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Fred Roos

Fred Roos
Roos in 2014
Roos in 2014
Born
Frederick Ried Roos

(1934-05-22)May 22, 1934
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
DiedMay 18, 2024(2024-05-18) (aged 89)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film producer, casting director
Years active1964–2024

Frederick Ried Roos (May 22, 1934 – May 18, 2024) was an American film producer and casting director. He was best known for his contributions to the New Hollywood movement, particularly through his collaborations with director Francis Ford Coppola. He won the Academy Award for Best Picture for The Godfather: Part II (1974), with further nominations for The Conversation (1974) and Apocalypse Now (1979).[1]

Early life

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Frederick Ried Roos was born on May 22, 1934, in Santa Monica, California, the son of Florence Mary (née Stout) and Victor Otto Roos.[2] He attended Hollywood High School and subsequently attended University of California, Los Angeles, majoring in theatre arts and motion pictures.[3][4]

He served two tours in the United States Army, stationed in South Korea, where he befriended future producer/director Garry Marshall.[5]

Career

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Following his exit from the military, Roos started his career in the entertainment industry with talent agency MCA Inc., where he performed a series of odd jobs, including serving as driver to Marilyn Monroe, before being promoted to junior agent[5][6] He began his career as a casting director for television, working on The Andy Griffith Show, That Girl, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., and I Spy.[7] In 1964, he produced and cast his first film, Fight to Fury, featuring a young Jack Nicholson in one of his first roles.

Building a career as a casting director throughout the 1960s into the early 1970s, Roos gained a reputation as "the best eye for talent in the business", being responsible for the casting of Al Pacino in The Godfather, Harrison Ford and Richard Dreyfuss in American Graffiti, Ford and Carrie Fisher in Star Wars, and Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze in The Outsiders, among many others.[5][8]

Further credits as casting director included Five Easy Pieces, Fat City, Petulia, and Zabriskie Point.[8]

Roos' professional relationship with Francis Ford Coppola began with The Godfather, for which Roos served as casting director. Roos became Coppola's producing partner on his subsequent film, The Conversation, and continued to produce Coppola's films throughout the remainder of his career, including The Godfather Part II, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, The Cotton Club, and The Godfather Part III.

Roos' other producing credits included The Black Stallion, Hammett, Barfly, The Secret Garden, Radioland Murders, The Virgin Suicides, and Town & Country.

Accolades

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Roos won the Academy Award for Best Picture for The Godfather Part II, and was further nominated for producing The Conversation and Apocalypse Now.

In 1988, Roos received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Casting Society of America.[8]

In 2007, he was a member of the jury at the 29th Moscow International Film Festival.[9]

Personal life

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Roos married Nancy Drew in 1986.[10] They had one son, Alexander "Sandy" Roos, who later became Roos' producing partner.[11]

Roos died in Beverly Hills, California, on May 18, 2024, four days before his 90th birthday.[12][13] His final film, Megalopolis, had held its world premiere two days prior at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.[7]

Filmography

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As producer (including co-producer and executive producer)

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Year Title Awards
1974 The Conversation Academy Award for Best Picture (nominated)
The Godfather Part II Academy Award for Best Picture
1979 Apocalypse Now Academy Award for Best Picture (nominated)
The Black Stallion
1982 One from the Heart
1983 The Outsiders
Rumble Fish
1984 The Cotton Club
1987 Barfly
1990 The Godfather Part III Academy Award for Best Picture (nominated)
1994 Radioland Murders
1999 The Virgin Suicides
2003 Lost in Translation Academy Award for Best Picture (nominated)
2006 Marie Antoinette
2012 The Story of Luke
2014 St. Vincent
2018 Benched
2019 I'll Find You
2022 5-25-77
2023 Wonderwell
2024 Megalopolis

As casting director

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Year Title
1970 Five Easy Pieces
1971 Two-Lane Blacktop
1972 The Godfather
The King of Marvin Gardens
1973 American Graffiti
2024 Megalopolis

References

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  1. ^ Saperstein, Pat (May 21, 2024). "Fred Roos, Oscar-Winning Producer of 'Godfather Part II' and Casting Director of 'The Godfather,' 'Megalopolis,' Dies at 89". Variety. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  2. ^ Film Reference
  3. ^ Babitz, Eve (2019). "All This and The Godfather Too". I Used To Be Charming. New York: New York Review of Books. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9781681373799.
  4. ^ Welsh, James M.; Phillips, Gene D.; Hill, Rodney F. (2010-08-27). The Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7651-4.
  5. ^ a b c Risen, Clay (2024-05-24). "Fred Roos, Casting Director and Coppola Collaborator, Dies at 89". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  6. ^ Koseluk, Chris (2024-05-21). "Fred Roos, Casting Director Turned Oscar-Winning Producer on 'The Godfather Part II,' Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  7. ^ a b Tartaglione, Nancy; D'Alessandro, Anthony; Bamigboye, Baz (May 16, 2024). "Megalopolis Debuts at Cannes with 7-Minute Standing Ovation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Saperstein, Pat (2024-05-21). "Fred Roos, Oscar-Winning Producer of 'Godfather Part II' and Casting Director of 'The Godfather,' 'Megalopolis,' Dies at 89". Variety. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  9. ^ "29th Moscow International Film Festival (2007)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 2013-04-21. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  10. ^ "FRED ROOS". FILM REVIEW. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  11. ^ Press, LINDSEY BAHR Associated (2024-05-21). "Fred Roos, 'Godfather Part II' producer and longtime Coppola collaborator, dies at 89". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  12. ^ Sciences, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and. "Fred Roos, Oscar-Winning Producer of 'The Godfather Part II,' Dies at 89". A.frame. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  13. ^ "Fred Roos Dies: Oscar-Winning 'Godfather Part II' Producer & Longtime Coppola Collaborator Was 89". Deadline. 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
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