Gilbert Cates is recognized as a leader in television, film and theater. Currentlypresiding as the Producing Director of the Geffen Playhouse, he is dedicated to enriching the Los Angeles theatrical spectrum by presenting the finest in contemporary and classical theater. As a non-profit professional theater company, the Geffen’s priority is its audience and its community, which it reaches withextensive education and outreach programs. He most recently directed David Eldridge’s Under the Blue Sky at the Geffen Playhouse. In November 1996, Mr. Cates was the recipient of the Jimmy Dolittle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Los Angeles Theater. In 1999 he received the Ovation Award for best play for directing Collected Stories, starring Linda Lavin and SamanthaMathis. The accolades for Mr. Cates expand into other areas of the entertainment industry. He produced and directed the 1970 film version of the Broadway hit I Never Sangfor My Father, starring Melvyn Douglas, Gene Hackman and Estelle Parsons. Themovie earned three Academy Award nominations. Mr. Cates also directed Joanne Woodward and Sylvia Sidney in the 1973 film Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams, which received two Oscar nominations. Other film directing credits include: The Promise, One Summer Love, The Last Married Couple in America, Oh! God Book IIand Backfire. Mr. Cates further distinguished himself as director and/or producer of a number of television dramatic specials. These include NBC’s 1972 Emmy Award winning To all My Friends on Shore, starring Bill Cosby; ABC’s 1974 The Affair starring Nathalie Wood and Robert Wagner; NBC’s 1975 After the Fall starring FayeDunaway and Christopher Plummer. Other credits include: Johnny, We HardlyKnew Ye, The Kid from Nowhere, Country Gold, Faerie Tale Theatre’s Rapunzel and Goldilocks and the Three Bears; Hobson’s Choice, Burning Rage, Consenting Adults,Fatal Judgment, Do You Know the Muffin Man, Call Me Anna, Absolute Strangers,In My Daughter’s Name, and Tom Clancy’s Netforce. He directed James Agee’s A Death in the Family, for Masterpiece Theatre’s American Collection on PBS. His most recent small screen project was a hi-definition adaptation of Collected Stories, for PBS Hollywood Presents. Mr. Cates served two terms as President of the Directors Guild of America from 1983 to 1987. In 1989, he received the Guild’s Robert B. Aldrich Award for extraordinary service and in 1991, he received the DGA’s Honorary Life Membership. Gilbert Cates held the position of Dean of the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television (which he founded) from 1990-1998. Mr. Cates produced the 75th Annual Academy Awards in 2003. It was Mr. Cates’11th occasion producing the Awards, for which he has already garnered 84nominations and 17 Emmy Awards. Most recently, he produced CBS at 75, a live television event celebrating the 75 years of CBS. His current project is directing a new stage adaptation of Lerner & Loewe’s Paint Your Wagon which opens at the Geffen Playhouse in December 2004. Gil Cates was born in New York City. Married to Dr. Judith Reichman, he hasfour children, two stepchildren and is a grandfather of five.

Credit: oscars.org