Sydney Pollack

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Sydney Pollack (born July 1, 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana) is an Academy Award-winning American film director, producer and actor. His career started in the 1960s, directing episodes of TV series such as The Fugitive and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Pollack studied with Sanford Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City before embarking on his acting career. He then moved behind the camera to direct and produce. He won the Academy Award for Directing for Out of Africa (1985). Pollack had previously been nominated for Best Director Oscars for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and Tootsie.

While directing Tootsie, his rows with Dustin Hoffman became well known. Eventually Hoffman began pushing the idea that Pollack play the role of his agent and Pollack reluctantly agreed. Their off-screen relationship added authenticity to their scenes in the movie, most of which feature them arguing. Pollack has since taken on more acting roles in addition to producing and directing.

As a character actor, Pollack has subsequently appeared in films such as A Civil Action and Eyes Wide Shut, as well as his own including The Interpreter. He also appeared in Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives as a New York intellectual undergoing a mid-life crisis.

He had a recurring guest star role on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, playing Will Truman's (Eric McCormack) unfaithful but loving father, George Truman.

Sydney Pollack will be receiving the first annual Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking award from the Austin Film Festival Oct 21st, 2006.

[edit] Selected filmography

• Breaking and Entering (2006) producer
• Sketches of Frank Gehry (2005) director
• The Interpreter (2005) director, executive producer, and actor
• Cold Mountain (2003) producer
• The Quiet American (2002) executive producer
• Changing Lanes (2002) actor
• Iris (2001) executive producer
• The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) executive producer
• Eyes Wide Shut (1999) actor
• Random Hearts (1999) director
• Sliding Doors (1998) producer
• Sabrina (1995) director/producer
• Sense and Sensibility (1995) executive producer
• The Firm (1993) director/producer
• Husbands and Wives (1992) actor
• Havana (1990) director/co-producer
• The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) executive producer
• Out of Africa (1985) director/producer
• Tootsie (1982) director/producer/actor
• Absence of Malice (1981) director/producer
• The Electric Horseman (1979) director/actor
• Bobby Deerfield (1977) director/producer
• The Yakuza (1975) director/producer
• Three Days of the Condor (1975) director
• The Way We Were (1973) director
• Jeremiah Johnson (1972) director
• They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) director/screenwriter/producer
• Castle Keep (1969) director
• The Swimmer (1968) co-director
• The Scalphunters' (1968) director
• This Property Is Condemned (1966) director
• The Slender Thread (1965) director
• War Hunt (1962) actor -- film debut

Preceded by: Miloš Forman for Amadeus

Academy Award for Best Director 1985 for Out of Africa

Succeeded by: Oliver Stone for Platoon

[edit] External link

• Sydney Pollack at the Internet Movie Database