Sydney Pollack
Sydney Pollack (born July 1 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana) is an American actor, producer, and director. His career started in the 1960s, directing episodes of TV series such as The Fugitive and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
He won the Academy Award for Directing for Out of Africa (1985).
Pollack's acting career kickstarted when he was directing Tootsie with Dustin Hoffman, of which his rows with the dedicated method actor became well known. Hoffman had begun pushing the idea that Pollack play the role of his agent, which Pollack reluctantly agreed to do. The scenes of Pollack and Hoffman arguing is actually a reflection of their relationship off screen during the making of the film. A first rate character actor, Pollack went onto appear in several films such as A Civil Action and Eyes Wide Shut, as well as his own including The Interpreter. He is a recurring guest star on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, playing Will Truman's 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
- 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