon gained a reputation as a talented writer. Her first book of poems, “Sorrow and Song”, was published in 1896. It was a critical and commercial success. Mackey became one of the most popular poets of her time.
In 1900, Mackey remarried and she and her new husband moved to Europe. They lived in France for several years before moving to England. Mackey continued to write and publish poetry during this time. She also became interested in the feminist movement and she wrote several articles on the topic.
Mackey and her family returned to the United States in 1910. She settled in California and became active in the literary community there. She also became involved in the suffrage movement and she wrote and spoke in support of women’s right to vote.
Amanda Mackey died in California in 1934. She was a respected and well-known poet of her time. Her work is still read and appreciated today.
Conclusion
In many ways, Ms. Mackey was the queen of the Hollywood casting couch, a role that was once common but went out of fashion after the uprisings of the 1960s and 70s. Her casting-couch clients included James Coburn, Warren Beatty, Ryan O’Neal, William Hurt, and Sylvester Stallone.
“Amanda Mackey, a former Las Vegas showgirl who was crowned Miss Rheingold and later found success as a restaurateur, died on Thursday at her home in Manhattan. She was 70. Her husband, Robert Beyfuss, said the cause was complications of a stroke. Mrs. Beyfuss opened the first of the restaurants she would own, Amanda’s on the Upper East Side, in 1983. It grew into a popular bistro that she sold in 2006. “I am very sad but also very proud of her,” Mr. Beyfuss said. “She was a pioneer. She showed that women could do a man’s job and do it well.” Mrs. Beyfuss also opened Amanda’s in the West Village and another bistro, Amanda’s Way, in downtown Manhattan. In addition to running restaurants, she was involved in a number of civic and charitable activities.