Gilbert Cates
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
"Cates has produced a leaner, swifter-paced [Oscar] show, coming up with themes that the production numbers and presentations are packaged with."--Jack Matthews in New York Newsday, March 30, 1992.
Designated honorary lifetime member of the DGA (1991)
Biography
As a prolific director and producer, Gilbert Cates largely became known to the public at large for producing 14 Academy Awards telecasts in an 18-year span, as well as for directing such feature films as "I Never Sang for My Father" (1970), "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams" (1973) and "Oh, God! Book II" (1980), and numerous TV movies and specials. But it was his long reign as a director and producer of the yearly Academy Awards program that cemented his legacy; a gig Cates began in 1990 and carried through for most broadcasts over the next two-plus decades. Cates began the stint at a time when the awards show's popularity was waning and was noted for shaking up the status quo by infusing new blood with hosts Billy Crystal, Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg and David Letterman. Of course, some of his decisions - particularly Letterman and Goldberg - were widely criticized, but he nonetheless helped return the Oscars to prominence, and in the process, became the show's most successful producer and that behind-the-scenes rarity - a household name.
Born on June 6, 1934 in New York City, Cates was raised by his father, Nathan, a dress manufacturer, and his mother, Nina. He had two siblings: sister Kit and brother Joe, who would later father actress Phoebe Cates. After studying acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, Cates earned his bachelor's degree from Syracuse University, where he also served as an instructor in speech and drama. His career started in earnest when he worked as a page for NBC before moving to the theater as stage manager of the Broadway production of "Shinbone Alley" (1957). He also went into business with his brother, producer-director Joe Cates, producing "Spoon River Anthology" on Broadway and in London's West End. He moved into television as the producer of such game shows as "I've Got a Secret" (CBS, 1952-1967), "Mother's Day" (ABC, 1958-59) and "Haggis Baggis" (NBC, 1958-59). Cates also created, produced and directed the music series, "Hootenany" (1962), while stepping into the filmmaking world by directing his first short, "The Painting" (1962). A few years later, he became a feature director with his debut movie, "Rings Around the World" (1967).
In 1967, Cates joined Jack Farren in producing "You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running" on Broadway, while branching out on his own to produce Robert Anderson's play, "I Never Sang for My Father" (1968). He adapted the play two years later for the same-titled 1970 drama starring Gene Hackman as an adult man whose relationship with his father (Melvyn Douglas) remains exceedingly strained. The following year, Cates began directing for the stage with "The Price" (1971), which he put on at the Long Wharf Theatre in Connecticut, and soon after made his Broadway directorial debut with "Voices" (1972). In 1973, Cates directed something of a flipside with "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams," starring Joanne Woodward as a woman suffering a midlife crisis. He went on to direct the bleak romantic drama, "One Summer Love" (1976), starring Beau Bridges and Susan Sarandon, and made a return to television as the executive producer of specials like "Country Night of the Stars" (NBC, 1978), "Stubby Pringle's Christmas" (NBC, 1978) and an adaptation of Arthur Miller's comedy "Fame" (NBC, 1978), not to be confused with the hit musical feature from 1980.
Meanwhile, Cates' later features were less critically acclaimed and included "The Last Married Couple in America" (1980), with George Segal and Natalie Wood as a couple who feel there must be something wrong with them because all their friends are getting divorced. Also the same year came the release of "Oh, God! Book II" (1980), the sequel with George Burns reprising the title role to lesser effect than its predecessor. Turning back almost exclusively to television, Cates directed the "About Eve" send-up, "Country Gold" (CBS, 1982), and a few years later helmed "Consenting Adult" (ABC, 1985), one of the first TV-movies to focus on homosexuality; the film earned him his first Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Director. In 1989, Cates received a second Emmy nod for Outstanding Director for "Do You Know the Muffin Man?" (CBS), a stark drama about child molestation, and the following year directed "Call Me Anna" (ABC, 1990), a biopic of actress Patty Duke adapted from her memoirs.
In 1989, Cates was chosen as the producer of the Academy Awards telecasts, which he handled six consecutive times through 1995 and ultimately 14 times throughout the remainder of the next two decades. He was largely responsible for returning the Oscars to their prominence by tapping comic actor Billy Crystal for MC duties, widely considered to be one of the best Academy Awards hosts in history. Proving this fact, Cates won an Emmy for the 1991 telecast hosted by Crystal. However, he also brought aboard several highly criticized Oscar hosts, most notably David Letterman, whose disastrous 1995 show was the source of long-running jokes and undoubtedly led to a decline of interest in the show for several years. Cates was also responsible for other controversial hosts like Chris Rock and John Stewart, who were brought on to shake up the status quo, which on that level was a big success despite an overall dip in the ratings. After a year's sabbatical in 1996, he returned to the awards from 1997-1999, left again in 2000 and subsequently produced shows on and off until 2008. A former president of the Directors Guild of America, which honored him with its prestigious President's Award in 2005, Cates served from 1990 to 1997 as Dean of the School of Theatre, Film and Television at UCLA, and also was the producing director of the Geffen Playhouse, one of the most well-attended centers of new productions in the Los Angeles. Sadly, it was while he was teaching at UCLA that Cates' body was found in a parking lot at 5:50 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2011. Paramedics were called to the scene and were unable to revive him, though the cause of death remained uncertain. He was 77 years old.
By Shawn Dwyer
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Director (Special)
Cast (Special)
Producer (Special)
Producer (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1952
Served as one of the producers of the game show "I've Got a Secret" (CBS, Syndicated)
1955
Was instructor of speech and drama at Syracuse University
1957
Worked as stage manager for Broadway production of "Shinbone Alley"
1961
Made television directing and producing debut with the game show "Camouflage" (ABC)
1962
Made first short film, "The Painting"
1964
Co-produced with brother Joseph the Broadway production of "Spoon River Anthology"; also produced in London
1966
Directed first feature, the documentary "Rings Around the World"; also produced
1970
Made feature directorial debut with "I Never Sang for My Father," starring Gene Hackman and Melvyn Douglas
1972
Produced and directed TV-movie "To All My Friends on Shore" (CBS)
1973
Directed the film "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams," which garnered Academy Award nominations for stars Joanne Woodward and Sylvia Sidney
1977
Executive produced several episodes of "Hallmark Hall of Fame" series
1980
Directed George Burns in the comedy feature "Oh, God! Book II"; also produced
1985
Directed the ABC TV-movie "Consenting Adult"; earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special
1989
Helmed the CBS TV-movie "Do You Know the Muffin Man?"; nominated for an Emmy Award in 1990 for Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or a Special
1990
Produced his first Academy Awards telecast (ABC)
1990
Directed Patty Duke's autobiographical drama "Call Me Anna" (ABC), which chronicled the actress' battle with mental illness
2000
Made rare acting appearance in the drama feature "$pent"; film directed by son Gil Cates Jr.
2002
Directed screen adaptation of James Agee¿s "A Death in the Family" (PBS)
2005
Executive produced first "Oscar Countdown" special (ABC), returned as executive producer in 2006 and 2008
2005
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Motion Picture category)
2008
Executive produced the 80th Annual Academy Awards telecast (ABC)
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
"Cates has produced a leaner, swifter-paced [Oscar] show, coming up with themes that the production numbers and presentations are packaged with."--Jack Matthews in New York Newsday, March 30, 1992.
Designated honorary lifetime member of the DGA (1991)
