Jackie Burch passed away at the age of 74 at her home in Atlanta after a four-month battle with endometrial cancer.
Last Updated on 15 hours by Vijay Kumar
Jackie Burch, the legendary casting director known for shaping some of the most iconic films of the last four decades. Burch passed away at the age of 74 at her home in Atlanta after a four-month battle with endometrial cancer. Her death was confirmed by her longtime friend and colleague, casting director Gail Goldberg.
Burch’s family said in a statement, “We are heartbroken and in shock at the prospect of living without our vibrant, charming, funny, special and incredibly loving mom.”
Atkins Estimond wrote on Instagram, “RIP to Jackie Burch. Very sorry to hear of her passing. Any time I got an audition request for a project Jackie was casting I knew I had someone in the room who was really fighting for me. May her contributions to this industry not be forgotten.”
Before beginning her remarkable Hollywood career, Burch worked as a teacher for the deaf in Los Angeles — a role that helped her develop a deep understanding of communication and emotion. Her entry into the film industry came when she took on an assistant position for a casting director at Universal Pictures. From there, her natural ability to recognize and pair the right talent with the right role made her one of the most respected professionals in the casting world.
During her decades-long career, Burch helped cast some of the most iconic films in Hollywood history. She was responsible for assembling the ensembles in Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Weird Science, three of the defining works of director John Hughes. She also worked on major action films such as Die Hard, Predator, Commando, and The Running Man, contributing to the success of some of cinema’s most memorable blockbusters. In later years, she continued her influence through acclaimed projects like Hidden Figures and Bessie, for which she received an Emmy nomination.
She is survived by her daughters, Samy Burch, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter, and Molly Burch, a musician, along with their spouses, and her twin sister, Janice Papolos. Her family expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of love and remembered her as a vibrant and generous person who touched countless lives through both her work and her kindness.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.