Oscar Telecast Producer Gilbert Cates Dies At 77

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Producer and director Gilbert Cates, who oversaw a record 14 Academy Awards ceremonies and founded the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, has died. He was 77.

The Directors Guild of America confirmed the death Tuesday.

Cates also founded the School of Theater Film and Television at UCLA and was its dean from 1990 to 1998. He twice served as president of the Directors Guild of America and was on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Cates last produced the Oscar telecast in 2008, when the ceremony was almost sidelined by the Writers Guild strike.

He was comfortable at the helm of the show, calling it “an absolutely great job.” He produced more Academy Awards telecasts than anyone else and brought in comedians such as Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart and Steve Martin to host the show.

Martin tweeted his condolences.

“So sorry to hear Gil Cates has died,” Martin wrote. “He helmed two Oscar shows I hosted. He was delightful, wise, canny and unperturbed. A great fellow.”

Academy President Tom Sherak called Cates a colleague and friend.

“He was a consummate professional who gave the academy and the world some of the most memorable moments in Oscar history,” Sherak said in a statement. “His passing is a tremendous loss to the entertainment industry, and our thoughts go out to his family.”

Cates also produced and directed films, television shows and plays on and off Broadway. His film credits include 1970’s “I Never Sang for My Father” with Gene Hackman, and 1980’s “Oh God! Book II” with George Burns.

He produced and directed plays at the Geffen Playhouse.