Louis DiGiaimo, a veteran casting director whose credits include “The Godfather,” died Saturday after suffering a stroke earlier this year, according to media reports. He was 77.
DiGiaimo actually started his career with “The Godfather,” and while some would argue it could only go downhill from there, he went on to cast “The Exorcist,” “
DiGiaimo also served as the casting director on Ridley Scott‘s “Thelma & Louise,” meaning he gave a then-unknown actor named Brad Pitt his big break. Scott was clearly impressed by his work, as he later collaborated with DiGiaimo on “White Squall,” “G.I. Jane” and “Hannibal.”
Scott wasn’t the only high-profile director who trusted DiGiaimo’s eye for talent, as Barry Levinson worked with him on “The Natural,” “Sleepers” and “Good Morning, Vietnam,” as well as the acclaimed TV series “Homicide: Life on the Street,” for which DiGiaimo won an Emmy.
The last studio movies that DiGiaimo worked on were 2006’s Bruce Willis thriller “16 Blocks” and the Penelope Cruz–Salma Hayek action-comedy “Bandidas.”