Sydney Pollack
(Director)

Born in Lafayette, Ind., in 1934, Sydney Pollack started out studying with Sanford Meisner at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse and then briefly served as an acting coach at the school. While acting in 1962's War Hunt, he struck up a friendship with fellow actor Robert Redford, who was making his screen debut. When Pollack decided to make the move to directing, Redford was eager to work with him. The two have since collaborated on seven films: This Property Is Condemned, Jeremiah Johnson, The Way We Were, Three Days of the Condor, The Electric Horseman, Out of Africa and Havana.

In addition to directing for film and television, Pollack is also an accomplished producer and actor, starring in films like The Player, Death Becomes Her and Eyes Wide Shut. All told, Pollack's films have received 46 Academy Award® nominations, including four for Best Picture. Pollack himself has been nominated three times. Out of Africa won seven Oscars®, including Best Picture and Best Director. He won the New York Film Critics Award for his 1982 film Tootsie. Other awards include two Golden Globes for Best Director, the National Society of Film Critics Award, the NATO Director of the Year Award and prizes at the Brussels, Belgrade, San Sebastian, Moscow and Taormina film festivals. In 2000, he was honored with the John Huston award by the Directors Guild of America.

Not one to rest for too long, Pollack has a number of projects coming out in 2002. He directed and producedThe Assumption, starring Juliette Binoche and Vanessa Redgrave, and he served as producer on Heaven and The Quiet American, both due out this year, and Cold Mountain, due out in 2003. Pollack and his wife Claire make their home in Pacific Palisades, Calif.