Although TV fans would know him from his role as Will's dad on Will and Grace, he was also, of course, an acclaimed film director, helming such movies as Three Days of the Condor (one of my favorite films), Tootsie, Out of Africa, The Way We Were, The Firm, Havana, Absence of Malice, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, Jeremiah Johnson, and The Interpreter. He also directed several TV shows back in the 60s, including The Fugitive, Ben Casey, Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Defenders, Slattery's People, and many others.
Pollack's other acting roles included spots on The Sopranos, King of the Hill, Frasier, Mad About You, Playhouse 90, and The Twilight Zone, along with the movies Michael Clayton, Eyes Wide Shut, Husbands and Wives, A Civil Action, Death Becomes Her, and The Player. His last acting role was in this year's Made of Honor and his last directing job was 2005's Sketches of Frank Gehry.
Pollack died of cancer this afternoon in Pacific Palisades, CA. He was 73.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-26-2008 @ 10:35PM
Joey said...
Don't forget Entourage!
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5-26-2008 @ 10:42PM
Oreo said...
God damn cancer. :(
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5-26-2008 @ 11:01PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
I was gonna mention Entourage too. I used to think he was the guy on Barney Miller until I seen that guy on Head Case and realized they were 2 different dudes.
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5-26-2008 @ 11:06PM
Mykal Bloom said...
A damn shame.
He'll be missed.
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5-26-2008 @ 11:07PM
steven said...
"The Way We Were!"
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5-27-2008 @ 12:04AM
Phish said...
why is this on here? nothing much to do with TV? just cause he had some cameos and bit parts doesnt make him relevant to TVsquad! get focused you lazy bums
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5-27-2008 @ 12:38AM
Bash said...
There are only 10 TV shows listed he did in the 60s.
Learn to read, bonehead.
5-27-2008 @ 2:50AM
Phish said...
according to wikipedia, he only acted in bit-parts on a few tv shows, and directed only a handful of episodes. does NOT make him a tv icon. he's more of a movie person.
waste of blog space!
i guess you've been BASHed in the head one too many times!
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5-27-2008 @ 5:04AM
matt said...
I love how people are so warm and friendly when it comes to a well-written obituary FOR A GUY WHO DIED! His influence and credits on the big screen AND small screen far outweigh many of the actors/directors of some of our favorite tv shows.
Do you all piss on everyones graves, or just his?
Your mothers would be proud.
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5-27-2008 @ 5:57PM
Brent McKee said...
Strictly speaking the only one "pissing on his grave" is Phish, who has all the sensitivity of an ameoba. Sydney Pollack was a hard working director who sometimes acted and cut his teeth as both an actor and a director in television in the 1960s. For that alone he deserves a place here. Phish is and always has been a jackass without a jack.
5-27-2008 @ 7:48AM
David said...
Such an awesome actor and director - it's a damn shame he's gone. It's unfortunate that his last major role was in god-awful Made of Honor.
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5-27-2008 @ 8:26AM
Jimmy said...
Rest in peace, Sydney.
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5-27-2008 @ 8:34AM
khia213 said...
We're all poorer for the loss of this talented man.
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5-27-2008 @ 10:12AM
csttar63 said...
it's ironic that the other night i watched "death becomes her" and sydney played the flustered doc who treated a "dead" meryl streep. i remember the scene where he goes into cardiac arrest and thought then he is still with us. "isn't it ironic".
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