Gene Saks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gene Saks (born November 8, 1921) is a Tony Award-winning American stage and film director.
Born in New York City, Saks studied at Cornell University and trained at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School for Social Research.
Saks has shared a long-term professional relationship with playwright/comedy writer Neil Simon, directing his plays Biloxi Blues, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Jake's Women, Rumors, Lost in Yonkers, Broadway Bound, The Odd Couple, and California Suite.
Additional Broadway credits include Enter Laughing, Half a Sixpence, Mame, I Love My Wife, Same Time, Next Year, and Rags.
Among Saks' screen credits are Cactus Flower, which won Goldie Hawn the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Barefoot in the Park, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The Odd Couple, Mame, and the 1995 television production of Bye Bye Birdie.
Saks made his acting debut on Broadway in South Pacific in 1949. On stage he also appeared in A Shot in the Dark, The Tenth Man, and A Thousand Clowns, in the role of Leo "Chuckles The Chipmunk" Herman, which he reprised in the film version. He portrayed Jack Lemmon's brother in the screen adaptation of Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue.
Saks was married to actress Bea Arthur from 1950-1978.
[edit] Theatre awards and nominations
- 1991 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (Lost in Yonkers, nominee)
- 1987 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (Broadway Bound, nominee)
- 1985 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (Biloxi Blues, winner)
- 1985 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (Biloxi Blues, nominee)
- 1983 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (Brighton Beach Memoirs, winner)
- 1977 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (I Love My Wife, winner)
- 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical (I Love My Wife, nominee)
- 1975 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (Same Time, Next Year, nominee)
- 1975 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (Same Time, Next Year, nominee)
- 1966 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (Mame, nominee)
- 1965 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (Half a Sixpence, nominee)
[edit] External links
- Gene Saks at the Internet Broadway Database
- Gene Saks at the Internet Movie Database
