Throughout the Thirties he was responsible for casting 91,000 film actors each year, he was
"Hollywood's No. 1 casting director, Billy Grady: broad-shouldered, open-faced Irishman, a terror to counterfeits, a down-right softy when he encounters an honest man - or woman."
This article tells much of his life story and provides a blow-by-blow as to what his days were like. One of the more interesting aspects of the article addressed the charities that were designed to aid and comfort those many souls who worked as extras in the movies. Today, extra players (also known as 'atmosphere) are extended benefits through the Screen Actors Guild - but this was not always the case.
Click here to read about Marilyn Monroe and watch a terrific documentary about her life.