Gilbert Cates Passes Away

Sad news this morning from THR.com: legendary producer Gilbert Cates has passed away at the age of 77. While he produced 14 Oscar telecasts and earned Emmy nominations for directing the TV films "Consenting Adults" and "Do You Know the Muffin Man?", Cates was also a huge voice in the theater community. He was the presiding Producing Director of the Geffen Playhouse, where he directed acclaimed productions of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Under the Blue Sky," among many others. He was always a welcome sight at the opening of any Geffen show, and his kindness and generosity, particularly to us at Back Stage, from whom he received a Lifetime Achievement Garland Award celebrating his devotion to L.A. theater in 2009.

--Jenelle Riley