Gilbert Cates (
né
A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth reg ...
Katz; June 6, 1934 – October 31, 2011) was an American film director and television producer, director of the
Geffen Playhouse
The Geffen Playhouse (or the Geffen) is a not-for-profit theater company founded by Gilbert Cates in 1995. It produces plays in two theaters in Geffen Playhouse, which is owned by University of California Los Angeles. The Playhouse is located ...
, a member of Cates/Doty Productions, and founding dean of the
UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT), is one of the 12 schools within the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) located in Los Angeles, California. Its creation was groundbreaking in that it was the first time a leadi ...
. Cates is most known for having produced the
Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
telecast a record 14 times between 1990 and 2008.
[ ]
Personal life
Cates was born Gilbert Katz in New York City, the son of
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
parents Nina (née Peltzman) and Nathan Katz,
who was a dress manufacturer. He attended
DeWitt Clinton High School
, motto_translation = Without Work Nothing Is Accomplished
, image = DeWitt Clinton High School front entrance IMG 7441 HLG.jpg
, seal_image = File:Clinton News.JPG
, seal_size = 124px
, ...
,
and graduated from Syracuse University.
According to ''
The 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 of ''Richard III'' on how to handle swords. He was so taken by the experience that he changed his major to theater.
Cates was a member of the
Reform Jewish
Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its ethical aspects to its ceremonial ones, and belief in a continuous searc ...
Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Wilshire Boulevard Temple, known from 1862 to 1933 as Congregation B'nai B'rith, is the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles, California. Wilshire Boulevard Temple's main building, with a sanctuary topped by a large Byzantine revival dome ...
. ''The Jewish Journal'' quotes him as saying that he only attended services on the
High Holy Days
The High Holidays also known as the High Holy Days, or Days of Awe in Judaism, more properly known as the Yamim Noraim ( he, יָמִים נוֹרָאִים, ''Yāmīm Nōrāʾīm''; "Days of Awe")
#strictly, the holidays of Rosh HaShanah ("Jewi ...
, but felt "very proud to be Jewish".
[Hollywood Reporter: "Hollywood's Hottest $150 Million Project Is an 83-Year-Old Synagogue - Studio heads, agency chieftains and top producers have come together, "Avengers"-style, to save their iconic but decaying Wilshire Boulevard Temple -- an A-list house of worship far from the Westside" by Gary Baum]
May 30, 2012
Cates was first married to Jane Betty Dubin and then to gynecologist Judith Reichman.
He had four children from his first marriage, including
Gil Cates Jr.
Gil Cates Jr. (born October 4, 1969) is an American producer and director, and former actor. His 2006 documentary film '' Life After Tomorrow'', which he co-produced and directed with Julie Stevens, won awards for both Best Documentary and Best ...
, and two stepchildren from his second marriage, and seven grandchildren. He was the younger brother of
Joseph Cates
Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the m ...
who was also a director and producer, and the uncle of actress
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Belle Cates Kline (born July 16, 1963) is an American former actress, known primarily for her roles in films such as '' Fast Times at Ridgemont High'' (1982), '' Gremlins'' (1984) and ''Drop Dead Fred'' (1991).
Early life
Cates was bo ...
.
Cates died unexpectedly in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
of an apparent heart attack on October 31, 2011, at the age of 77.
Career
Cates was a producing director and president of the board at the
Geffen Playhouse
The Geffen Playhouse (or the Geffen) is a not-for-profit theater company founded by Gilbert Cates in 1995. It produces plays in two theaters in Geffen Playhouse, which is owned by University of California Los Angeles. The Playhouse is located ...
.
He directed many feature films including ''
I Never Sang for My Father
''I Never Sang for My Father'' is a 1970 American drama film, based on the 1968 play of the same name. It tells the story of a widowed college professor who feels dominated by his aging father, yet still has regrets about his plan to leave him be ...
'' (1970), and ''
Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams
''Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams'' is a 1973 American Technicolor drama film directed by Gilbert Cates, starring Joanne Woodward, Martin Balsam, Sylvia Sidney, and Tresa Hughes, and written by Stewart Stern. It tells the story of a New York City ...
'' (1973), both nominated for Oscars, ''
Oh, God! Book II
''Oh, God! Book II'' is a 1980 American comedy film and a sequel to the film '' Oh, God!'' (1977). It was directed by Gilbert Cates, and stars George Burns, Suzanne Pleshette, David Birney and Louanne Sirota. Joyce Brothers and Hugh Downs als ...
'' (1980) and ''
The Last Married Couple in America'' (1980). He also produced and directed Broadway and off-Broadway plays,
including ''I Never Sang for My Father'' and ''
You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running''.
Cates produced the Academy Awards 14 times between 1990 and 2008 and was credited with recruiting
Billy Crystal
William Edward Crystal (born March 14, 1948)On page 17 of his book ''700 Sundays'', Crystal displays his birth announcement, which gives his first two names as "William Edward", not "William Jacob" is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. ...
,
Whoopi Goldberg
Caryn Elaine Johnson (born November 13, 1955), known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg (), is an American actor, comedian, author, and television personality.Kuchwara, Michael (AP Drama Writer)"Whoopi Goldberg: A One-Woman Character Parade". ' ...
,
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American television host, comedian, writer and producer. He hosted late night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982 debut of ''Late Night with David Letterman' ...
,
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominate ...
,
Chris Rock
Christopher Julius Rock (born February 7, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and filmmaker. Known for his work in comic film, television and stage, he has received multiple accolades, including three Grammy Awards for best come ...
, and
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart (born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz; November 28, 1962) is an American comedian, political commentator, and television host. He hosted '' The Daily Show'', a satirical news program on Comedy Central, from 1999 to 2015 and now hosts '' ...
to serve as hosts. He served on the Academy's Board of Governors from 1984 to 1993, winning an
Emmy in 1991 for the
63rd 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.
On April 8, 1991 he became dean of UCLA's newly combined School of Theater, Film and Television,
a post he held until 1998, and was a faculty member of the school as a professor.
In 2005 Cates received a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...
.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cates, Gilbert
1934 births
2011 deaths
20th-century American Jews
Television producers from New York City
DeWitt Clinton High School alumni
Presidents of the Directors Guild of America
CAS Filmmaker Award honorees
Syracuse University alumni
Burials at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Film directors from New York City
21st-century American Jews