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Gil Cates, Oscar producer and Geffen Playhouse head, dies at 77

By Reed JohnsonStaff Writer 
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Gil Cates, a highly versatile and award-winning director and television and theater producer who oversaw 14 Oscar telecasts and founded the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, died Monday at 77, the Directors Guild of America confirmed Tuesday.

During his tenure producing the annual Academy Awards telecast, Cates was widely credited with re-energizing a formula that had grown tired by recruiting such comic talents as Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock to host the show.

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Cates also was the former dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

Cates served two terms as DGA president from 1983 to 1987. A longtime Hollywood insider, Cates was an influential and well-regarded player by the studios.

More later at latimes.com/entertainment.

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-- Reed Johnson

24 Frames
Reed Johnson

Reed Johnson es el ex editor de Los Angeles Times en Español. En 2018, se reincorporó a Los Angeles Times como editor asistente. Johnson había trabajado anteriormente para The Times como escritor de 2000 a 2014, incluidos cuatro años y medio como escritor de cultura latinoamericana del periódico, con sede en la Ciudad de México. También ha trabajado como reportero para el Wall Street Journal, con sede en São Paulo, Brasil; como editor de Zócalo Public Square; y como reportero del Detroit News, el L.A. Daily News y el Times-Union de Rochester, Nueva York.

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