Robert J. Ulrich (casting director) explained

Robert J. Ulrich is an American casting director and producer active since the 1980s and best known for casting television shows including Glee, The Boys, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica, CSI, and Matlock. He has also cast most Ryan Murphy productions since Popular in 1999. He has been nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for casting Glee. He has been nominated for the Artios Awards 22 times and won twice, for casting Glee and Nip/Tuck.

Career

Robert J. Ulrich began his career as a stage actor, but realized he would not be successful. He moved into casting and says he learned more about acting his first time behind the table than in his previous career.[1] [2]

Known for casting musical television series, Ulrich told The Hollywood Reporter that "it's so much more fun when you're doing a musical, because people are singing and your day's suddenly better".[3] He developed this musical casting process for the show Rhapsody, which did not get greenlit. Initially, he would have auditionees sing a cappella or with a backing track, but insisted on bringing a live pianist for the callbacks, saying in 2020 that "great singers are better with a piano and less trained singers are much better with a piano".[4] He has also said that having live piano sets actors at ease.[1] The pianist he found for the Rhapsody callbacks was Brad Ellis, whom he would use for subsequent musical auditions as well as integrating into shows like Glee. Ulrich's musical casting process has not changed since Rhapsody, and he encourages actors to showcase themselves. He has also opined that for television, he considers acting ability above singing[4] and that actors from the stage "should bring it down for the screen".[1] Sometimes for auditions later in a show a pianist will not be used.[1]

Ulrich became involved with Glee through his business partner Eric Dawson, who had worked with creator Ryan Murphy on multiple occasions; Dawson suggested Ulrich should be involved due to his musical background.[5] While working on the show he helped develop the reality series The Glee Project, which he described as an extension of the comedy-musical's casting process.[6] In 2021, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Ulrich does not find musical casting challenging, as he has many connections with triple threat performers; for Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist he cast several actors he had seen for prior auditions, including Jane Levy, who had previously auditioned for him for , and Michael Thomas Grant and Alex Newell who had been contestants on The Glee Project.[3]

He is affiliated with professional guilds The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Casting Society of America, the Producers Guild of America, and Teamsters Local 399.

He was also a producer of Billy Boy, a 2017 film written by and starring Glee performers Melissa Benoist and Blake Jenner.[7]

Personal life

He is married to Kim Johnston Ulrich. The couple judged the annual "Valley's Got Talent" in Ulrich's hometown of Modesto, California, together.[8]

Filmography

Film

YearProductionRole(s)Notes
1988The UnholyCasting
1988Midnight CrossingCasting
1989Paint It BlackCasting
1990Spies on IceCasting
1990DowntownCasting
1992Spies, Inc.Casting
1993AirborneCasting
1993MonolithCasting
1999Cold HeartsCasting
2005WheelmenCasting, co-producer
2016Holly's GirlCasting, executive producerShort film
2016This is HowCastingShort film
2017Billy BoyCasting, producer
2018Mail Order MonsterCasting, producer
2019AssimilateCasting
2019SofterCasting, producerShort film
2019Foster BoyCasting, co-producer
2020The Boys in the BandCasting

Television

All roles only casting unless noted.

