Andrea Eastman, the casting director who helped shape films including The Godfather and Goodbye, Columbus before becoming a prominent talent manager and ICM agent, has died aged 86. Her work influenced major Hollywood careers and landmark productions, including securing James Caan as Sonny Corleone and championing Ali MacGraw for her breakthrough role.

Eastman died peacefully in her sleep at her Santa Barbara home on Wednesday, her family said. While leading casting at Paramount from 1968 to early 1973, she also helped connect Steven Spielberg with Roy Scheider for Jaws and discovered Jaclyn Smith; later, she represented or managed figures including Sylvester Stallone, Barbra Streisand, Burt Reynolds and Billy Crystal. Born in Connecticut in 1940, she began at Paramount as an assistant before becoming head of casting at 28.