Robert J. Ulrich (casting director)
Robert J. Ulrich is an American casting director and producer active since the 1980s and best known for casting television shows including Glee, The Boys, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica, CSI, Diagnosis: Murder and Matlock. He has also cast most Ryan Murphy productions since Popular in 1999. He has been nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for casting Glee. He has been nominated for the Artios Awards 22 times and won twice, for casting Glee and Nip/Tuck.
Career
[edit]Robert J. Ulrich began his career as a stage actor, but realized he would not be successful. He moved into casting and says he learned more about acting his first time behind the table than in his previous career.[1][2]
Known for casting musical television series, Ulrich told The Hollywood Reporter that "it's so much more fun when you're doing a musical, because people are singing and your day's suddenly better".[3] He developed this musical casting process for the show Rhapsody, which did not get greenlit. Initially, he would have auditionees sing a cappella or with a backing track, but insisted on bringing a live pianist for the callbacks, saying in 2020 that "great singers are better with a piano and less trained singers are much better with a piano".[4] He has also said that having live piano sets actors at ease.[1] The pianist he found for the Rhapsody callbacks was Brad Ellis, whom he would use for subsequent musical auditions as well as integrating into shows like Glee. Ulrich's musical casting process has not changed since Rhapsody, and he encourages actors to showcase themselves. He has also opined that for television, he considers acting ability above singing[4][5] and that actors from the stage "should bring it down for the screen".[1] Sometimes for auditions later in a show a pianist will not be used.[1]
Ulrich became involved with Glee through his business partner Eric Dawson, who had worked with creator Ryan Murphy on multiple occasions; Dawson suggested Ulrich should be involved due to his musical background.[5] While working on the show he helped develop the reality series The Glee Project, which he described as an extension of the comedy-musical's casting process.[6] In 2021, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Ulrich does not find musical casting challenging, as he has many connections with triple threat performers; for Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist he cast several actors he had seen for prior auditions, including Jane Levy, who had previously auditioned for him for The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again, and Michael Thomas Grant and Alex Newell who had been contestants on The Glee Project.[3]
He is affiliated with professional guilds The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Casting Society of America, the Producers Guild of America, and Teamsters Local 399.[citation needed]
He was also a producer of Billy Boy, a 2017 film written by and starring Glee performers Melissa Benoist and Blake Jenner.[7]
Personal life
[edit]He is married to Kim Johnston Ulrich. The couple judged the annual "Valley's Got Talent" in Ulrich's hometown of Modesto, California, together.[8]
Filmography
[edit] | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (October 2021) |
Film
[edit]| Year | Production | Role(s) | Notes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Unholy | Casting | ||
| 1988 | Midnight Crossing | Casting | ||
| 1989 | Paint It Black | Casting | ||
| 1990 | Spies on Ice | Casting | ||
| 1990 | Downtown | Casting | ||
| 1992 | Spies, Inc. | Casting | ||
| 1993 | Airborne | Casting | ||
| 1993 | Monolith | Casting | ||
| 1999 | Cold Hearts | Casting | ||
| 2005 | Wheelmen | Casting, co-producer | ||
| 2016 | Holly's Girl | Casting, executive producer | Short film | |
| 2016 | This is How | Casting | Short film | |
| 2017 | Billy Boy | Casting, producer | ||
| 2018 | Mail Order Monster | Casting, producer | ||
| 2019 | Assimilate | Casting | ||
| 2019 | Softer | Casting, producer | Short film | |
| 2019 | Foster Boy | Casting, co-producer | ||
| 2020 | The Boys in the Band | Casting |
Television
[edit]All roles only casting unless noted.