YearProductionNotes
1988Family Man
1989Father Dowling Mysteries
1991Adventures in WonderlandPilot
1991This Gun for HireTV movie
1990–1992Jake and the Fatman
1991–1992Eerie, Indiana
1992The HannigansPilot
1992The Round Table
1992–1993Melrose Place
1993Arly HanksPilot
1993TV movie
1991–1994Perry Mason10 episodes; TV film series
1994Weldon PondPilot
1994Close to HomePilot
1994The Byrds of Paradise
1994Green Dolphin BeatTV movie
1994Heaven Help Us
1988–1995Matlock
1994–1995Ray Alexander2 episodes; TV film series
1995HellPilot
1995Fast CompanyPilot
1995P.C.H.
1995Extreme Blue
1995Gramps
1995Bringing up Jack
1995Deadly Games
1995The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space
1995–1996Strange Luck
1996The Gail O'Grady Project
1996Dark Angel
1996She Cried No
1996Dark Skies
1995–1997
1996–1997Moloney
1997DogsPilot
1997Spy Game
1997Timecop
1997The Gregory Hines Show
1997–1998Early Edition
1997–1998
1998The Dave Chappelle ProjectPilot
1998Glory, GloryPilot
1998DayBreakPilot
1998Rag and Bone
1998Rude Awakening
1998To Have & to Hold
1998The Wonderful World of DisneyAnthology series
1998Wind on Water
1998–1999The Net
1999SagamorePilot
1999PartnerPilot
1999Ladies Man
1999
2000Brutally Normal
1999–2001Popular
2001Earth AngelsPilot
2001Sam's CircusPilot
2001The Chronicle
1998–2002Any Day Now
1998–2002V.I.P.
2000–2002Dark Angel
2001–2002The Tick
2001–2002Felicity
2002Pilot
2002The American Embassy
2002Push, Nevada
2002MDs
2001–2003The Agency
2003Naked HotelPilot
2003Crazy LovePilot
2003Hope & Faith
2003The Lyon's Den
2003Battlestar GalacticaMiniseries
2001–2004The Chris Isaak Show
2002–2004Odyssey 5
2004Homeland SecurityTV movie
2004–2005Jack & Bobby
2005TV movie
2005Wildfire
2002–2006The Dead Zone
2003–2006Missing
2004–2006Everwood
2005–2006Killer Instinct
2005–2006Just Legal
2006StandoffPilot
2006Kyle XYPilot
2006Him and UsPilot
2006The Book of Daniel
2006Not Like Everyone Else
2006The Year Without a Santa ClausTV movie
2006Monarch Cove
2005–2007Eyes
2006–2007Day Break
2007ConspiracyPilot
2007Company ManPilot
2007TV movie
2007Bionic Woman
2007Journeyman
2008The MentalistPilot
2008Pretty/HandsomePilot
2004–2009Battlestar Galactica
2008–2009Eli Stone
2008–2009Eureka
2009VirtualityPilot
2009The Magic 7TV movie; animation
2003–2010Nip/Tuck
2007–2010Saving Grace
2009–2010Eastwick
2010Tower PrepPilot
2010Scoundrels
2010Lone Star
2010Caprica
2010–2011Rizzoli & Isles
2011Spring/Fall
2011Against the Wall
2008–2012In Plain Sight
2012The Frontier
2012The Glee ProjectReality competition show; also co-creator and coach
2009–2013Drop Dead Diva
2013–2014Witches of East End
2014Crisis
2000–2015
2008–2015Glee
2014–2015Helix
2015StanistanPilot
2015Pilot
2015QuanticoPilot
2016The JuryPilot
2016Marvel's Most WantedPilot
2016HomePilot
2016ConvictionPilot
2016The Family
2016Underground
2016Game of Silence
2016TV movie
2016–2017The Exorcist
2017The HauntedPilot
2017DoomsdayPilot
2017Behind Enemy LinesPilot
2017Feud
2017Daytime Divas
2013–2018Major Crimes
2014–2018Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce
2016–2018Designated Survivor
2016–2018Shooter
2018Chiefs
2019Thirtysomething(else)Pilot
2019PrismPilot
2019L.A.'s FinestPilot
2005–2020Supernatural
2018–2020The Good Doctor
2019–2020Tell Me a Story
2020Tiny Pretty Things
2020–2021Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
2021EpicPilot
2021Untitled Goonies Re-enactment ProjectPilot
2021Generation
2011–presentAmerican Horror StoryAnthology series
2018–presentThe Rookie
2018–present9-1-1
2019–presentThe Boys
2019–presentAll Rise
2020-2023Big Sky
2020-2024Station 19
2020–presentGrey's Anatomy
2021–presentAmerican Horror StoriesAnthology series
TBCMonarch
TBCIn From the Cold
TBC
TBCUntitled The Boys Spinoff

Theatre

Awards and nominations

In over 30 years in casting, Ulrich and his company Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting (UDK) have been nominated for over twenty Artios Awards and eight Emmy Awards.

