Gilbert Cates
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. Cates is most known for having produced the Academy Awards telecast a record 14 times between 1990 and 2008.
Also recorded as Gilbert Katz
Gilbert Cates
- Name
- Gilbert Cates
- Born
- 6 June 1934
- Birth Name
- Gilbert Katz
- Birthplace
- New York City, U.S.
- Died
- 31 October 2011
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Education
- Syracuse University
- Occupation
- Film director, television producer
- Spouse
- Jane Betty Dubin (1957–?; divorced) Judith Reichman (1987–2011; his death)
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- television production · television direction · film direction · directing
- Honours
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
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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. Cates is most known for having produced the Academy Awards telecast a record 14 times between 1990 and 2008.
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Gilbert Cates (1934–2011) was an American director, film producer and screenwriter, among other activities. Born in New York City, the director died in Los Angeles.
Gilbert Cates studied at DeWitt Clinton High School and Syracuse University. The director worked in United States. Gilbert Cates was active in directing, film direction and television direction.
Languages used include English. The director received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q921434 · wikipedia · Gilbert Cates
In this article
Biography
Biography
Gilbert Cates studied at Syracuse University and DeWitt Clinton High School. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is television production, television direction and film direction. Places of work recorded in the authority are United States. Distinctions recorded are star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Gilbert Cates • Born — 6 June 1934 • Birth Name — Gilbert Katz • Birthplace — New York City, U.S. • Died — 31 October 2011 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Education — Syracuse University • Occupation — Film director, television producer • Spouse — Jane Betty Dubin (1957–?; divorced) Judith Reichman (1987–2011; his death) • Children — 4, including Gil Cates Jr. • Relatives — Phoebe Cates (niece) Owen Kline (great-nephew) Greta Kline (great-niece)
Personal life
Personal life
Cates was born Gilbert Katz in New York City, the son of Jewish parents Nina (née Peltzman) and Nathan Katz, who was a dress manufacturer. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School, 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 Wilshire Boulevard Temple. The Jewish Journal quotes him as saying that he only attended services on the High Holy Days, but felt "very proud to be Jewish". 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., and two stepchildren from his second marriage, and seven grandchildren. He was the younger brother of Joseph Cates who was also a director and producer, and the uncle of actress Phoebe Cates. On October 31, 2011, Cates, 77, suffered an apparent heart attack and died in a UCLA parking lot.
Career
Career
Cates was a producing director and president of the board at the Geffen Playhouse. 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! Book II (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, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, and Jon Stewart 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.
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New York City.
Birth place
Los Angeles.
Death place
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Johnson, Reed. Gil Cates: Consummate Hollywood professional. Los Angeles Times. November 1, 2011.
- 2.Berrin, Danielle. Gil Cates, longtime Oscar producer, dead at 77. JewishJournal.com. November 1, 2011.
- 3.Champlin, Charles. Another Year, Another Oscar Strategy - Movies: Gilbert Cates finds a different set of circumstances for this year's Academy Awards, his second as producer of the annual awards show. Los Angeles Times. February 26, 1991.
- 4.[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-jewish-wilshire-boulevard-temple-renovation-150-million-330471 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
- 5.Cieply, Michael. Gilbert Cates, Producer of Oscar Shows, Dies at 77. New York Times. November 1, 2011.
- 6.Weinstein, Joshua L. Oscar Producer Gilbert Cates Dead at 77. The Wrap. November 1, 2011.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 28 August 2026.
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