Geffen Playhouse Releases Statement on Gil Cates' Death

Famed producer Gilbert Cates has passed away today at the age of 77. Having recently underwent heart surgery, Cates reportedly collapsed today in a parking lot of the UCLA campus in Los Angeles. 

A native New Yorker, Cates is perhaps best known for being the long-time producer of the annual Academy Award shows (fourteen shows in eighteen years).  He also held the post of producing director and President of the Board of the Geffen Playhouse and was the former Dean of the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television. 

The Geffen Playhouse release the folowing statement on his death: 

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share that Gil Cates, founder and Producing Director of the Geffen Playhouse died on Monday, Oct 31 at age 77.

Gil was many things to many people throughout the entertainment industry - to the Oscars, one their longest running producers; to the DGA, their longtime president and chief negotiator; to UCLA, the founder of their school of Theater, Film and Television; and to the Geffen Playhouse, he was our founder, our leader and our heart.

"Gil has always referred to the staff of the Geffen Playhouse as his second family" said Geffen Playhouse Chairman of the Board Frank Mancuso. "And it is as a family that we mourn this tremendous loss. Gil built this theater and he will forever be at the center of it - we honor his life by continuing the fulfillment of his dream. As my dear friend Gil would no doubt say ‘onward and upward with the arts.'"