YearAssociationCategoryWorkResult
1992Artios AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Daytime CastingAdventures in Wonderland[9]
1998Artios AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Comedy Pilot CastingThe Gregory Hines Show[10]
2000Popular[11]
2004Dramatic Pilot CastingNip/Tuck[12]
Dramatic Episodic Casting
2005Outstanding Achievement in Dramatic Episodic Casting[13]
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Casting for a Drama Series[14]
2006Artios AwardsChildren's Television CastingWildfire[15]
2007Kyle XY[16]
2008Outstanding Achievement in Drama Pilot CastingSaving Grace[17]
2009Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Pilot CastingGlee[18]
2010Media Access Award[19]
Television Series – Comedy Casting[20]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Casting for a Comedy Series[21]
2011Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards[22]
Artios AwardsTelevision Series – Comedy Casting[23]
2012Mini-Series Casting[24]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special[25]
2013Artios AwardsMini-Series Casting[26]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special[27]
2014Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards[28]
2015Artios AwardsMini-Series Casting[29]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special[30]
2016Artios AwardsMini-Series Casting[31]
2017Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or SpecialFeud: Betty and Joan[32]
2018Artios AwardsLimited Series Casting[33]
Film – Non-theatrical Release Casting
2019Hoyt Bowers AwardContribution to casting[34]
Micro-Budget Feature Casting – Comedy or DramaBilly Boy[35]
2021Television Pilot and First Season – Comedy CastingZoey's Extraordinary Playlist[36]
Television Pilot and First Season – Drama CastingThe Boys
2023Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What to Know About Auditioning for Musical Series Like 'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist'. July 22, 2020. Roth. Elyse. Backstage. Robert J. Ulrich (interview). April 29, 2021. February 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203213827/https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/robert-ulrich-zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-audition-71217/. live.
  2. Web site: Wandera. Yvonne. February 10, 2015. Interview: Casting Director Robert Ulrich on Discovering Unknown Actors and Tips on Self-Taping Auditions. April 29, 2021. Daily Actor. February 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210226104327/https://www.dailyactor.com/interview/casting-director-robert-ulrich-discovering-unknown-actors-tips-on-self-taping-auditions/. live.
  3. Web site: January 14, 2021. Casting Directors From 'Never Have I Ever,' 'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, 'P-Valley' and More Talk Curating Chemistry Between Co-Stars. April 29, 2021. The Hollywood Reporter. Rizzo. Carita. January 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122210552/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/casting-directors-behind-never-have-i-ever-zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-and-more-series-break-down-character-decisions. live.
  4. Web site: The CD Behind 'Glee' Reveals the 3 Best Singers He's Ever Worked With. Liroff. Marci. Marci Liroff. July 24, 2020. Backstage. Robert J. Ulrich (interview). April 29, 2021. January 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126140742/https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/robert-ulrich-glee-zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-casting-director-71214/. live.
  5. Web site: March 16, 2015. Glee Pilot Oral History, Part 1: Casting Call. April 29, 2021. Out Magazine. Votta. Rae. January 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210124190928/https://www.out.com/television/2015/3/16/glee-oral-history-part-1-can-you-imagine-glee-without-any-gay-characters. live.
  6. Web site: Kushigemachi. Todd. March 18, 2014. Casting Director Robert Ulrich Keeps 'Glee' Talent Flow Open. April 29, 2021. Variety. January 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210130134431/https://variety.com/2014/tv/features/casting-director-robert-ulrich-keeps-glee-talent-spigot-open-1201137150/. live.
  7. Episode 8 - Robert J. Ulrich. Placing Faces Podcast. YouTube. April 29, 2021.
  8. Web site: Loria. Keith. April 24, 2020. How The Glee Project Helped Launch These Performers to Stardom. April 29, 2021. Playbill. September 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200928182915/https://www.playbill.com/article/how-the-glee-project-helped-launch-these-performers-to-stardom. live.
  9. Web site: 1992 Artios Awards. June 28, 2020. Casting Society. June 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200629233420/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1992. live.
  10. Web site: 1998 Nominees/Winners . . August 16, 2018 . August 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180816125851/http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1998 . live .
  11. Web site: 2000 Nominees/Winners . . August 16, 2018 . August 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180816125831/http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2000 . live .
  12. Web site: 2004 Artios Awards. April 29, 2021. Casting Society. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118202159/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2004. live.
  13. Web site: 2005 Artios Awards. April 29, 2021. Casting Society. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118205202/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2005. live.
  14. Web site: Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 2005. April 29, 2021. Television Academy. March 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210304041601/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2005/outstanding-casting-for-a-drama-series. live.
