
Denise Chamian
Personal Info
Known for
Production
Gender
Female
Denise Chamian
Biography
Denise Chamian, a native of Los Angeles, began her career in the entertainment industry at a small theatrical agency. While there, she discovered her passion for casting and transitioned into the field through mentorships with renowned casting directors Janet Hirshenson and Jane Jenkins.
Over nearly four decades, Chamian has forged a reputation as one of Hollywood's top casting directors. Her credits span a diverse range of major motion pictures, including Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report, Big Fish, Pirates of the Caribbean sequels, and modern blockbusters such as Transformers, The Lone Ranger, Red Sparrow, the Maze Runner franchise, Bumblebee, Call of the Wild, Top Gun: Maverick, and Elvis. Her work in film has generated over $11.6 billion at the global box office, ranking her among the top ten highest-grossing casting directors worldwide.
She won the 1999 Artios Award for Best Casting in a Feature Film or Drama and has received numerous nominations since then. In 2023, she co-won the BAFTA Film Award for Best Casting for Elvis alongside Nikki Barrett. Her accolades also span Emmy nominations and nominations for the Casting Society of America (Artios Awards).
Chamian runs her own casting company in Los Angeles, where she balances large studio blockbusters with smaller, independent productions. Known for her openness to new talent, she began the global casting search for Elvis by sifting through hundreds of auditions, ultimately casting Austin Butler.
Although she did not attend college, Chamian thrives on the creative and business aspects of casting. She champions the importance of recognising casting's contribution to storytelling. She highlights how new technologies—such as self-taped auditions—have expanded access for actors. She advises actors to come prepared and grounded, emphasising the importance of being off-book and open to direction.
Known For
Crew
(2026)
Masters of the Universe
Casting
(2024)
Cabrini
Casting
(2024)
Atlas
Casting
(2024)
Here Now
Casting
(2023)
True Spirit
Casting
(2023)
The Calm
Casting
(2023)
(2022)
Uncharted
Casting
(2022)
Ambulance
Casting
(2022)
Slumberland
Casting Director
(2022)
Top Gun: Maverick
Casting
(2021)
Sweet Girl
Casting
(2021)
The Little Things
Casting
(2020)
The Call of the Wild
Casting
(2020)
The Empty Man
Casting Director
(2019)
The Highwaymen
Casting
(2019)
Noelle
Casting
(2019)
6 Underground
Casting
(2018)
Parallel
Casting
(2018)
Anon
Casting
(2018)
Red Sparrow
Casting
(2018)
Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Casting
(2018)
Love, Simon
Casting
(2018)
The Cloverfield Paradox
Casting
(2018)
Bumblebee
Casting
(2017)
A Cure for Wellness
Casting
(2017)
(2016)
Summertime
Casting
(2016)
(2016)
I Saw the Light
Casting
(2015)
Project Almanac
Casting
(2015)
(2015)
Hitman: Agent 47
Casting
(2014)
The Maze Runner
Casting
(2014)
(2014)
Deliver Us from Evil
Casting
(2013)
The Lone Ranger
Casting
(2013)
Pain & Gain
Casting
(2013)
47 Ronin
Casting
(2012)
Killer Joe
Casting
(2012)
The Man with the Iron Fists
Casting
(2012)
Playing for Keeps
Casting
(2012)
Barricade
Casting
(2012)
Bending The Rules
Casting
(2012)
(2012)
People Like Us
Casting
(2012)
She Was Here
Casting
(2011)
In Time
Casting
(2011)
The Thing
Casting
(2011)
(2011)
Water for Elephants
Casting
(2011)
That's What I Am
Casting, Producer
(2011)
Little Murder
Casting
(2011)
The Rum Diary
Casting
(2011)
The Reunion
Casting
(2011)
Rango
Casting
(2011)
About Fifty
Casting
(2010)
Unstoppable
Casting
(2010)
Legendary
Casting
(2010)
Knucklehead
Casting
(2009)
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Casting
(2009)
(2009)
Four Single Fathers
Casting
(2009)
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Casting
(2009)
(2009)
(2008)
Hancock
Casting
(2008)
The Ruins
Casting
(2008)
Flash of Genius
Casting
(2008)
Seven Pounds
Casting
(2007)
(2007)
Next
Casting
(2007)
The Great Debaters
Casting
(2006)
(2006)
A Scanner Darkly
Casting
(2006)
Déjà Vu
Casting
(2006)
The Pursuit of Happyness
Casting
(2005)
Constantine
Casting
(2005)
The Island
Casting
(2005)
The Weather Man
Casting
(2005)
Domino
Casting
(2004)
Twisted
Casting
(2004)
First Daughter
Casting
(2003)
Big Fish
Casting
(2003)
The Hunted
Casting
(2003)
The Singing Detective
Casting
(2002)
Minority Report
Casting
(2002)
The Ring
Casting
(2001)
Planet of the Apes
Casting
(2001)
The Mexican
Casting Director
(2001)
Ambush
Casting
(2001)
Along Came a Spider
Casting
(2001)
The Follow
Casting
(2000)
Mission to Mars
Casting
(2000)
Rules of Engagement
Casting
(2000)
Miss Congeniality
Casting
(2000)
The David Cassidy Story
Casting
(1999)
Eyes Wide Shut
Casting
(1999)
Dudley Do-Right
Casting
(1999)
Blast from the Past
Casting
(1999)
You Know My Name
Casting
(1998)
Saving Private Ryan
Casting
(1998)
Outrage
Casting
(1998)
Small Soldiers
Casting
(1997)
MouseHunt
Casting
(1996)
Chameleon
Casting
(1996)
Widow's Kiss
Casting
(1995)
Above Suspicion
Casting
(1995)
Vanished
Casting
(1995)
Perfect Alibi
Casting
(1995)
Automatic
Casting
(1995)
Bodily Harm
Casting
(1995)
Mixed Blessings
Casting
(1994)
A Passion to Kill
Casting
(1994)
A Perfect Stranger
Casting
(1993)
Star
Casting
(1993)
Lifepod
Casting
(1993)
Under Investigation
Casting
(1993)
Taking Liberty
Casting
(1993)
Just One of the Girls
Casting
(1992)
To Catch a Killer
Casting
(1992)
Revenge on the Highway
Casting
(1991)
Daddy
Casting
(1991)
Changes
Casting
(1989)
Survival Quest
Casting
(1988)
Betrayal of Silence
Casting
(1987)
The Kindred
Casting
(1987)
Walk Like a Man
Casting
(1987)
Back to the Beach
Casting
(1986)
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
Casting