Gene Saks (
Jean Michael Saks; November 8, 1921 – March 28, 2015) was an American
stage and
film director, and actor. An inductee of the
American Theater Hall of Fame, his acting career beginning with a debut on Broadway 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, who died in 2009, from 1950 until 1980, and subsequently to Keren Saks, from 1980 to his death in 2015.