Producer and director Gilbert “Gil” Cates, who oversaw a record 14 Academy Awards ceremonies and founded the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, has died. He was 77. Cates collapsed on the UCLA campus Monday evening. Emergency personnel responded but were unable to revive him, officials said Tuesday. The cause of death was not immediately known. 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 Tuesdsay. “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.” Singer Josh Groban also shared his thoughts on Twitter, writing, “So sad to hear of the passing of legendary tv producer Gil Cates. He gave me many great opportunities and was always extremely kind. RIP.” Academy President Tom Sherak said Cates was a colleague, friend and a “consummate professional.” Cates “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 founded the School of Theater, Film and Television at UCLA. He was its dean from 1990 to 1998 and remained on the faculty as a professor. Teri Schwartz, dean of the School of Theater, Film and Television, cited Cates as a “beloved mentor, colleague and friend.”
