Fred Roos, a longtime collaborator of Francis Ford Coppola who was casting director on "The Godfather," producer of "The Godfather II" and worked on some of the biggest films of the last 50 years, has died, it was announced Tuesday.
Roos died "peacefully" at the age of 89 on Saturday at his home in Beverly Hills, according to his publicists. No cause of death was given.
Roos was born in Santa Monica and partially raised in Riverside before his family moved to Los Angeles so he could attend Hollywood High School. He later earned a bachelor's degree from UCLA and served two tours of duty with the U.S. Army in Korea.
He got his start in Hollywood working in the mailroom of the powerful talent agency MCA Inc. (now Universal Pictures). He later worked as a casting director on high-profile television shows such as "The Andy Griffith Show," "I Spy" and "That Girl."
Roos graduated to films, serving as casting director on 1970's "Five Easy Pieces" starring Jack Nicholson, and 1971's cult favorite "Two-Lane Blacktop."
His casting work on "The Godfather" in 1972 led to a long and fruitful collaboration with director Coppola that continued until Roos' death. Roos produced Coppola's films for over 50s years, including the director's upcoming "Megalopolis."
Roos also produced a number of films directed by Coppola's daughter Sofia, including "The Virgin Suicides," "Lost in Translation" and "Marie Antoinette." And he was the executive producer for 1991's "Hearts of Darkness," the documentary about the making of "Apocalypse Now" directed by Francis' wife, Eleanor Coppola.
He served as casting director for the 1973 coming-of-age classic "American Graffiti, directed by George Lucas. And although he was not credited as casting director for Lucas' 1977 classic "Star Wars," Roos is said to have recommended the casting of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and James Earl Jones.
"I was, from the get-go, pushing him (Ford) for Han Solo," Roos told Entertainment Weekly in 2016. "(I said) `George, you saw him right under your nose in `American Graffiti,' and finally it clicked with George. Other people were considered, but finally I won the day with George on that one."
Roos is survived by his wife and longtime partner, Nancy Drew, and his son and producing partner Alexander "Sandy" Roos.
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