Beverly McDermott
FLIFF Mourns The Passing of a South Florida Legend
Beverly McDermott, a Hollywood
resident who became one of Florida's most prominent casting directors of film
and TV, died Thursday. She was 83.
McDermott cast more than 250 movies and TV series over a 40-year career.
Among the films she cast were "Lenny," which was nominated for seven Academy
Awards, both "Cocoon" movies and "Scarface."
Her TV credits include "Miami Vice"
and "The Jackie Gleason
Show" during its five years in Miami
Beach.
She and her husband, Jack, also were active in the pop music field. They
discovered '60s teen idol Freddy Cannon, whose hits include "Tallahassee
Lassie," and they produced the comeback performance at the Diplomat Hotel in
1989 of Connie
Francis, who became a close friend. They also were involved in Judy Garland's
performance at the Miami
Beach Convention Center in the 1960s.
She was the first casting director from Florida to become a member of the
Casting Society of America. She also was first vice president of both the
National Academy of Arts and Sciences and Women in Motion Pictures.
Beverly's last FLIFF was in 2006 when she accompanied her good friend Connie Francis to her a FLIFF Gala at The Diplomat in Hollywood.
McDermott is survived by her husband, son Richard, daughter Cheryl, brother
Paul Sayers and sister Eileen Crowley.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Landmark Funeral Home,
4200 Hollywood Blvd.
Reprinted from the notice by Tom Jicha, Sun-Sentinel.
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