Susan McCray
Encyclopedia
Susan Sukman McCray is an American
entrepreneur
, film producer
, and casting director.
and then attended UCLA. majoring in both Art History
and Psychology
. She began her career as a singer, and then went on to be a casting director for several hit television series. She is now an entrepreneur.
, President of Monument Records
. Foster nicknamed her "Susan Sands" and signed her to a contract to record four sides for the company. Her early recording of "Say A Prayer for Michael" appeared on the charts nationwide.
shows Bonanza
and The High Chaparral
. After a few years of experience working for the two show’s casting director, McCray left Paramount and joined Warner Brothers as casting director for such shows as Kung Fu
, The New Land
and other network productions.
After a short stint at Warners, McCray returned to Paramount to work in their casting department, working for such series as Happy Days
, Laverne & Shirley
, Manix
, and The Odd Couple
. After her return to Paramount, she received a call of a lifetime from Michael Landon
offering her the position of casting director for his new NBC series, Little House on the Prairie
. During the nine years Susan spent casting for Little House, her additional casting assignments included the series Hawaii 5-0, Father Murphy
, Freestyle and television movies such as Diary of Anne Frank
, The Five of Me, Rodeo Girl, The Loneliest Runner
and Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter for PBS
. McCray also cast the feature film
Sam’s Son
, a semi-biographical story about Michael Landon, and was in charge of casting the NBC series Highway To Heaven
.
McCray cast Art Carney
in the film Where Pigeons Go to Die
, for which role Carney received an Emmy nomination.
After Michael Landon’s death Susan and producer Kent McCray produced the television movie Memories with Laughter and Love as a tribute to Landon.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, and casting director.
Background
McCray is the daughter of composer Harry Sukman and artist Francesca Paley Sukman. She attended University High SchoolUniversity High School
-Canada:* University Hill Secondary School, Vancouver, British Columbia-Arizona:* University High School , Arizona* University High School , Arizona-California:* University High School , California...
and then attended UCLA. majoring in both Art History
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
and Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. She began her career as a singer, and then went on to be a casting director for several hit television series. She is now an entrepreneur.
Singer
McCray as a singer was "discovered" by Fred FosterFred Foster
Fred Foster is an American songwriter, record producer, and founder of Monument Records.-Biography:...
, President of Monument Records
Monument Records
Monument Records was an American record label, Washington, D.C. named for the Washington Monument, founded in 1958, by Fred Foster and Buddy Deane . Buddy Deane soon left the company, and in the early 60's bought KOTN in Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he retired to until his death...
. Foster nicknamed her "Susan Sands" and signed her to a contract to record four sides for the company. Her early recording of "Say A Prayer for Michael" appeared on the charts nationwide.
Casting
After touring for Monument, McCray returned to California and found employment as a secretary/receptionist at Paramount Studios for the NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
shows Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
and The High Chaparral
The High Chaparral
The High Chaparral is a Western-themed television series starring Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell which aired on NBC from 1967 to 1971. The show was created by David Dortort, who had previously created the hit Bonanza for the network...
. After a few years of experience working for the two show’s casting director, McCray left Paramount and joined Warner Brothers as casting director for such shows as Kung Fu
Kung Fu (TV series)
Kung Fu is an American television series that starred David Carradine. It was created by Ed Spielman, directed and produced by Jerry Thorpe, and developed by Herman Miller, who was also a writer for, and co-producer of, the series...
, The New Land
The New Land
Nybyggarna is a 1972 Swedish film written by Bengt Forslund and directed by Jan Troell. It stars Max von Sydow, Liv Ullmann and Eddie Axberg....
and other network productions.
After a short stint at Warners, McCray returned to Paramount to work in their casting department, working for such series as Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
, Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley is an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from January 26, 1976, to May 10, 1983...
, Manix
Manix
Manix was both the title and main character of a comic strip serial published in the British comics anthology Eagle. The serial first appeared in issue 24 ....
, and The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple (TV series)
The Odd Couple is a television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970 to July 4, 1975 on ABC. It starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. It was based upon the play of the same name, which was written by Neil Simon.Felix and Oscar are two divorced men....
. After her return to Paramount, she received a call of a lifetime from Michael Landon
Michael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
offering her the position of casting director for his new NBC series, Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
. During the nine years Susan spent casting for Little House, her additional casting assignments included the series Hawaii 5-0, Father Murphy
Father Murphy
Father Murphy is an American television drama series that aired on the NBC network from November 3, 1981 to September 18, 1983. Michael Landon created the series, was the executive producer, and also directed the show in partnership with William F...
, Freestyle and television movies such as Diary of Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank (1980 film)
The Diary of Anne Frank is a television movie produced in 1980, originally aired on NBC. Like the 1959 film, the screenplay was written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and directed by Boris Sagal...
, The Five of Me, Rodeo Girl, The Loneliest Runner
The Loneliest Runner
The Loneliest Runner is an autobiographical made-for-television film written, and directed by Bonanza star Michael Landon. It first aired in 1976 on NBC and starred Lance Kerwin, Brian Keith, DeAnn Mears, and Landon's television daughter, Melissa Sue Anderson. Landon also made a cameo appearance in...
and Mark Twain: Beneath the Laughter for PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
. McCray also cast the feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Sam’s Son
Sam's Son
Sam's Son is a film written and directed by Michael Landon and released theatrically in the fall of 1984...
, a semi-biographical story about Michael Landon, and was in charge of casting the NBC series Highway To Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven is an American television drama series which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989.- Season 1 :- Season 2 :- Season 3 :- Season 4 :- Season 5 :...
.
McCray cast Art Carney
Art Carney
Arthur William Matthew “Art” Carney was an American actor in film, stage, television and radio. He is best known for playing Ed Norton, opposite Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden in the situation comedy The Honeymooners....
in the film Where Pigeons Go to Die
Where Pigeons Go to Die
Where Pigeons Go to Die is a 1990 made for television film written and directed by Michael Landon based on the novel by R. Wright Campbell. The film stars Art Carney and was nominated for two Emmy awards:...
, for which role Carney received an Emmy nomination.
After Michael Landon’s death Susan and producer Kent McCray produced the television movie Memories with Laughter and Love as a tribute to Landon.