Oscar Producer Gilbert Cates Dies at 77 (Report)

Gilbert Cates, who produced a record 14 Oscar telecasts during an 18-year span, has died, TMZ reported Tuesday. He was 77; his body was reportedly discovered in a parking lot at UCLA. A spokesperson for the Academy could not confirm the report early Tuesday.Related Topics•Obituaries While known primarily as a TV producer/director, Cates had a solid career in film and on Broadway. PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths His TV subject matter was often bold for the times: He directed Consenting Adult in 1984, which focused on homosexuality, and he directed Do You Know the Muffin Man? in 1989, which centered on child molestation. He received Emmy nominations for best director for both telefilms. Similarly, Cates was credited with shaking up the status quo of the Oscar telecasts, bringing in such new-blood hosts as Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg and David Letterman. His 14 Oscar telecasts came during the years 1990-2008, and he won an Emmy for the 1991 show. Related Topics Obituaries