| Year | Production | Notes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Family Man | ||
| 1989 | Father Dowling Mysteries | ||
| 1991 | Adventures in Wonderland | Pilot | |
| 1991 | This Gun for Hire | TV movie | |
| 1990–1992 | Jake and the Fatman | ||
| 1991–1992 | Eerie, Indiana | ||
| 1992 | The Hannigans | Pilot | |
| 1992 | The Round Table | ||
| 1992–1993 | Melrose Place | ||
| 1993 | Arly Hanks | Pilot | |
| 1993 | Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life | TV movie | |
| 1991–1994 | Perry Mason | 10 episodes; TV film series | |
| 1994 | Weldon Pond | Pilot | |
| 1994 | Close to Home | Pilot | |
| 1994 | The Byrds of Paradise | ||
| 1994 | Green Dolphin Beat | TV movie | |
| 1994 | Heaven Help Us | ||
| 1988–1995 | Matlock | ||
| 1994–1995 | Ray Alexander | 2 episodes; TV film series | |
| 1995 | Hell | Pilot | |
| 1995 | Fast Company | Pilot | |
| 1995 | P.C.H. | ||
| 1995 | Extreme Blue | ||
| 1995 | Gramps | ||
| 1995 | Bringing up Jack | ||
| 1995 | Deadly Games | ||
| 1995 | The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space | ||
| 1995–1996 | Strange Luck | ||
| 1996 | The Gail O'Grady Project | ||
| 1996 | Dark Angel | ||
| 1996 | She Cried No | ||
| 1996 | Dark Skies | ||
| 1995–1997 | Diagnosis: Murder | ||
| 1996–1997 | Moloney | ||
| 1997 | Dogs | Pilot | |
| 1997 | Spy Game | ||
| 1997 | Timecop | ||
| 1997 | The Gregory Hines Show | ||
| 1997–1998 | Early Edition | ||
| 1997–1998 | Pensacola: Wings of Gold | ||
| 1998 | The Dave Chappelle Project | Pilot | |
| 1998 | Glory, Glory | Pilot | |
| 1998 | DayBreak | Pilot | |
| 1998 | Rag and Bone | ||
| 1998 | Rude Awakening | ||
| 1998 | To Have & to Hold | ||
| 1998 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Anthology series | |
| 1998 | Wind on Water | ||
| 1998–1999 | The Net | ||
| 1999 | Sagamore | Pilot | |
| 1999 | Partner | Pilot | |
| 1999 | Ladies Man | ||
| 1999 | Ryan Caulfield: Year One | ||
| 2000 | Brutally Normal | ||
| 1999–2001 | Popular | ||
| 2001 | Earth Angels | Pilot | |
| 2001 | Sam's Circus | Pilot | |
| 2001 | The Chronicle | ||
| 1998–2002 | Any Day Now | ||
| 1998–2002 | V.I.P. | ||
| 2000–2002 | Dark Angel | ||
| 2001–2002 | The Tick | ||
| 2001–2002 | Felicity | ||
| 2002 | CSI: Miami | Pilot | |
| 2002 | The American Embassy | ||
| 2002 | Push, Nevada | ||
| 2002 | MDs | ||
| 2001–2003 | The Agency | ||
| 2003 | Naked Hotel | Pilot | |
| 2003 | Crazy Love | Pilot | |
| 2003 | Hope & Faith | ||
| 2003 | The Lyon's Den | ||
| 2003 | Battlestar Galactica | Miniseries | |
| 2001–2004 | The Chris Isaak Show | ||
| 2002–2004 | Odyssey 5 | ||
| 2004 | Homeland Security | TV movie | |
| 2004–2005 | Jack & Bobby | ||
| 2005 | Cyber Seduction: His Secret Life | TV movie | |
| 2005 | Wildfire | ||
| 2002–2006 | The Dead Zone | ||
| 2003–2006 | Missing | ||
| 2004–2006 | Everwood | ||
| 2005–2006 | Killer Instinct | ||
| 2005–2006 | Just Legal | ||
| 2006 | Standoff | Pilot | |
| 2006 | Kyle XY | Pilot | |
| 2006 | Him and Us | Pilot | |
| 2006 | The Book of Daniel | ||
| 2006 | Not Like Everyone Else | ||
| 2006 | The Year Without a Santa Claus | TV movie | |
| 2006 | Monarch Cove | ||
| 2005–2007 | Eyes | ||
| 2006–2007 | Day Break | ||
| 2007 | Conspiracy | Pilot | |
| 2007 | Company Man | Pilot | |
| 2007 | Battlestar Galactica: Razor | TV movie | |
| 2007 | Bionic Woman | ||
| 2007 | Journeyman | ||
| 2008 | The Mentalist | Pilot | |
| 2008 | Pretty/Handsome | Pilot | |
| 2004–2009 | Battlestar Galactica | ||
| 2008–2009 | Eli Stone | ||
| 2008–2009 | Eureka | ||
| 2009 | Virtuality | Pilot | |
| 2009 | The Magic 7 | TV movie; animation | |
| 2003–2010 | Nip/Tuck | ||
| 2007–2010 | Saving Grace | ||
| 2009–2010 | Eastwick | ||
| 2010 | Tower Prep | Pilot | |
| 2010 | Scoundrels | ||
| 2010 | Lone Star | ||
| 2010 | Caprica | ||
| 2010–2011 | Rizzoli & Isles | ||
| 2011 | Spring/Fall | ||
| 2011 | Against the Wall | ||
| 2008–2012 | In Plain Sight | ||
| 2012 | The Frontier | ||
| 2012 | The Glee Project | Reality competition show; also co-creator and coach | |
| 2009–2013 | Drop Dead Diva | ||
| 2013–2014 | Witches of East End | ||
| 2014 | Crisis | ||
| 2000–2015 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | ||
| 2008–2015 | Glee | ||
| 2014–2015 | Helix | ||
| 2015 | Stanistan | Pilot | |
| 2015 | CSI: Cyber | Pilot | |
| 2015 | Quantico | Pilot | |
| 2016 | The Jury | Pilot | |
| 2016 | Marvel's Most Wanted | Pilot | |
| 2016 | Home | Pilot | |
| 2016 | Conviction | Pilot | |
| 2016 | The Family | ||
| 2016 | Underground | ||
| 2016 | Game of Silence | ||
| 2016 | The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again | TV movie | |
| 2016–2017 | The Exorcist | ||
| 2017 | The Haunted | Pilot | |
| 2017 | Doomsday | Pilot | |
| 2017 | Behind Enemy Lines | Pilot | |
| 2017 | Feud | ||
| 2017 | Daytime Divas | ||
| 2013–2018 | Major Crimes | ||
| 2014–2018 | Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | ||
| 2016–2018 | Designated Survivor | ||
| 2016–2018 | Shooter | ||
| 2018 | Chiefs | ||
| 2019 | Thirtysomething(else) | Pilot | |
| 2019 | Prism | Pilot | |
| 2019 | L.A.'s Finest | Pilot | |
| 2005–2020 | Supernatural | ||
| 2018–2020 | The Good Doctor | ||
| 2019–2020 | Tell Me a Story | ||
| 2020 | Tiny Pretty Things | ||
| 2020–2021 | Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist | ||
| 2021 | Epic | Pilot | |
