American film director and television producer
Father of Gil Cates Jr. Uncle of Phoebe Cates , Valerie Cates and Alexandra Cates.
Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television from 1990 - 1998.
Artistic Director and President of the UCLA Geffen Playhouse since 1994.
Younger brother of Joseph Cates.
Attended and graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School.
Attended Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.
President of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) from 1983 - 1987.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7065 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on March 9, 1995.
Took an "Alan Smithee" credit for "The Twilight Zone" {Teachers Aide/Paladin of the Lost Hour (#1.7)} , one of the most highly regarded episodes of the 1980s incarnation of "The Twilight Zone" , while he was president of the Directors Guild.
Produced a record 14 Academy Award telecasts, which included the creation of the In Memoriam segment.
Member of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Directors Branch) [1984-1993 and 2002-2005].
Granduncle of Owen Kline and Greta Kline.
Has directed four actors to Oscar nominations: Melvyn Douglas (Best Actor, I Never Sang for My Father ), Gene Hackman (Best Supporting Actor, I Never Sang for My Father ), Joanne Woodward (Best Actress, Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams ), and Sylvia Sidney (Best Supporting Actress, Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams ).
Says that "one of the happiest moments Ive ever had" came in 1984, when the Directors Guild was honoring Orson Welles with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Cates succeeded in getting Robert Wise and Welles to shake hands on stage after 42 years of bitterness between them, owing to the editing of the ill-fated The Magnificent Ambersons .
Received the Directors Guild Presidents Award.
His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants.
[March 2006] If you want a sense of what America is like, you will watch,the Oscars.
I was always more interested in the battlefield of human relationships.
The relationship between people and their families is a connecting,thread between all my features and television movies.
