Gene Saks

Gene Saks (born Jean Michael Saks; November 8, 1921 – March 28, 2015) was an American director and actor. An inductee of the American Theater Hall of Fame, his acting career began with a Broadway debut in 1949. As a director, he was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning three for his direction of I Love My Wife, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues. He also directed a number of films during his career. He was married to Bea Arthur from 1950 until 1978, and subsequently to Keren Saks from 1980 to his death in 2015.

Early life Saks was born in New York City, the son of Beatrix (née Lewkowitz) and Morris J. Saks. Saks first became involved in theater as a student at Hackensack High School. He studied at Cornell University. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, taking part in the Normandy landings. He also trained for acting at the Dramatic Workshop of The New School in New York with the German director Erwin Piscator and helped start a theater cooperative at the Cherry Lane Theater and appeared in a number of productions as Off Broadway blossomed. and in the City Center's May 1955 two-week revival of South Pacific. On stage he also appeared in E. E. Cummings's Him, 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, and also appeared in Nobody's Fool starring Paul Newman.

Personal life Saks was married to fellow Actors Studio member actress Bea Arthur from 1950 until 1978. The couple had two sons by adoption: Matthew (born in 1961), an actor, and Daniel (born in 1964), a set designer. He also had a daughter by his second wife Keren Saks.

Filmography Film Director

Actor

Television Director

Actor

Theatre As an Actor

As a Director

Awards and nominations Tony Awards Year Award Nominated work Result1965 Best Direction of a Musical Half a Sixpence 1966 Mame 1975 Best Direction of a Play Same Time, Next Year 1977 Best Direction of a Musical I Love My Wife 1983 Best Direction of a Play Brighton Beach Memoirs 1985 Biloxi Blues 1991 Lost in Yonkers

Drama Desk Awards Year Award Nominated work Result1975 Outstanding Director of a Play Same Time, Next Year 1977 Outstanding Director of a Play I Love My Wife 1985 Outstanding Director of a Play Biloxi Blues 1987 Broadway Bound 1969 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Movie – The Odd Couple - Nom 1991 Outer Critics Circle for Outstanding Direction of a Play - Lost in Yonkers - Won

Honours Inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1991.