Sydney Pollack Dies Of Cancer At 73

Oscar-Winning Director Won Over Audiences And Critics With "Tootsie" And "Out Of Africa"

(CBS/AP)  Academy Award-winning director Sydney Pollack, a Hollywood mainstay who achieved commercial success and critical acclaim with the gender-bending comedy "Tootsie" and the period drama "Out of Africa," has died. He was 73.

Pollack died of cancer Monday afternoon at his home in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles, surrounded by family, said publicist Leslee Dart. Pollack had been diagnosed with cancer about nine months ago, said Dart.

Pollack, who occasionally appeared on the screen himself, worked with and gained the respect of Hollywood's best actors in a long career that reached prominence in the 1970s and 1980s.

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Photos: Sydney Pollack

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"Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better. A tip of the hat to a class act," George Clooney said in a statement from his publicist.

"He'll be missed terribly," Clooney said.

Last fall, he played Marty Bach opposite Clooney in "Michael Clayton," a drama that examines a law firm's fixer. The film, which Pollack co-produced, received seven Oscar nominations, including for best picture and a best actor nod for Clooney. Tilda Swinton won the Oscar for supporting actress.

Pollack was no stranger to the Academy Awards. In 1986, "Out of Africa" a romantic epic of a woman's passion set against the landscape of colonial Kenya, captured seven Oscars, including best director.

In accepting his Oscar, Pollack commended Meryl Streep, who was nominated for best actress but didn't win.

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Story:Pollack's Legacy

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"I could not have made this movie without Meryl Streep," Pollack said. "She is astounding - personally, professionally, all ways."

Over the years, several of his other films, including "Tootsie" and "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" got several nominations, including best director nods.

Pollack's movies frequently had some of Hollywood's top actors: "Absence of Malice" with Sally Field and Paul Newman, "The Yakuza" with Robert Mitchum, "Three Days of the Condor" with Robert Redford, and "The Firm" with Tom Cruise, among others.

"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."

Before winning acclaim as a motion picture director, Pollack had his first taste of success as a director on TV, reports CBS News reporter Steve Futterman. He directed episodes of Ben Casey, The Fugitive and The Defenders.

In later years, he devoted increasing time to acting, appearing in Woody Allen's "Husbands and Wives," Robert Altman's "The Player," Robert Zemeckis' "Death Becomes Her," Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut."

Pollack's recent producing credits include "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Cold Mountain." His last screen appearance was in "Made of Honor," a romantic comedy currently in theaters, where he played the oft-married father of star Patrick Dempsey's character.

In recent years, Pollack also produced many independent films with filmmaker Anthony Minghella and a production company Mirage Enterprises.

The Lafayette, Ind. native was born to first-generation Russian-Americans. In high school, he fell in love with theater, a passion that prompted him forego college and move to New York and enroll in the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater.

Studying under Sanford Meisner, Pollack spent several years cutting his teeth in various areas of theater, eventually becoming Meisner's assistant.

"We started together in New York and he always excelled at everything he set out to do, his friendships and his humanity as much as his talents," said Martin Landau, a longtime close friend and associate in Actor's Studio, through spokesman Dick Guttman.

After appearing in a handful of Broadway productions in the 1950s, Pollack turned his eye to directing - where he would ultimately leave his biggest mark. He helmed "The Way We Were" (1973), "Jeremiah Johnson" (1972), "Havana" (1990) and "The Interpreter" (2005).

"Sydney let the dialogue and the emotion of a scene speak for itself. 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," said Michael Apted, president of the Directors Guild of America.

But Pollack, who stood over six feet tall and had a striking presence on the screen, never totally gave up acting.

At the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival, Pollack said "Tootsie" star Dustin Hoffman pushed the director into playing the actor's exasperated agent. At that point, he hadn't acted in 20 years.

Pollack said Hoffman repeatedly sent him roses with a note reading, "Please be my agent. Love, Dorothy."

