Sydney Pollack dies at home in L.A.

Bard

From Sky News:

Veteran actor and director Sydney Pollack has died aged 73, his publicist has confirmed.

He was best known for directing Dustin Hoffman comedy Tootsie and romantic drama Out Of Africa, for which he won two Oscars.

He was also a popular and respected character actor, often appearing in small roles in his own films, as he did in Tootsie and The Interpreter.

More recently, he appeared opposite George Clooney in Michael Clayton, which he also produced, as well as television series such as Will & Grace, The Sopranos and King Of The Hill.

Pollack died of cancer at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family, said his publicist Leslee Dart.

He had been diagnosed with the disease about nine months ago.
His illness had come to public attention in August 2007 after he withdrew as the director of an HBO television movie for unspecified health reasons.
He had been working on Recount, about the disputed 2000 US presidential election.


A frequent collaborator with actor Robert Redford, Pollack's other films as director included The Way We Were, Havana, Three Days Of The Condor and They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

In a statement, his Michael Clayton co-star George Clooney said: "Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better.


Pollack's last screen appearance was in Made Of Honor, a romantic comedy currently in cinemas, where he plays the oft-married father of star Patrick Dempsey's character.


In recent years, Pollack produced several independent films with Oscar-winning British director Anthony Minghella - who died earlier this year - and production company Mirage Enterprises.


Pollack is survived by his wife, Claire, two daughters - Rebecca and Rachel - his brother Bernie, and six grandchildren.

Karl Hungus

That's a terrible pity, we're losing an awful lot of fantastic actors this year.

May he rest in peace.

giddyup

A great character actor and a substantial director/producer. A class act. He was great at playing that upper management figure, the guy who told everyone where to bury the bodies - The Firm, Michael Clayton, Changing Lanes, Eyes Wide Shut.

Don't know if it was deliberate but they do an hour of Frasier here every night and last night thay had the one episode where Sydney Pollack did a voice-only part so he was in my head when I saw this news today.

CtrlSource

That's sad.

Never knew that he directed a film version of They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Read the book, must check out the film.

Out of Africa was a masterpiece and i liked him in Michael Clayton. His character really was that guy who told everyone where to bury the bodies!

mike65

Hmm I'll pass on Out Of Africa but Jeremiah Johnson, Three Days of the Condor and The Yakuza are all top draw as is Tootsie. Dunno why but I never thought of him as being that old.

Mike.

Pigman II

meh

rip.