Dennis Van Thal(1909-1998)
- Producer
- Casting Director
- Music Department
For over fifty years Dennis Van Thal's name as a film producer, casting
and theatrical agent was linked to some of the biggest names in cinema
and theatre. At various periods of their career he represented such
luminaries as Sir Alec Guinness, Franco Zefferelli, Sir Dirk Bogarde,
Roger Moore, Michael Balcon and Fred Zinnemann and many others.
Born in London to Dutch parents Van Thal began his career in showbusiness working as a musical director and arranger for for the impresario Andre Charlot during the 1920s. Whilst working on several Charlot revues in London he met and befriended Noel Coward and Beatrice Lillie.
Van Thal was drawn to the British film industry in the 1930s and he became as casting director at Denham Studios for Sir Alexander Korda. Among the films that he cast were The Four Feathers, The Fallen Idol, The Third Man and The Thief of Bagdad.
During World War Two he served in the Navy and afterwards returned to Denham. In 1957 he turned producer and was invited by Sir Michael Balcon to join him at Ealing Studios. During this period Van That came into contact with cameramen such as Freddie Young and Oswald Morris, both of whom he later represented.
In 1959 he met Jean Diamond, a casting director for MGM British, and together they set up the now world famous theatrical agency London Management. They began representing the cream of British and world cinema and numbered among their clients directors such as Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.
In the late 1960s the film mogul Sir Lew Grade of the Grade Organisation merged with London Management briefly and a separate branch of the firm was called London International. Van Thal continued to work until well into his 80s and in 1998 entered Denville Hall, Middlesex, the actors retirement home where he died in 1998.
Born in London to Dutch parents Van Thal began his career in showbusiness working as a musical director and arranger for for the impresario Andre Charlot during the 1920s. Whilst working on several Charlot revues in London he met and befriended Noel Coward and Beatrice Lillie.
Van Thal was drawn to the British film industry in the 1930s and he became as casting director at Denham Studios for Sir Alexander Korda. Among the films that he cast were The Four Feathers, The Fallen Idol, The Third Man and The Thief of Bagdad.
During World War Two he served in the Navy and afterwards returned to Denham. In 1957 he turned producer and was invited by Sir Michael Balcon to join him at Ealing Studios. During this period Van That came into contact with cameramen such as Freddie Young and Oswald Morris, both of whom he later represented.
In 1959 he met Jean Diamond, a casting director for MGM British, and together they set up the now world famous theatrical agency London Management. They began representing the cream of British and world cinema and numbered among their clients directors such as Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.
In the late 1960s the film mogul Sir Lew Grade of the Grade Organisation merged with London Management briefly and a separate branch of the firm was called London International. Van Thal continued to work until well into his 80s and in 1998 entered Denville Hall, Middlesex, the actors retirement home where he died in 1998.
