Gil Cates, a longtime Hollywood stalwart credited with reviving the annual Oscars telecast, died Oct. 31 at 77.
Cates had directing, producing and acting credits. One of his most recognized accomplishments was making the annual Academy Awards program a must-see event by recruiting such hosts as Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman and Jon Stewart.
In 1998, Cates co-produced “the exuberant celebration” of Israel’s 50th anniversary at Los Angeles’ famed Shrine Auditorium, which was broadcast across America.
His acting credits included the 1970 film “I Never Sang for My Father,” starring Melvyn Douglas and Gene Hackman, and “Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams” from 1973, starring Joanne Woodward.
Longtime Los Angeles–based writer Tom Tugend wrote that Cates “expressed some qualms” about Anglicizing his name — he was born Katz — and “said he was astonished that many people didn’t realize he was Jewish.”
His older brother Joseph, also a director and producer, , previously had changed his name, and Gil Cates followed suit. — jta