ROTTEN TOMATOES: Sydney Pollack dies aged 73

Sydney Pollack dies aged 73

A first look back at the work of the legendary director, producer and actor

by Joanna Cohen | May 26, 2008

Academy Award-winning director, Sydney Pollack, has died at the age of 73. He died of stomach cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California on Monday, 26 May.

Pollack started his career as an actor and acting teacher before moving behind the lens as both director and producer. He began his directorial career in television, working on such projects as the Alfred Hitchcock Hour, hospital drama, Ben Casey, and The Fugitive. His first foray into film was the 1965 drama, The Slender Thread, starring Anne Bancroft and Sidney Poitier.

He first appeared in one of his own films in 1979, in The Electric Horseman. A few years later he took the part of Dustin Hoffman's agent, George Fields, in Tootsie. He went on to appear in many of his own films and those directed by his contemporaries including Husbands and Wives, The Player, Death Becomes Her, Eyes Wide Shut and Michael Clayton.

http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/object/event/wireimage/12/987/336_g.jpg

The gang. Sidney Pollack, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese - WireImage.com

He won two Academy Awards in 1986 for Out of Africa for both Best Director and Best Picture. He was also nominated for Best Director in 1970 for They Shoot the Horses, Don't They? and again in 1983 for Tootsie for which he also received a Best Picture Nomination. In 2008 he was nominated for Best Picture for Michael Clayton.

http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/object/event/wireimage/6/582/139_g.jpg

Sidney Pollack with Anjelica Huston, Geraldine Page, and William Hurt - WireImage.com

Beside his own collection of awards garnered throughout his career, he directed many actors to Academy Award nominations including: Jane Fonda; Barbra Streisand; Paul Newman; Jessica Lange; Dustin Hoffman; Teri Garr; Meryl Streep; and Holly Hunter.

To read more about the accomplished career of Sydney Pollack, and view his complete filmography, visit his Rotten Tomatoes profile.

Related Items

Movie:	Out of Africa
	They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
	Tootsie
	The Slender Thread
	Death Becomes Her
	Husbands and Wives
	The Player
	Eyes Wide Shut
Celeb:	Sydney Pollack

(1-20 of 31 posts) | Reply

CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on May 26 2008 08:37 PM

R.I.P.- Sydney Pollack. You will be deeply missed. Thank you

for all wonder and art you portrayed in your memorable acting and fantastic

directing. You will never be forgotten.

(Reply to this)

DariusVIII writes:
on May 26 2008 08:56 PM

Maybe not as well known as Spielberg or Scorsese by the common man, but that picture says it all....he was top tier, no doubt about it, and he was still going strong as evidenced by his acting and producing role in Michael Clayton. RIP.

(Reply to this)

Alex Vo writes:
on May 26 2008 09:07 PM

This may be weird, but this one is hitting way harder than Ledger, Bergman, or Antonioni.

(Reply to this)

jocorotten writes:
on May 26 2008 09:15 PM

I get it Alex. I grew up on a steady diet of Pollack. All of those deaths were so very sad but between them they have left an astounding body of work. I, for one, can hardly wait to get home to watch Tootsie.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on May 26 2008 09:24 PM

Sad. He will be missed.

(Reply to this)

MM54 writes:
on May 26 2008 09:28 PM

...wow... I didn't even know he was sick.

RIP Sydney Pollack, a true cinematic legend.

(Reply to this)

IBelieveInHarveyDent writes:
on May 26 2008 10:58 PM

its a damn shame he had to go out on made of honor

(Reply to this)

aaronflux writes:
on May 26 2008 11:08 PM

This makes me sad.

(Reply to this)

Redeeming_Light writes:
on May 27 2008 01:05 AM

The deaths of the Chinese earthquake victims are much more important to me right now than some guy I don't even know. All I can say about this guy is "whatever."

(Reply to this)

Sexy Wolfen writes:
on May 27 2008 01:17 AM

Speachless.

(Reply to this)

Young Turk writes:
on May 27 2008 01:30 AM

In reply to this comment (#1757304)
Then why are you on RT?

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on May 27 2008 04:29 AM

In reply to this comment (#1757333)
"Then why are you on RT?"

Good question. Add to that, what's the point of the negativity? Random folks were doing the same thing when Ledger passed, trolling the tribute boards to post a bunch of unprovoked negative comments. Makes no sense at all.

R.I.P Mr. Pollack. You lived it.

(Reply to this)

Bruce Campbell writes:
on May 27 2008 04:49 AM

In reply to this comment (#1757304)
Then how about you kill yourself? Then everyone can be happy.

A legend has left us, who shall be remembered. What makes this even harder is that he left us with Maid of Honor.

(Reply to this)

Runtun writes:
on May 27 2008 04:55 AM

Sad news. I absolutely loved him in 'Husbands and Wives'.

(Reply to this)

michaeljbyrd writes:
on May 27 2008 05:03 AM

In reply to this comment (#1757304)
I guess the deaths in China are so important that you came to RT looking for ways to support their families? Or to get up to the minute updates on the toll of this and other natural disasters the world over? I understand that the name Rotten Tomatoes leads one to believe this site deals with the real world issues of drought, famine, and the negative impact of pesticides. Especially when they mislead with their coverage of obviously non-fictional people like this John Rambo guy and his struggle to help the Burmese people.

The fact that you are using your "overwhelming" concern for the loss of life over there to bash the death of a single person says something far more negative about you.

(Reply to this)

Regenerator writes:
on May 27 2008 06:34 AM

In reply to this comment (#1757304)
Redeeming_Light, just why exactly the f*** do you bring that up? It�s got nothing to do with the subject in hand. You really are full of ****, dumbass

(Reply to this)

TombstoneLawDog writes:
on May 27 2008 06:39 AM

I know about four people have already pounced on you for this, but you deserve it and probably a lot worse, so...

A man who had personal and cultural importance to a lot of people died and is being mourned. The fact that the loudest thing you can offer is your ignorance of his life and preening, self-righteous indifference means that you should--and I mean this from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all mourners or people offering their respects-- SHUT THE F#CK UP and never post again on RT.

(Reply to this)

TombstoneLawDog writes:
on May 27 2008 06:44 AM

For some reason it didn't list 'in response to' but obviously my post was directed at Redeeming_Light.

Rest in Peace, Sydney Pollack. My condolences to his family and friends.

(Reply to this)

indiefilmfan2 writes:
on May 27 2008 07:25 AM

I remember the first time I saw him in a film, Eyes Wide Shut. Pollack's acting parts were usually pretty small but always meaningful. My favorite performance of his would probably be the part of Ben Affleck's father-in-law and boss in Changing Lanes. His best film behind the camera, in my opinion, was The Firm.

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on May 27 2008 07:25 AM

Didn't see this coming. Wow.

(Reply to this)