Gene Saks (New York, 1921 – East Hampton, 2015) was an American director and actor, a prominent figure in Broadway theatre and film. His career was inextricably linked to that of playwright Neil Simon, for whom he became the foremost interpreter, directing the original productions of hugely successful comedies such as *Barefoot in the Park*, *The Odd Couple*, *Brighton Beach Memoirs*, and *Biloxi Blues*. For his theatrical work, he won three Tony Awards for Best Direction: for the musical *I Love My Wife* (1977) and for Simon's plays *Brighton Beach Memoirs* (1983) and *Biloxi Blues* (1985). His success also extended to cinema, where he brought the screen adaptations of *Barefoot in the Park* (1967) and *The Odd Couple* (1968) to the big screen, as well as directing *Cactus Flower* (1969), a film for which Goldie Hawn won an Academy Award. As an actor, he appeared in films such as *A Thousand Clowns* (1965) and *Nobody's Fool* (1994).