Barbara Dodd obit

Barbara Dodd Remsen, Actress and Casting Director, Dies at 88

She appeared on 'Leave It to Beaver' and 'The Dick Van Dyke Show,' then helped Tom Selleck, Tea Leoni and Kevin Costner get roles. 

She was not on the list.

Barbara Dodd Remsen, an actress turned casting director who helped boost the careers of Tom Selleck, Tea Leoni, Kevin Costner, Pierce Brosnan and others, has died. She was 88.

Remsen died March 8 in Los Angeles, her daughter Kerry Remsen Cates announced.

Her late husband was Bert Remsen, a character actor who entered the casting profession after he suffered severe back and leg injuries when he was struck by a crane while on the set of the 1964-65 ABC comedy No Time for Sergeants.

Bert Remsen had an office at Raleigh Studios, where he worked as the head of Aaron Spelling Casting at 20th Century Fox. His wife, who had appeared on such series as Leave It to Beaver, Gunsmoke and The Dick Van Dyke Show, joined him there, then launched Remdin Casting with another former actor, Dick Dinman.

She received three Artios Awards over the next three decades while helping the likes of Selleck, Leoni, Costner, Brosnan, Vince Vaughn and Billy Bob Thornton build their acting résumés.

“She had a belief system about people and actors, that we were all possible if we could be found,” Leoni said in a statement.

Barbara Dodd was born on New Year’s Day in 1930 in Somerville, New Jersey. She graduated from Rutgers University, worked as a page for NBC and appeared in a hair commercial.

She came to Los Angeles and signed with a talent agency, and in 1957 she appeared as a librarian on an episode of Leave It to Beaver. She went on to work on Johnny Staccato, Wendy and Me, The Fugitive, Bewitched, Mod Squad, S.W.A.T. and other shows.

She was acting again more recently and showed up on The Pretender, According to Jim and Modern Family and in the film Employee of the Month (2006).

Bert Remsen, her husband of 40 years, eventually returned to acting after his accident, becoming a favorite of director Robert Altman. He died in April 1999 at age 74.

In addition to Kerry, Remsen is survived by another daughter, Ann; son-in-law Scott; and grandchildren Meg and Nicholas.

Actress

Mo Gallini, Louis C. Oberlander, Luis Fernandez-Gil, Jessica Vargas, Kim Estes, Erika Jordan, Kyle Newacheck, Bernard Bullen, Thomas Kellogg, Oliver Rayon, Vic Stagliano, Jennifer Daley, Ryan Max O'Melia, Whitney Ullom, Sheila Collins, Boone Platt, and Teddy Spencer in Studio City Kings (2016)

Studio City Kings

8.9

TV Series

Estelle

2020

1 episode

 

Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sarah Hyland, Ed O'Neill, Eric Stonestreet, Beatrice the Dog, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez, Reid Ewing, Frances Anderson, and Jeremy Maguire in Modern Family (2009)

Modern Family

8.5

TV Series

Ellen (as Barbara Dodd Remsen)

2012

1 episode

 

Rob Schneider in Big Stan (2007)

Big Stan

6.2

Mrs. Darby (as Barbara Dodd Remsen)

2007

 

Jessica Simpson, Dane Cook, and Dax Shepard in Employee of the Month (2006)

Employee of the Month

5.6

Granny (as Barbara Dodd Ramsen)

2006

 

Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Taylor Atelian, and Billi Bruno in According to Jim (2001)

According to Jim

6.5

TV Series

Mrs. Nelson (as Barbara Dodd Remsen)

2005

1 episode

 

Bram and Alice (2002)

Bram and Alice

6.5

TV Series

Woman (as Barbara Dodd Remsen)

2002

1 episode

 

Vincent Berry, Chad Everett, and Brian McNamara in Manhattan, AZ (2000)

Manhattan, AZ

7.5

TV Series

Old Woman

2000

1 episode

 

Andrea Parker and Michael T. Weiss in The Pretender (1996)

The Pretender

7.5

TV Series

Sister Mary Elephante

2000

2 episodes

 