  15. Web site: 2006 Artios Awards. April 29, 2021. Casting Society. November 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129155349/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2006. live.
  16. Web site: 2007 Artios Awards. April 29, 2021. Casting Society. January 19, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150119070120/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2007. live.
  17. Web site: 2008 Artios Awards. April 29, 2021. Casting Society. February 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200215141255/http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2008. live.
  18. Web site: 2009 Nominees/Winners . . August 18, 2018 . August 18, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180818084110/http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2009 . live .
  19. Web site: Media Access Awards. April 29, 2021. Casting Society. April 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210417124028/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/media-access. live.
  20. Web site: 2010 Artios Awards. April 29, 2021. Casting Society. September 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920194802/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2010. live.
  21. Web site: Nominees/Winners . . July 13, 2017 . August 24, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170824135843/http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2010/outstanding-casting-for-a-comedy-series . live .
  22. Web site: Nominees/Winners . . July 13, 2017 . August 24, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170824112424/http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2011/outstanding-casting-for-a-comedy-series . live .
  23. Web site: 2011 Artios Awards. April 29, 2021. Casting Society. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118195359/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2011. live.
  24. Web site: Complete list of 2012 Artios Winners. castingsociety.com. Casting Society of America. November 7, 2012. August 30, 2015. May 17, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150517115851/http://www.castingsociety.com/news/press-releases/2012-artios-award-winners. live.
  25. Web site: Creative Arts Emmy Awards Winners. Television Academy. September 15, 2012. October 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141002003145/http://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/d6com/2012-Creative-Arts-Emmys-Press-Release.pdf. live.
  26. Web site: 2013 ARTIOS AWARDS WINNERS. castingsociety.com. Casting Society of America. November 18, 2013. August 31, 2015. September 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150906122327/http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2013. live.
  27. Web site: Creative Arts Emmy Awards Winners. Television Academy. September 15, 2013. October 7, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131007212110/http://www.emmys.com/sites/default/files/2013CreativeArtsEmmysWinners.pdf. live.
  28. Web site: Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries Movie Or A Special Nominees / Winners 2014. April 29, 2021. Television Academy. April 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421013742/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2014/outstanding-casting-for-a-miniseries-movie-or-a-special. live.
  29. Web site: 30TH ARTIOS AWARDS WINNERS. Casting Society of America. January 22, 2015. January 25, 2015. March 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160309042015/http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2015. live.
  30. Web site: Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries Movie Or A Special Nominees / Winners 2015. April 29, 2021. Television Academy. April 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210425142546/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2015/outstanding-casting-for-a-miniseries-movie-or-a-special. live.
  31. Web site: 2016 Artios Awards. castingsociety.com. Casting Society of America. January 21, 2016. December 13, 2016. August 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170806062957/http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2016. live.
  32. Web site: Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries Movie Or A Special Nominees / Winners 2017. April 29, 2021. Television Academy. April 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418220627/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2017/outstanding-casting-for-a-miniseries-movie-or-a-special. live.
  33. Web site: 2018 Artios Awards. April 29, 2021. Casting Society. January 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118190559/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2018. live.
  34. Web site: CSA Discloses 2019 Artios Award Nominees, Honoring Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting. Smart. Jack. September 20, 2018. Backstage. April 29, 2021. August 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200809192227/https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/casting-society-america-2019-artios-award-nominees-ulrich-dawson-65311/. live.
  35. Web site: January 31, 2019. Casting Society of America's Artios Awards: 'Green Book,' 'Vice' Among Winners. April 29, 2021. The Hollywood Reporter. Nordyke. Kimberly. February 1, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190201121831/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-casting-society-artios-award-winners-full-list-1173402. live.
  36. Web site: April 15, 2021. Artios Awards: 'Borat 2,' 'Trial of the Chicago 7,' 'Minari' Among Film Winners. April 29, 2021. The Hollywood Reporter. Lewis. Hilary. April 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421145237/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2021-artios-casting-awards-winners-list. live.