Irene Cagen Forrest

Forrest, Irene Cagen
December 15, 1944 - July 25, 2010
Irene Cagen Forrest, an actress and casting director who often portrayed quirky, high-strung characters, died July 25, 2010, in Providence, R.I., after a year-long battle with a brain tumor. She was 65.

After co-starring in "THX1138," she went on to guest star in the television show "LA Law" and Henry Jaglom's road film "Sitting Ducks" for which she earned a National Association of Film Critics Award nomination for best supporting actress. She also made appearances in the films "Communion" and "Baby Fever."

Ms. Cagen began a successful casting career in the late 1980's with Liberman/Hirschfeld and later Liberman/Patton Casting where she made her mark on many successful television series, television movies and features films. Her independent casting credits include the TV series "Crash," and the feature film "Light and the Sufferer," for which she was also executive producer.

She was born December 15, 1944, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of Frank and Sylvia Cagen, and grew up in the New York City borough of Queens. Ms. Forrest attended Queens College and the University of California at Berkeley, and later taught acting in Los Angeles and Portland, where she mentored many actors. She is survived by her brother, Andrew Cagen, of Providence, two nieces and a nephew.

A memorial service will take place on October 2, 2010 at 10:00AM at the Los Angeles Friendship Center, 5899 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019. Donations may be made to the no-kill animal rescue Sante D'Or Foundation and the Stray Cat Alliance.