Gene Saks

Gene Saks (born November 8, 1921) is an American Tony Award-winning 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 Beatrice Arthur from 1950-1978.

Awards and nominations

;Awards
*1977 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - "I Love My Wife"
*1983 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play - "Brighton Beach Memoirs"
*1985 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play - "Biloxi Blues"

;Nominations
*1965 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - "Half a Sixpence"
*1966 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - "Mame"
*1969 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Movie - "The Odd Couple"
*1975 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play - "Same Time, Next Year"
*1975 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play - "Same Time, Next Year"
*1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical - "I Love My Wife"
*1985 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play - "Biloxi Blues"
*1987 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play - "Broadway Bound"
*1991 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play - "Lost in Yonkers"

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