Gene Saks Biography

Fast Facts

• Nominated for an outstanding directorial achievement award from the Directors Guild of America for "The Odd Couple" in 1968
• Graduated from Cornell University and received drama training at the New School for Social Research
• Was offered the chance to direct his first Broadway show, 1963's "Enter Laughing," by an old friend from the Actors Studio, producer Morton Gottlieb
• Trained with the Actors Studio before making his acting debut on Broadway in 1949 in the musical "South Pacific․"
• Quote: "If I were offered a play that had no humor in it, I wouldn't take it, and I can't believe it would be a good play ․․․ There's a portentousness in certain other playwrights that doesn't appeal to me․ They take themselves too seriously․"
• Quote: "[on his decision to move from acting to directing] "I liked telling people what to do․""
• Quote: "People categorize plays as serious or comic, as if they're two different parts of the world miles away from each other․ They're not․ They're extremely close․ I think any person can at anytime become tragic․ And maybe any person can become comic․"
• Had a long-term professional relationship of more than 20 years with playwright Neil Simon and directed many of his plays, including "Biloxi Blues," "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "The Odd Couple․"
• Earned a reputation as an "actor's actor" because he was always willing to help out his fellow actors on set
• Directed both the Broadway and film versions of "Mame," of which his wife at the time, Bea Arthur, was the star