"Most of the great directors that I know of were not actors, so I can't tell you it's a requirement," he said. "On the other hand, it's an enormous help."

In the 1982 movie, Hoffman plays an out-of-work actor who pretends to be a woman to land a role on a soap opera.

"I didn't think anyone would believe him as a woman," Pollack said. "But the world did, they went crazy."

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

[springzyp]

What a "show" they are going to put on up in heaven!! Rest in peace Mr. Pollack.
some young and handsome men @ WEALTHY CHAT.com are interested in it as well. Meanwhile, they want to find a rich woman to support and pamper with. Go @ WEALTHY CHAT.com

[amazedd]

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Master?

[wakeup60]

My sincere apologies to: bobnjersey...
I miss-read the comment "Who Cares" which was evidently posted by: mbcsmith as being yours... Please forgive the terrible over-sight of the crass statement inwhich mbcsmith uttered-not bobnjersey! I was very upset with the obtuse remark...Sydney was a great guy and people can be so mean for no reason ... about someone they know nothing about! Pardon?

[bobnjersey]

[Your life must be pretty dull and empty not to appreciate a gifted fellow human being. Feel sorry for ya, tootsy!]
[Posted by wakeup60 at 01:36 PM : May 27, 2008]

maybe you should go back and read it again ... and then ''say'' you''re sorry.

[bsimon2007]

very sad -- he''ll be missed greatly...

[wakeup60]

...bobnjersey and mbcsmith...and "ALL" the kind souls out there just like you..."WHO CARES"...about your non-caring attitude & comment..."NO ONE". The only "knack" you possess is being a non-effective Bully...and that''s a stretch! You wasted our time,yours and the space in this article with your ELOQUENCE.(you''ll probably have to look the meaning of this word up in the dictionary because of your intelligence level)!!! Maybe, just Maybe ... someone will remember you when you croak...with some kind gesture or words/but that''s stretching facts as well, I''m afraid. Your life must be pretty dull and empty not to appreciate a gifted fellow human being. Feel sorry for ya, tootsy!

[wakeup60]

"Sydney Pollack"...WAS truely...an absolute Genius! As an incredible actor and brilliant Director/He was tops!Hopefully he did not have to suffer long, was not in much pain.Heres hoping that he could be with and enjoy his family and friends these last few months. He was a wonderful, passionate, witty human being that shall be missed very, very much. His Talents were abound/expressed beyond words...through his craft.Extending Sincere Sympathy and comfort to his loved ones from just "1" of his many movie admirers.Thanks for the memories Sydney Pollack!

[anitaymoore]

I find it so interesting that they never even mentioned his recurring role as George Truman on Will & Grace. It may not have been a huge directorial accolate and it was a small role, but he played it so very well.

[briansgirl2]

What a "show" they are going to put on up in heaven!! Rest in peace Mr. Pollack.

[boston1954]

Saw him in an episode of the Twilight Zone many years ago. He did a great job in Tootsie also. A terrific director and actor. We are losing so many.

[bobnjersey]

[Who cares. ]
[Posted by mbcsmith at 10:17 AM : May 27, 2008]

those w/ a broad view of the world around them ... what''s important ... and what makes a difference in ones life.

you wouldn''t be likely to understand ... maybe you can have someone explain it to you.

[shortmama2]

He didn''t act the part of the agent in "Tootsie",
he WAS the agent -- brilliant performance.
May he rest in peace.

[honestabe8]

mbcsmith: obviously, some people do. i enjoyed the man''s work. i hope that his passing was as pain free as possible.

[sistatee-2009]

Sydney can now vote in Chicago elections.

[ianlou]

He did a great job on film as an average guy - a background character.

[mbcsmith]

Who cares.

[honestabe8]

I enjoyed him in all I saw him in. Rest In Peace, Mr. Pollack.

[sgtrds-e4]

A genius.

[hbevis]

I would like to say AMEN to all that have posted here.

[ictrep]

Amen to your comments, patriot12436. God bless a brilliant man!