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| US director Sydney Pollack dies | US director Sydney Pollack dies |
| (about 2 hours 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, plus 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. |
| href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7420892.stm">In pictures: Sydney Pollack class="" href="/1/hi/entertainment/7421106.stm">Obituary: Sydney Pollack | |
| "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," said George Clooney, on whose latest film, Leatherheads, Pollack was executive producer. |
| "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." |
| Actress Sally Field, who was directed by Pollack in Absence of Malice, also paid tribute. | 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. | "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." | "He was a good friend and a phenomenal director and I will cherish every moment that I ever spent with him." |
| Big names | Big names |
| Born in Indiana on 1 July 1934, Pollack started out as an actor, although he was best remembered as a director. | 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. | 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. |
| DIRECTORIAL HIGHLIGHTS 1993 - The Firm1985 - Out of Africa1982 - Tootsie1973 - The Way We Were1969 - They Shoot Horses, Don't They? | DIRECTORIAL HIGHLIGHTS 1993 - The Firm1985 - Out of Africa1982 - Tootsie1973 - The Way We Were1969 - They Shoot Horses, Don't They? |
| He continued performing throughout his career, appearing in his last film, Made of Honor, opposite Patrick Dempsey earlier this year. | He 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. | 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. |
| 'Actor's director' | 'Actor's director' |
| 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, saying they were temperamental and he sometimes got thrown - but when they performed, the experience was thrilling. |
| 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 which respected their audiences. | 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 which respected their audiences. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | Pollack is survived by his wife and his two daughters, Rebecca and Rachel. |