Gilbert “Gil” Cates (born June 6 1934) is an American film director and television producer. He is probably best known for producing the annual Academy Award shows. In September 2007, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that he would be producing the 80th Academy Awards, his 14th time. The awards took place on Sunday February 24 2008. Cates directed the feature films I Never Sang for My Father (1970) and Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973).

Cates was born Gilbert Katz in New York City, the son of Nina (née Peltzman) and Nathan Katz, who was a dress manufacturer.Gilbert Cates Biography (1934-) There he attended DeWitt Clinton High School.Champlin, Charles. "Another Year, Another Oscar Strategy - Movies: Gilbert Cates finds a different set of circumstances for this year's Academy Awards, his second as producer of the annual awards show.", Los Angeles Times, February 26, 1991. Accessed September 14, 2009. "He started fencing at Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx and, he says, you spent three months of exercise just getting in shape to fence."

He is the uncle of noted actress Phoebe Cates.