Margery Simkin is a prominent Hollywood casting director known for her work on major films and television series since the 1980s. She served as the casting director for Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds alongside Orly Sitowitz, and her name appears on the USS Shenzhou dedication plaque in the franchise. Simkin has over 80 credits and is recognized for shaping ensembles in high-profile productions
Her career includes casting landmark films such as Top Gun, Field of Dreams, and Erin Brockovich, as well as the multi-billion dollar Avatar franchise for director James Cameron. Simkin also worked on Pacific Rim, 12 Monkeys, and American Gods, earning three Artios Awards from 13 nominations for excellence in casting? She often emphasizes authenticity in auditions and believes casting fit is about specific needs rather than talent alone
Simkin began in casting by accident and now operates from her Los Angeles home office. Her recent project includes the animated comedy Hitpig. She is regarded as one of the most accomplished casting directors in the industry with a legacy spanning four decades
Other notable casting credits include Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Mermaids (1990), Richie Rich (1994), Dragonheart (1996), Daylight (1996), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Evolution (2001), The Score (2001), Death to Smoochy (2002), Duplex (2003) and XXX: State of the Union (2005)
In 2017, Simkin worked on the first season of American Gods with showrunner Bryan Fuller. She also did the casting for Into the Badlands (2015, starring Orla Brady), and Y: The Last Man (2021).
