Sharon Klein promoted to EVP Casting at Walt Disney Television

Casting director Sharon Klein has been designated as the EVP of Casting, Walt Disney Television.

In the new horizons, she will look after the casting teams of ABC Entertainment, 20th Television, ABC Signature, 20th Television Animation, Walt Disney Television Alternative, Hulu Originals and Freeform. She will be accountable for the casting of all series and pilots and identifying talent for holding deals across all entities and spearheading casting and talent strategy under her ambit.

Klein, who signed a new multi-year contract with Disney as part of the promotion. She was most recently EVP, Casting for Disney Television Studios and FX Entertainment, overseeing casting for 20th Television, Touchstone Television (now part of 20th TV), ABC Signature, FX and FX Productions.

Her new roles and responsibilities show the recent major redesigning of Disney’s TV operations where Hulu and ABC were put under the same top programming executive, Craig Erwich, and a new Disney Branded Television unit was created, with former ABC head of casting Ayo Davis tapped as Head of Creative Development. Going ahead, FX Entertainment casting will be the sole responsibility of EVP, Casting Michael Katcher, who previously had a dual report to Klein and FX’s Gina Balian and Nick Grad.

“Sharon is a spectacular casting executive with taste, strategic thinking and insight to spare; and in many ways she is a not-so-secret weapon to our executives, our producers, and to Dana and me personally,” commented Craig Hunegs, president of Entertainment, Walt Disney Television. “Her track record is no accident — when you have Sharon at the helm of your talent search, you are guaranteed to assemble a best-in-class ensemble of actors. Her expanded portfolio is a win for all involved.”

Klein added, “I’ve been a longtime viewer and fan of the programming at ABC, Hulu Originals and Freeform so the chance to work with Craig Erwich, Tara Duncan, and Rob Mills and their talented teams directly was incredibly appealing. And I’m excited to continue the successful collaboration with Jonnie Davis, Karey Burke and Marci Proietto on their projects. I cannot thank Craig Hunegs and Dana Walden enough for their support and votes of confidence. I will be the first to tell you that casting is a team effort, and I owe a tremendous debt to my casting partners and, of course, the producers who deliver such brilliant material.”