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GIL CATES 1934-2011
by Lionel Chetwynd
Gil Cates 1934 - 2011 |
Gil was a member of the Caucus. Of course. There was virtually nothing of significance in the world of American film and television that was not touched by Gil Cates;
surely, only the oldest amongst us remember a time when Gil was not somewhere at the center of gravity of our world.
And he excelled at everything to which he put his hand. Achievements that would have pride-of-place in almost anyone else's trophy case were background for Gil.
First and foremost were his contributions to the body of American art and culture. A prolific Broadway producer and director,
Gil moved on to narrative film when he directed "I Never Sang for My Father", the Robert Anderson play he had produced on Broadway.
From there, through "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams", "The Promise", "The Last Married Couple in America", to "Oh, God! Book II" his catalogue
is an outstanding and important element in our cultural history. He was an even more dominating presence in television where his credits have startling
stature and range and included - a small sampling - span great American classics (Arthur Miller's "After the Fall", James Agee's "Death in the Family") to political history
("Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye") through classic children's fare ("The Berenstein Bears' Christmas Tree") and deep psychological drama ("Do You Know the Muffin Man?").
And that's just the scripted work, much of which was produced with his partner of over two decades, Dennis Doty, our own Caucus Chair. Their Cates-Doty Productions
also gave us 14 annual Academy Awards shows, the annual "American Celebration at Ford's Theater" and even "To Life! America Celebrates Israel's Fiftieth".
For these alone, we would honor his memory.
But we've hardly scratched the surface; Gil's contributions to the community - our community - tower above almost anyone one could think of. His work with the
Director's Guild of America is legendary in the trade - from being the motive force in building the Guild's superb headquarters on Sunset, to shouldering responsibility for
countless collective bargaining negotiations, always improving the deal and only once resorting to a strike - that lasted less than an hour as I recall. At the Motion Picture
Academy, Gil as a Governor was instrumental in helping help AMPAS into a new era. With an even mightier effort, he transformed UCLA's cultural portfolio as Founding
Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television. By recruiting his outside professional contacts to a special Board, he secured UCLA's place as a leading school in
film, television, and legitimate theater.
But wait! There's more! In the middle of Westwood sits the Geffen Theater, Gil's gift to our whole community. By an almost sheer act of will he took the old playhouse
and turned it into a vibrant home of legitimate theater whose brilliant reputation stretches across our whole country.
And that's the first point: It will take several people to do what Gil accomplished by himself - and it's unlikely they'll do it as well.
But for those of us who knew him and loved him and were loved by him, all of this is but icing on the cake. Each and every one who knew him felt themselves a special
friend of Gil. And each and every one of us was. To be Gil's friend meant open access to the most candid and wise man one could ever hope to encounter. He had a
kindness embedded in his soul, a man of genuine compassion; you could take to him the smallest problem or ask for guidance after the most foolish behavior and he
would always give you a serious and loving embrace. He was not judgmental. And Gil Cates never let anyone down. And to play cards or spend leisure time with him
was to enjoy humor and lightness and - well, fun. Almost every memory of Gil, it seems to me, includes his bright smile and twinkling eye. He was, always, no matter
what, a happy man - and it was infectious. But that too, was icing; he accomplished so much not only because of his wonderful disposition, but more because people knew,
instantly, that he could be trusted. Not in the way that we normally say people can be trusted, but a much higher level of abstraction.
Gil would listen to everything you had to say, he would hear it all, but he would also hear what you had forgotten. He gave you strength when you were down,
and some good-natured ribbing when you were up, just to help you keep your balance.
There was no one like Gil; in all my travels I have never known a man so remarkable. Like everyone who knew him, I shall miss him every day of my life. And for
those who did not know him you will miss all the gifts he gave our community. His life enriched us all. His death leaves us impoverished. And so deeply saddened.
Sleep well good friend, and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Alla v'shalom.
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