Gilbert Cates (né Katz; June 6, 1934 – October 31, 2011) was an American film director and television producer, director of the Geffen Playhouse, a member of Cates/Doty Productions, and founding dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
[2] On October 31, 2011, Cates, 77, suffered an apparent heart attack and died in a UCLA parking lot.
[6] He directed many feature films including I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973), both nominated for Oscars, Oh, God!
He also produced and directed Broadway and off-Broadway plays,[1] including I Never Sang for My Father and You 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 recruiting Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, and Jon Stewart to serve as hosts.