Sydney Pollack (born July 1, 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana) is an 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).

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.

Selected filmography

• 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

External link

1934 births | Living people | American film directors | Best Director Academy Award winners | Jewish American film directors | People from Indiana | The Twilight Zone actors | Will & Grace actors | English-language film directors

Sydney Pollack | Sydney Pollack | Sydney Pollack | Sydney Pollack | Sidney Pollack | Sydney Pollack | シドニー・ポラック | Sydney Pollack | Sydney Pollack | Sydney Pollack | Поллак, Сидни | Sydney Pollack | Sydney Pollack