If you had asked me who Sydney Pollack was a week ago I probably would have muttered something about him possibly having something to do with movies. As is so often the case, it’s only when someone passes away that the extent of their contribution over a long and successful career becomes known to the wider public.
Sydney Pollack was an acclaimed director. His two best known and critically acclaimed films Out of Africa and The way we were are deserving of the title “classic”. In addition Pollack acted in numerous films over the years in everything from Kubrick’s Eyes wide shut to Woody Allen’s Husbands and Wives to sitcoms like Frasier and had, what I like to think was a rather avuncular persona in his onscreen roles.
In 2005 he provided the preface for friend Anthony Minghella’s book Minghella on Minghella as Pollack had produced several of his films. Sadly Minghella also passed away earlier this year, he too succumbing to cancer.
Sydney Pollack died in Los Angeles on 26 May surrounded by family. He was 73 years old.
- Obituary from The Independent
- Filmography from Internet Movie Database
