Central Casting Turns 100

When the camera rolls on a busy street in Chicago, a 1950’s diner or a baseball stadium, it’s background actors who breathe life into the scene. They’re the guests at the wedding, the soldiers in the trenches, and they help us believe what we’re watching is real.

And for 100 years, Central Casting has been at the foundation of these moments.

How background actors set the scene

Background actors appear in non-speaking, on-screen roles that fill out the environment. They add energy, depth and authenticity to the worlds we watch unfold on screen, and their action can move the plot forward, helping the director convey the desired tone of the scene.

From the earliest days of the film industry, to the advent of sound in movies, to the first big-budget blockbuster, background actors have been an integral part of the filmmaking process, and Central Casting has been there every step of the way, providing unparalleled services and expertise.

Where it began: A bustling film industry

In the aftermath of World War I, Los Angeles cemented itself as the heart of the American film industry. As silent film era stars like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Mary Pickford captivated audiences, thousands flocked west chasing their own Hollywood dreams.

Many aspiring actors saw background work as the gateway to becoming a star, hoping that one day in the crowd might lead to a starring role—if the right director noticed. According to a 1923 New York Times report, up to 10,000 people a month were pouring into Los Angeles in search of a job in the film industry.

But getting cast wasn’t easy. Many walked from studio lot to studio lot every morning hoping to be cast in whatever was filming that day. Others worked with private background casting directors who charged significant fees, often sacrificing a large portion of their earnings for the chance to be placed in a film.

It was chaotic, competitive and often unfair—and set the stage for big change.

A beginning born out of necessity

Concerned about exploitation and working conditions in Hollywood, Will Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (known today as the Motion Picture Association), sought to bring fairness and order to the system. With the help of two studies that found widespread violations of California labor laws - especially regarding the employment of women and children - he launched the Central Casting Corporation on December 4, 1925, to bring order and fairness to background casting.

Central Casting gave studios a streamlined method to hire background actors, saving them time and money. Central Casting also made it easier for directors to find the right talent for their scenes, particularly when casting unique looks and special skills.

For background actors, Central Casting provided a trusted and reliable way to find work in Hollywood.

Launching legends and building crowd scenes

In its first six months of operation, casting directors made over 113,000 placements—an astonishing 629 per day—from a roster of over 15,000 background actors. It didn’t take long before all major studios that were members of the Motion Picture Association turned exclusively to Central Casting for their background casting needs.

Over the years, Central Casting became not just a hub for working actors, but a launchpad for stars. Icons like John Wayne, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Jean Harlow, Gary Cooper and Hattie McDaniel were once on its rolls.

“People are always telling me about the ‘lucky break’ I got in pictures,” McDaniel wrote in a 1947 op-ed in The Hollywood Reporter. “I don’t take the trouble to tell them of all the years I sang in choruses, worked in mob scenes, thankful for the smallest thing. A call from [Casting Director] Charlie Butler at Central Casting was like a letter from home.”

As the go-to casting office, Central Casting became known for coordinating large-scale crowd scenes and delivering on tight deadlines.

In the 1943 film Imitation of Life, Central Casting cast 550 background actors, including Hattie McDaniel, for a funeral scene with just an hour's notice.

And its reputation only grew. In 1969’s Hello, Dolly!, Central Casting booked over 3,100 background actors across 16 units for the film’s legendary parade scene. A decade later, Central Casting would deliver on its largest single-scene casting call: delivering a staggering 12,000 rock fans to pack the stadium for 1979’s The Rose, starring Bette Midler.

Ownership changed hands in 1976, when the Motion Picture Association sold Central Casting to Production Payments Inc., a division of Intl. Digitronics Corp (IDC). Fifteen years later, in 1991, it found its long-term home when a merger between IDC and Draney Information Services brought Central Casting into the fold as an Entertainment Partners company, a banner under which it continues to operate to this day.

100 years of making it real

Today, Central Casting operates the largest and most diverse database of background actors, stand-ins, and doubles in the US. Its casting professionals bring together unmatched knowledge with cutting-edge technology to place the right talent in the right scenes—every time. And as part of Entertainment Partners, Central Casting also provides the industry’s leading background payroll services, offering a complete solution for productions of every size.

Each year, more than 20,000 background actors register with Central Casting, chasing their Hollywood dreams of appearing in popular movies and TV shows.

Even those outside the entertainment industry have likely heard of Central Casting. Since the 1940s, the phrase “Straight out of Central Casting” has been widely used to describe people with picture-perfect looks that feel tailor-made for the scene—as if plucked from a casting director’s dream list.

Celebrating a century of bringing scenes to life 

As Central Casting marks its centennial, it’s not just a celebration of the past, but a launchpad for the future. Central Casting continues to look ahead, evolving alongside the industry it helped shape. With offices in Los Angeles, New York, Georgia and Louisiana, and tools like SmartVoucher streamlining timekeeping and payroll processes, Central Casting continues to set the standard in background casting.

Few companies reach a milestone like this. Fewer still remain as vital to the heart of an industry. For a century, Central Casting has helped fill the frames that shape our culture, giving life to the background and launching stars from the chorus line to center stage. 

Help us celebrate 

Whether you were cast in a crowd scene, recognized a friend in the background, or just love the magic of movies – help us celebrate! Share your memories. Tell us about the moments that made you smile, laugh or cry. Share your favorite scene - chances are, it came straight out of Central Casting! Share your stories at Central Casting 100.

We want to hear your stories because this milestone isn’t just ours – it’s yours too. 

Here’s to the next 100 years of making it real.

Learn more about Central Casting and Entertainment Partners end-to-end casting solutions.