Sydney Pollack, Film Director Dies at age 73

Source: NYTimes

Sydney Pollack, a Hollywood mainstay as director, producer and sometime actor whose star-laden movies like “The Way We Were,” “Tootsie” and “Out of Africa” were among the most successful of the 1970s and ’80s, died on Monday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 73.

The cause was cancer, said a representative of the family.

Mr. Pollack’s career defined an era in which big stars (Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, Warren Beatty) and the filmmakers who knew how to wrangle them (Barry Levinson, Mike Nichols) retooled the Hollywood system. Savvy operators, they played studio against studio, staking their fortunes on pictures that served commerce without wholly abandoning art.

Hollywood honored Mr. Pollack in return. His movies received multiple Academy Award nominations, and as a director he won an Oscar for his work on the 1985 film “Out of Africa” as well as nominations for directing “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” (1969) and “Tootsie” (1982).

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/26/movies/26cnd-pollack.html?hp

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The film Recount
the film was executive produced by Paula Weinstein, Len Amato, Sydney Pollack and Jay Roach. Michael Hausman produced.

he was priceless in Tootsie

He's great in Michael Clayton too

:thumbsup:

"I begged you to get therapy." LOL

RIP, Mr. Pollack.

superior movies like Michael Clayton.

damn, damn, damn!

RIP Sidney, you rocked!

RIP, Sydney

"I begged you to get some therapy."

He delivered it so well and was so funny in that movie.

What a talent.

Sad news.

May he rest in peace. He left behind a legacy of great work.

:(

That's why I watched it.

One of my idols, although I don't think I ever met him.

RIP, Sydney. The world has lost a wonderful talent -- really irreplaceable...

Cordially,

Radio Lady Ellen

Wow- LOL- I never knew he was an actor too. You are missed already, Mr. Pollack thank you for leaving the world a better place.

He played a fabulous, funny character.

The movie got panned, but I liked it quite a bit.

Thanks for your comments.

Here's more about him -- he lost a son in 1993, in a Santa Monica plane crash.

http://us.imdb.com/news/flash/

I know because I made that mistake when I wrote my review!

And one called The Yakuza which I liked. Also quite a good actor in front of the camera.

RIP

loved his movies -- in life and art, he leaves us with an impossible spot to fill ---

Didn't know he did Three Days of the Condor --- !

His filmography list is really incomparable -- although there were some duds. I could argue with you about "Eyes Wide Shut" and a couple of others! But not many...

http://us.imdb.com/news/flash/

"They Shoot Horses, Don't They?," in the studio system today ("today," in this case, being about 9 years ago...)

Gotta see that again.

"Three Days of the Condor" is great.

Rest easy, Sydney...

It was diagnosed last summer and he had to pull out of a film project.

Sounds quick and deadly -- advanced colon, lung, pancreas or prostate. Damn.

He would have been 74 on July 1 -- he was born in 1934, just a few days after my husband's birthday -- June 23, 1934.

This really strikes close to home.

"What fools we mortals be..."

As good as they get. "They Shoot Horses..." is my favorite among many. His actor chops were not hay either.

We're losing our creators of culture in this country and replacing them with crap.

What I really like about his films is that they're great, but rarely hit you over the head.

It's hard to think of someone who gave more to the film industry over the years. A tremendous producer, director and actor.

Great director and actor.

:cry:

He was the best of the best.

n/t

He had nothing but the greatest affection for him. Said he was a warm and wonderful person. I am sure my brother won't take this well.

You will be truly missed.

cancer got him... I feel for his friend's and family's loss. His suffering with that disease is over. God Bless him and may he rest in peace!

What an amazing story. Rest in peace, Mr. Pollack. You will be missed.

I loved The Way We Were. He made Barbra and Redford more luminous than ever before (or ever since).

Damn damn damn! Damn!

He fit right in with all the quirky characters... just terrific. This is so sad. RIP Sydney.

I spoke to Sydney Pollack on the phone once regarding a project for consulting company I was working for. He was gracious and kind. I've always been a huge fan. The world will be a little less colorful with him. What an enormous talent and intellect. Go in peace Sydney. We will miss you.

He was so damned talented. What a loss to his family, the film community and all of us moviegoers who loved his work.