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Author Topic: Sydney Pollack 1934-2008 John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-26-2008 09:51 PM                     This is sad news indeed. Link Hollywood legend dies at 73 May 27, 2008 - 11:19AM US actor and director Sydney Pollack has died at the age of 73, an agent says. Pollack died of cancer at his home in Pacific Palisades today surrounded by his family, his agent Leslee Dart said. Pollack's biggest success was the 1985 film Out of Africa starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep, which won Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture. Pollack's other notable films include the comedy Tootsie starring Dustin Hoffman and the romantic film The Way We Were, which paired Redford and Barbra Streisand. He also starred in George Clooney's film Michael Clayton, and took cameo acting roles in productions as diverse as The Player, The Sopranos, and most recently Made of Honor, but spent more time behind the camera directing, from TV's The Fugitive to cinema's The Interpreter. He was executive producer of almost 50 films. Pollack's illness came to public attention after he withdrew in August 2007 as the director an HBO television movie for unspecified health reasons. He was diagnosed with cancer about 10 months ago, Dart said, adding that doctors were never able to determine the primary source of the disease. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Services will be private, Dart said.  |  IP: Logged Shane Cooper Expert Film Handler Posts: 232 From: Little Rock, Arkansas Registered: Jun 2004 posted 05-26-2008 10:24 PM                     One of my favorite directors and not a bad actor either. Plus, a fellow hoosier! A loss of a little bit of class.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 05-26-2008 10:49 PM                     I'm pretty shocked to hear of Sydney Pollack's passing. Out of Africa is one of my mother's most favorite movies. He's one of the most important American film directors of modern times and not too bad an actor either. One of his best performances was in Eyes Wide Shut where he played a character pivotal in the film's plot. Pollack worked as an executive producer on Recount, which debuted on HBO Sunday night.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-26-2008 11:13 PM                        He was great in "Tootsie." And seemed like a decent guy off the set, too. R.I.P.  |  IP: Logged Mark Campbell Expert Film Handler Posts: 148 From: Seattle, WA USA Registered: Jul 2007 posted 05-26-2008 11:17 PM                     Had the tremendous (and odd) experience of working down the hall from Mr. Pollack for a brief time in Santa Monica while he was editing a film in Santa Monica out of some rental production office space. He was just 2 doors down from me (I was working on something else) but we would always see each other in the hall, parking lot etc. He was always such a gracious gentlemen when amongst us ordinary folk. He and I even figured out how to keep a fire door open together (I know, exciting, huh). I never acknowledged who he was other then someone else working in the building, but he didn't seem to care. He seemed to have no ego despite all of his great accomplishments. This is very rare and says a lot. Especially since I wanted to gush about how much I admired him. He might have been fine with that too. So let me gush now. "Tootsie" was genius!  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-27-2008 12:04 AM                     quote: "Tootsie" was genius! You got that right!  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 05-27-2008 12:04 AM                        Wow, this is sad news. I was channel surfing this morning and A Civil Action was on and Sydney Pollack was in it, and very good as he always seemed as an actor. I'm not ashamed to admit Out of Africa is one of *my* favorite films. Likewise Three Days of the Condor. This man will deservedly be remembered as a true Hollywood legend. EDIT: I had mis-spelled his last name. [ 05-27-2008, 09:44 AM: Message edited by: David Stambaugh ]  |  IP: Logged Mark Campbell Expert Film Handler Posts: 148 From: Seattle, WA USA Registered: Jul 2007 posted 05-27-2008 12:13 AM                     I forgot to add that I finally saw "Jerimiah Johnson" for the first time last year and loved it. It should be on "The List" whenever anyone talks about the great movies of the '70's. Digital effects and projection etc. be damned! A great FILMmaker has left us!  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 05-27-2008 02:06 AM                  Wow! Sad news indeed. I'm totally shocked! Another great legend moves on. In addition to the films previously mentioned, I really enjoyed his acting in "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Death Becomes Her"... Great Stuff! R.I.P. Mr. Pollack.  |  IP: Logged Brian D. Whitish Expert Film Handler Posts: 103 From: Seattle, WA, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 05-27-2008 04:34 AM                     Wow I am completely stunned. He looked fine in Made Of Honor(not a very good movie but he was excellent, as always). What a great actor, director, producer. I didnt know that he was ill. My prayers and thoughts are with his family. Brian  |  IP: Logged Mike Schindler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1039 From: Oak Park, IL, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 05-27-2008 11:34 AM                     This is too bad. THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY? is one of my favorite movies.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-27-2008 04:07 PM                     Tootsie  |  IP: Logged

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