Gil Cates, Oscar Producer, Dies

Gilbert Cates, the man responsible for producing 14 Oscar ceremonies over nearly two decades, died Monday at age 77. Cates’ body was discovered in a UCLA parking lot on Halloween night. He had undergone heart surgery earlier in October. The Los Angeles County coroner is investigating the cause of death. Cates was the Academy Awards’ producer for 14 ceremonies between 1990 and 2008. He directed Oscar-nominated films such as “I Never Sang for My Father” and “Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams,” along with numerous made-for-TV movies. He was the uncle of actress Phoebe Cates.