Gilbert Cates | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gilbert Katz (1934-06-06)June 6, 1934 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | October 31, 2011(2011-10-31) (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University |
| Occupations | Film director, television producer |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Betty Dubin (1957–?; divorced) Judith Reichman (1987–2011; his death) |
| Children | 4, includingGil Cates Jr. |
| Relatives | Phoebe Cates (niece) Owen Kline (great-nephew) Greta Kline (great-niece) |
Gilbert Cates (néKatz; June 6, 1934 – October 31, 2011) was an American film director and television producer, director of theGeffen Playhouse, a member of Cates/Doty Productions, and founding dean of theUCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Cates is most known for having produced theAcademy Awards telecast a record 14 times between 1990 and 2008.[1]
Cates was born Gilbert Katz in New York City, the son of Jewish parents Nina (née Peltzman) and Nathan Katz,[2] who was a dress manufacturer. He attendedDeWitt Clinton High School,[3] and graduated from Syracuse University.[1] According toThe Jewish Journal, Cates stumbled into his profession by accident: While a pre-med student at Syracuse University, he joined the fencing team and was asked to instruct student actors in a production ofRichard III on how to handle swords. He was so taken by the experience that he changed his major to theater.[2]
Cates was a member of theReform JewishWilshire Boulevard Temple.The Jewish Journal quotes him as saying that he only attended services on theHigh Holy Days, but felt "very proud to be Jewish".[2][4]
Cates was first married to Jane Betty Dubin and then to gynecologist Judith Reichman. He had four children from his first marriage, includingGil Cates Jr., and two stepchildren from his second marriage, and seven grandchildren. He was the younger brother ofJoseph Cates who was also a director and producer, and the uncle of actressPhoebe Cates.[2]
On October 31, 2011, Cates, 77, suffered an apparent heart attack and died in a UCLA parking lot.[5]
Cates was a producing director and president of the board at theGeffen Playhouse.[6] He directed many feature films includingI Never Sang for My Father (1970), andSummer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973), both nominated for Oscars,Oh, God! Book II (1980) andThe Last Married Couple in America (1980). He also produced and directed Broadway and off-Broadway plays,[1] includingI Never Sang for My Father andYou Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running.[3]
Cates produced the Academy Awards 14 times between 1990 and 2008 and was credited with recruitingBilly Crystal,Whoopi Goldberg,David Letterman,Steve Martin,Chris Rock, andJon Stewart to serve as hosts. He served on the Academy's Board of Governors from 1984 to 1993, winning anEmmy in 1991 for the63rd annual Oscars. He returned to the board for another term beginning in 2002, and held the post of vice president from 2003 to 2005. From 1983 to 1987 he served as president of the Directors Guild of America.[1] On April 8, 1991, he became dean of UCLA's newly combined School of Theater, Film and Television,[3] a post he held until 1998, and was a faculty member of the school as a professor.[1] In 2005 Cates received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.[6]
He started fencing at Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx and, he says, you spent three months of exercise just getting in shape to fence
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