Gilbert Cates Biography

Fast Facts

• Was the president of the Directors Guild of America from 1983 to 1987
• Served as the vice president of the Academy from 2003 to 2005
• The Westside theater's main stage was renamed after him in 2010
• Though he started out as a pre-med student at Syracuse University, he was on the fencing team and after being asked to instruct student actors on how to handle swords, he became enamored with theater and changed his major
• Broke into the movie industry in 1966 in the circus-themed "Rings Around the World․"
• Quote: "If you want a sense of what America is like, you'll watch the Oscars․"
• Founded the Geffen Playhouse and served as its producing director
• Known for producing the annual Academy Awards show, which he did 14 times between 1990 and 2008
• Served on the Academy's Board of Governors from 1984 to 1993
• Founded UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television and served as its dean from 1990 to 1998