Fred Roos

Fred Roos is an American film and television producer, actor, and casting director best known for his work with Francis Ford Coppola on The Godfather (1972) and Apocalypse Now (1979).

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1938, Roos spent his formative years in Los Angeles, California, where he attended high school. After graduating, Roos studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

In the early 1960s, Roos began his career in Hollywood as a casting director, working on television shows like The Andy Griffith Show and The Fugitive. He quickly gained a reputation as an actor’s casting director due to his ability to find talent in unusual places. Roos discovered Robert Duvall when he saw him performing in a stage production of The Rainmaker in New York. He was also responsible for casting actors like Harrison Ford and Danny Glover in their early roles.

In 1967, Roos began working with Francis Ford Coppola on his first feature film, You’re a Big Boy Now. He continued to collaborate with Coppola on a number of films, including The Godfather and its two sequels, The Conversation (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), and One from the Heart (1982).

In addition to his work with Coppola, Roos was also a producer on several independent films, including The Black Stallion (1979), Rumble Fish (1983), and Peggy Sue Got Married (1986).

In the 1990s, Roos produced the television series Twin Peaks and its feature film prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). He also produced the television series Nash Bridges (1996-2001) and the film The Rainmaker (1997).

Roos has remained active in the film industry, producing the remake of The Longest Yard (2005), the musical Nine (2009), and the documentary Lost in La Mancha (2002).

As an actor, Roos has appeared in films like The Conversation (1974), Apocalypse Now (1979), Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), and The Rainmaker (1997).

Throughout his career, Roos has been honored with numerous awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Picture for The Godfather Part II (1974). He has also been nominated for Emmy Awards for his producing work on Twin Peaks and Nash Bridges.

Roos continues to produce films and television shows and has been credited with discovering and nurturing the careers of