Legendary casting director Andrea Eastman, who played a pivotal role in shaping Hollywood cinema through her work on iconic films and her talent for discovering stars, has died at the age of 86. A family spokesperson confirmed her death to The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday. Eastman passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Santa Barbara.
In the months leading up to her death, Eastman had reportedly alluded to the California End of Life Option Act, a law that permits mentally capable, terminally ill adults to access aid-in-dying medication. A source who saw Eastman recently described her discussions about medical aid in dying as nonchalant but indicated she was seriously considering it.
Despite experiencing health challenges in recent years, including open-heart surgery six years prior, sources noted that Eastman maintained an upbeat spirit. A children's book, "Trooper at the Beverly Hills Hotel," was published in 2022, documenting her recovery journey with the help of her golden retriever, Trooper. Eastman told "Explore Big Sky" in 2023 that Trooper was instrumental in her healing process.
Eastman's career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on Tinseltown. She is credited with discovering "Charlie's Angels" star Jaclyn Smith, facilitating the collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Roy Scheider for "Jaws," and helping Billy Crystal secure his role in "When Harry Met Sally." She also held executive positions at Paramount and managed a roster of notable talent, including Sylvester Stallone, Barbra Streisand, Katherine Heigl, Katie Couric, Dustin Hoffman, Brenda Vaccaro, Richard Gere, and Tony Danza.
Eastman celebrated her final birthday in June with a Zoom party attended by former clients such as Heigl, Couric, Danza, Crystal, Marla Maples, and Dyan Cannon. A spokesperson has not commented on the official cause of her death.