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US director Sydney Pollack dies US director Sydney Pollack dies
(about 1 hour later)
US film director and producer Sydney Pollack has died of cancer, aged 73.US film director and producer Sydney Pollack has died of cancer, aged 73.
He won producing and directing Oscars for the epic romance Out of Africa, starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep, in 1985.He won producing and directing Oscars for the epic romance Out of Africa, starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep, in 1985.
He also directed Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie, and The Way We Were, in which Redford partnered Barbra Streisand. He also directed Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie, plus The Way We Were, in which Redford partnered Barbra Streisand.
He died on Monday, surrounded by family members, at his home in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles. He had been diagnosed with cancer 10 months ago.He died on Monday, surrounded by family members, at his home in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles. He had been diagnosed with cancer 10 months ago.
Sydney Pollack: Life in PicturesSydney Pollack: Life in Pictures
While best remembered as a director, Sydney Pollack started out as an actor, and continued performing throughout his career, appearing in his last film, Michael Clayton, in 2007. "Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better," said George Clooney, on whose latest film, Leatherheads, Pollack was executive producer.
"Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better," George Clooney said, whose latest film, Leatherheads, was executively produced by Pollack.
"A tip of the hat to a class act. He'll be missed terribly.""A tip of the hat to a class act. He'll be missed terribly."
From the start, his career was identified with the big names and big studios of Hollywood. Actress Sally Field, who was directed by Pollack in Absence of Malice, also paid tribute.
"Having the opportunity to know Sydney and work with him was a great gift in my life," Field said in a statement.
"He was a good friend and a phenomenal director and I will cherish every moment that I ever spent with him."
Big names
Born in Indiana on 1 July 1934, Pollack started out as an actor, although he was best remembered as a director.
He developed a love of drama and opted to enrol at drama school in New York - where he studied for two years under Sanford Meisner - rather than going to college.
Pollack worked with Hollywood's leading stars for four decadesHe continued performing throughout his career, appearing in his last film, Made of Honor, opposite Patrick Dempsey earlier this year.
From the start, Pollack's career was identified with the big names and big studios of Hollywood.
The Slender Thread, his first feature film, starring Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft, was released by Paramount Pictures in 1965.The Slender Thread, his first feature film, starring Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft, was released by Paramount Pictures in 1965.
In later years he collaborated with the likes of Burt Lancaster, Jane Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, and Nicole Kidman. In later years he collaborated with the likes of Burt Lancaster, Jane Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford and Nicole Kidman.
Out of Africa garnered 11 Oscar nominations, and won seven. He compared the Hollywood greats to working with thoroughbred horses, saying they were temperamental and he sometimes got thrown - but when they performed, the experience was thrilling.
He compared the Hollywood greats to working with thoroughbred horses, they were tempermental and he sometimes got thrown, but when they preformed the experience was thrilling. 'Actor's director'
Pollack worked with Hollywood's leading stars for four decadesBut critics said as well as working with crowd-drawing stars, he also produced passionate and intelligent films that respected their audiences. But critics said as well as working with crowd-drawing stars, he also produced passionate and intelligent films which respected their audiences.
Later in his career, Pollack teamed up with British film-maker Anthony Minghella at production company Mirage Enterprises to become a prolific producer of independent films. "Called the quintessential 'actor's director', Sydney let the dialogue and the emotion of a scene speak for itself," said Michael Apted, president of the Directors Guild of America.
Their films included Cold Mountain and last year's Sketches of Frank Gehry - a 2007 documentary which was the last film Pollack directed. "Not given to cinematic tricks, his gentle and thoughtful touch and his focus on the story let us inhabit the world he created in each film."
Born in Indiana on 1 July, 1934, Pollack had developed a love of drama at school and opted to enrol at drama school in New York - where he studied for two years under Sanford Meisner - rather than going to college. Later in his career Pollack teamed up with British film-maker Anthony Minghella, who died in March, at production company Mirage Enterprises, to become a prolific producer of independent films.
Their releases included Cold Mountain and Sketches of Frank Gehry, a 2007 documentary which was the last film Pollack directed.
Pollack is survived by his wife and his two daughters, Rebecca and Rachel.