| 2021 | Untitled Goonies Re-enactment Project | Pilot | |
| 2021 | Generation | ||
| 2011–present | American Horror Story | Anthology series | |
| 2018–present | The Rookie | ||
| 2018–present | 9-1-1 | ||
| 2019–present | The Boys | ||
| 2019–present | All Rise | ||
| 2020-2023 | Big Sky | ||
| 2020-2024 | Station 19 | ||
| 2020–present | Grey's Anatomy | ||
| 2021–present | American Horror Stories | Anthology series | |
| TBC | Monarch | ||
| TBC | In From the Cold | ||
| TBC | Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story | ||
| TBC | Untitled The Boys Spinoff |
Theatre
[edit]| Year | Production | Role(s) | Notes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Civility of Albert Cashier | Casting, producer |
Awards and nominations
[edit]In over 30 years in casting, Ulrich and his company Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting (UDK) have been nominated for over twenty Artios Awards and nine Emmy Awards.[9][10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Roth, Elyse (July 22, 2020). "What to Know About Auditioning for Musical Series Like 'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist'". Backstage. Robert J. Ulrich (interview). Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ Wandera, Yvonne (February 10, 2015). "Interview: Casting Director Robert Ulrich on Discovering Unknown Actors and Tips on Self-Taping Auditions". Daily Actor. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Rizzo, Carita (January 14, 2021). "Casting Directors From 'Never Have I Ever,' 'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, 'P-Valley' and More Talk Curating Chemistry Between Co-Stars". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Liroff, Marci (July 24, 2020). "The CD Behind 'Glee' Reveals the 3 Best Singers He's Ever Worked With". Backstage. Robert J. Ulrich (interview). Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Votta, Rae (March 16, 2015). "Glee Pilot Oral History, Part 1: Casting Call". Out Magazine. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ Kushigemachi, Todd (March 18, 2014). "Casting Director Robert Ulrich Keeps 'Glee' Talent Flow Open". Variety. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ Episode 8 - Robert J. Ulrich. Placing Faces Podcast. Retrieved April 29, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Loria, Keith (April 24, 2020). "How The Glee Project Helped Launch These Performers to Stardom". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Smart, Jack (September 20, 2018). "CSA Discloses 2019 Artios Award Nominees, Honoring Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting". Backstage. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Nordyke, Kimberly (January 31, 2019). "Casting Society of America's Artios Awards: 'Green Book,' 'Vice' Among Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "1992 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ "1998 Nominees/Winners". Casting Society of America. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
- ^ "2000 Nominees/Winners". Casting Society of America. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
- ^ "2004 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "2005 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 2005". Television Academy. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "2006 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "2007 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "2008 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "2009 Nominees/Winners". Casting Society of America. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
- ^ "Media Access Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "2010 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- ^ "2011 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Complete list of 2012 Artios Winners". Casting Society of America. November 7, 2012. castingsociety.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
- ^ "Creative Arts Emmy Awards Winners" (PDF). Television Academy. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 2, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
- ^ "2013 ARTIOS AWARDS WINNERS". Casting Society of America. November 18, 2013. castingsociety.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
- ^ "Creative Arts Emmy Awards Winners" (PDF). Television Academy. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
- ^ "Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries Movie Or A Special Nominees / Winners 2014". Television Academy. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "30TH ARTIOS AWARDS WINNERS". Casting Society of America. January 22, 2015. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
- ^ "Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries Movie Or A Special Nominees / Winners 2015". Television Academy. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "2016 Artios Awards". Casting Society of America. January 21, 2016. castingsociety.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
- ^ "Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries Movie Or A Special Nominees / Winners 2017". Television Academy. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "2018 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (April 15, 2021). "Artios Awards: 'Borat 2,' 'Trial of the Chicago 7,' 'Minari' Among Film Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.