Eileen Davidson, Bryton James, Joshua Morrow, Gina Tognoni, Justin Hartley, Melissa Claire Egan, and Peter Bergman in The Young and the Restless (1973)

The Young and the Restless

5.4

TV Series

Leona Matthews

1994

1 episode

 

Robin Wright, Judith Anderson, Valorie Armstrong, Melissa Reeves, Robert Alan Browne, Paul Burke, Ismael 'East' Carlo, Margarita Cordova, Nicolas Coster, Lane Davies, Richard Eden, Gina Gallego, Linda Gibboney, Andrea Howard, Ava Lazar, A Martinez, Todd McKee, John Allen Nelson, Rupert Ravens, Julie Ronnie, Kerry Sherman, Louise Sorel, Jonna Leigh Stack, Marcy Walker, and Dane Witherspoon in Santa Barbara (1984)

Santa Barbara

5.7

TV Series

Mrs. Mulcher

1992

1 episode

 

Geraldine Chaplin in Remember My Name (1978)

Remember My Name

6.3

Barbara's Mother

1978

 

Baby Blue Marine (1976)

Baby Blue Marine

6.1

Mother

1976

 

S.W.A.T. (1975)

S.W.A.T.

6.8

TV Series

Mrs. Lacey

1975

1 episode

 

Aloha Means Goodbye (1974)

Aloha Means Goodbye

6.4

TV Movie

Head Nurse

1974

 

Eva Marie Saint in The First Woman President (1974)

The First Woman President

6.1

TV Movie

1974

 

Chopper One (1974)

Chopper One

7.1

TV Series

Mother

1974

1 episode

 

The Great American Beauty Contest (1973)

The Great American Beauty Contest

6.1

TV Movie

Miss New Jersey Chaperone

1973

 

Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole, and Clarence Williams III in Mod Squad (1968)

Mod Squad

7.0

TV Series

Mrs. Parker

1972

1 episode

 

Kent McCord and Martin Milner in Adam-12 (1968)

Adam-12

7.7

TV Series

Woman

1972

1 episode

 

Medical Center (1969)

Medical Center

7.1

TV Series

Mrs. KellerNurse

1970–1971

2 episodes

 

Elizabeth Montgomery, Agnes Moorehead, and Dick York in Bewitched (1964)

Bewitched

7.6

TV Series

Script Girl

1971

1 episode

 

In Broad Daylight (1971)

In Broad Daylight

6.8

TV Movie

Mother (uncredited)

1971

 

Then Came Bronson (1969)

Then Came Bronson

8.0

TV Series

Mama

1970

1 episode

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.5

TV Series

NurseHotel ClerkReceptionist

1965–1969

3 episodes

 

Maureen Arthur, Nancy Bonniwell, Don Knotts, and Maggie Peterson in The Love God? (1969)

The Love God?

6.3

Mayor's Wife (uncredited)

1969

 

The Invaders (1967)

The Invaders

8.0

TV Series

Miss Fox

1967

1 episode

 

David Janssen in The Fugitive (1963)

The Fugitive

8.1

TV Series

Aggie - Nurse

1967

1 episode

 

John Clarke and Judy Lang in Meet Me in St. Louis (1966)

Meet Me in St. Louis

6.6

TV Movie

Maude

1966

 

Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)

The Dick Van Dyke Show

8.5

TV Series

NormaCustomer

1965

2 episodes

 

George Peppard and Elizabeth Ashley in The Third Day (1965)

The Third Day

5.6

Nurse (uncredited)

1965

 

Jeffrey Hunter in Brainstorm (1965)

Brainstorm

6.6

Party Guest (uncredited)

1965

 

Wendy and Me (1964)

Wendy and Me

7.8

TV Series

Defendant

1965

1 episode

 

The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962)

The Lloyd Bridges Show

6.6

TV Series

Telephone Operator

1963

1 episode

 

Johnny Staccato (1959)

Johnny Staccato

7.9

TV Series

Nurse

1959

1 episode

 

Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers in Leave It to Beaver (1957)

Leave It to Beaver

7.6

TV Series

Librarian

1957

1 episode

 

James Arness, Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone, and Dennis Weaver in Gunsmoke (1955)

Gunsmoke

8.1

TV Series

Waitress

1957

1 episode

 

Greer Garson and Florenz Ames in Telephone Time (1956)

Telephone Time

7.1

TV Series

Mary Hall

1957

1 episode

 

Matinee Theatre (1955)

Matinee Theatre

6.9

TV Series

Betty

1956

1 episode

 

Producers' Showcase (1954)

Producers' Showcase

7.4

TV Series

Airline Announcer

1954–1955

2 episodes

 

Private Number (1936)

Private Number

6.7

Baby (uncredited)

1936

 

Casting Director

ABC Weekend Specials (1977)

ABC Weekend Specials

7.8

TV Series

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1990–1993

2 episodes

 

David Heavener in Eye of the Stranger (1993)

Eye of the Stranger

3.6

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1993

 

CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984)

CBS Schoolbreak Special

7.0

TV Series

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1987–1993

3 episodes

 

Loving Lulu (1992)

Loving Lulu

6.8

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1992

 

A Girl of the Limberlost (1990)

A Girl of the Limberlost

6.6

TV Movie

Casting Director (as Barbara Remson)

1990

 

A Girl to Kill For (1990)

A Girl to Kill For

5.0

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1990

 

Instant Karma (1990)

Instant Karma

4.2

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1990

 

Spaced Invaders (1990)

Spaced Invaders

5.3

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1990

 

Tribes (1990)

Tribes

8.2

TV Series

Casting Director

1990

1 episode

 

The Gumshoe Kid (1990)

The Gumshoe Kid

5.4

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1990

 

Zach Galligan and Wayne Crawford in Rising Storm (1989)

Rising Storm

4.8

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1989

 

ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)

ABC Afterschool Specials

7.2

TV Series

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1985–1989

4 episodes

 

Trust Me (1989)

Trust Me

6.1

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1989

 

Private War (1988)

Private War

3.8

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1988

 

In Dangerous Company (1988)

In Dangerous Company

3.5

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1988

 

Patricia Arquette, Vincent Schiavelli, Geoffrey Lewis, Allan Olsen, and Nina van Pallandt in Time Out (1988)

Time Out

4.3

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1988

 

The Serendipity Singers Show

TV Series

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1986

 

Omega Syndrome (1986)

Omega Syndrome

4.4

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1986

 

John Hurt, Wayne Crawford, and Karen Kopins in Jake Speed (1986)

Jake Speed

4.9

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen & Associates)

1986

 

The Check Is in the Mail... (1986)

The Check Is in the Mail...

4.5

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1986

 

Gary Busey and Cynthia Leake in The Bear (1984)

The Bear

6.0

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1984

 

UFOria (1984)

UFOria

6.2

Casting Director (as Barbara Remson)

1984

 

Romance Theatre (1982)

Romance Theatre

4.5

TV Series

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1982–1983

2 episodes

 

The Brady Brides (1981)

The Brady Brides

5.9

TV Series

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1981

6 episodes

 

Eve Plumb, Florence Henderson, Susan Olsen, Robert Reed, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, and Barry Williams in The Brady Girls Get Married (1981)

The Brady Girls Get Married

5.5

TV Movie

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1981

 

One Life to Live (1968)

One Life to Live

6.9

TV Series

Casting Director (as Barbara Remsen)

1968–2013

 

Casting Department

Alexandra Paul, Ned Beatty, and Brian Keith in After the Rain (1988)

After the Rain

6.8

casting: Los Angeles (as Barbara Remsen Dodd)

1988

 

ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)

ABC Afterschool Specials

7.2

TV Series

casting (as Barbara Remsen)

1986

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

Tess of the Storm Country (1960)

Tess of the Storm Country

5.6

dialogue coach

1960

 

Self

Down You Go

TV Series

Self - Ad Pitchwoman

1951

1 episode