 He played the role of Secretary of State Dean Rusk in the 1974 teleplay "The Missiles of October", and played President Herbert Hoover in the 1979 miniseries "Backstairs at the White House".In 1964, Gates was nominated for a Tony Award in the category Actor, Supporting or Featured (Dramatic), for his work in "A Case of Libel".Gates died of leukemia in 1996.