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Sydney Irwin Pollack (July 1, 1934 – May 26, 2008) was an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward-winning American director, producer, and actor, known for his appearances in multiple films and television shows and directorial work from the early [[TheSeventies 1970s]] through the [[TurnoftheMillennium mid-2000s]].

Born and raised in Indiana, Pollack moved to New York after graduating from high school and started his career in 1952 at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where he learned acting from noted playwright and actor Sanford Meisner. He later became Meisner's assistant at the Playhouse, and was eventually approached by his friend Creator/JohnFrankenheimer to visit Los Angeles and try his hand at directing.

From there, Pollack began directing episodes of several television shows, including ''Series/AlfredHitchcockPresents'' and ''Series/TheFugitive''. He eventually made the jump to feature films, beginning with ''The Slender Thread'' in 1965. Four years later he received his first Oscar nomination for ''Film/TheyShootHorsesDontThey'', and he continued with a string of box-office successes through the '70s, including ''Film/JeremiahJohnson'', ''Film/TheWayWeWere'', ''Film/TheYakuza'', and ''Film/TheElectricHorseman''.

Pollack's 1982 film ''Film/{{Tootsie}}'' (which he both directed and costarred in) received an Oscar nomination, and was famous for its on/off-screen arguments between himself and Creator/DustinHoffman. Pollack would receive two Academy Awards four years later for ''Film/OutOfAfrica''.

He spent most of his later career acting as an executive producer for several films throughout [[TheNineties the 90s]] and 2000s, and his last major film role was playing Marty Bach in ''Film/MichaelClayton'' (which he also produced). He also appeared in many guest roles during this time, including stints on ''Series/WillAndGrace'', ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' and ''Series/TheSopranos'', and hosted ''The Essentials'' on Creator/TurnerClassicMovies for a couple of years.

Pollack passed away at the age of 73 on May 26, 2008, from stomach cancer.
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!!Selected filmography:
!!!'''Director'''
[[index]]
* ''Film/TheSlenderThread'' (1965) (Pollack's directorial debut)
* ''Film/ThisPropertyIsCondemned'' (1966)
* ''Film/TheScalphunters'' (1968)
* ''Film/TheSwimmer'' (1968) (uncredited)[[note]]Pollack did extensive reshoots after director Frank Perry was fired[[/note]]
* ''Film/CastleKeep'' (1969)
* ''Film/TheyShootHorsesDontThey'' (1969)
* ''Film/JeremiahJohnson'' (1972)
* ''Film/TheWayWeWere'' (1973)
* ''Film/TheYakuza'' (1974) (also producer)
* ''Film/ThreeDaysOfTheCondor'' (1975)
* ''Film/BobbyDeerfield'' (1977)
* ''Film/TheElectricHorseman'' (1979)
* ''Film/AbsenceOfMalice'' (1981) (also producer)
* ''Film/{{Tootsie}}'' (1982) (also actor)
* ''Film/OutOfAfrica'' (1985)
* ''Film/{{Havana}}'' (1990)
* ''Film/TheFirm'' (1993) (also producer)
* ''Film/{{Sabrina|1995}}'' (1995) (also producer)
* ''Film/RandomHearts'' (1999) (also actor)
* ''Film/TheInterpreter'' (2005) (also actor; the last film Pollack directed)
[[/index]]

!!!'''Non-directing works'''
* ''Film/WarHunt'' (1962) (actor, film debut)[[note]]After making his acting debut in this film Pollack turned to directing and wouldn't act again until ''Tootsie'' 20 years later.[[/note]]
* ''Film/TheFabulousBakerBoys'' (1989) (producer)
* ''Film/PresumedInnocent'' (1990) (producer)
* ''Film/ThePlayer'' (1992) (actor)
* ''Film/HusbandsAndWives'' (1992) (actor)
* ''Film/DeathBecomesHer'' (1992) ({{uncredited|role}} cameo)
* ''Film/ACivilAction'' (1998) (actor)
* ''Film/EyesWideShut'' (1999) (actor)
* ''Film/MichaelClayton'' (2007) (producer/actor)
* ''Film/MadeOfHonor'' (2008) (actor)
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!! Tropes embodied by Pollack and his work include:

* AsHimself:
** In the ''Series/JustShootMe'' episode "A&E Biography: Nina Van Horne"
** In the documentary ''One Six Right'', discussing his love of airplanes.
* TheCameo: As a doctor in ''Film/DeathBecomesHer''.
* CreatorCameo:
** As Michael's agent in ''Tootsie''.
** As a man who makes a pass at Hallie in ''The Electric Horseman''.
** In ''Three Days of the Condor'', Pollack plays Hale's boyfriend (heard over the phone) and a cab driver who nearly hits Turner.
* TheDanza: As a doctor named Sydney (though not with the same last name) on an episode of ''Series/MadAboutYou''.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Pollack decided to play Michael's agent, George, in ''Film/{{Tootsie}}'' at Creator/DustinHoffman's suggestion, as they had previously been feuding over the direction of the film and decided to incorporated that conflict into the story.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Creator/StevenSpielberg intended for Pollack to direct ''Film/SchindlersList'' at one point in its pre-production.
** Pollack was originally intended to direct the Creator/{{HBO}} film ''Recount'', but had to depart from the project when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He passed away one day after the film premiered.
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