Director of "The Way We Were"
Barbra remembered Sydney Pollack today by saying that "He knew how to tell a love story. He was a great actor's director because he was a great actor."  Those instincts surely served Pollack well when, in 1973, be directed Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford in "The Way We Were." The film not only became one of Hollywood's all time great love stories, but Pollack and  cinematographer Harry Stradling (Jr.) were able to recreate a romanticized look and feel of America in the '30s, '40s and '50s that became one of the film's hallmarks. But of course, it's the film's final moments outside the Plaza hotel in New York that will go down as one of the most iconic scenes ever put up on a movie screen.

Pollack had a lot going for him when he took the directorial helm of "The Way We Were." The book on which it is based was a best selling novel by a true showbiz great, Arthur Laurents. Add Marvin Hamlisch's evocative score along with his, and Alan and Marilyn Bergman's title song, and you have a winning formula. The only Oscars the the film won were for its music (Best Song and Best Original Score), and in 2004, the American Film Institute voted "The Way We Were" as the #8 all time greatest movie song.

Barbra was nominated as Best Actress that year, too, but lost out to Glenda Jackson. Ironically, many still believe that it was petty Hollywood politics that denied Barbra her statuette. Regardless, Barbra's Katie was, and remains today, the finest dramatic performance of her career.

Barbra and Sydney Pollack were good friends. In her statement today, Barbra added, "... he was a very good friend, someone I even shared secrets with." Pollack remained a supporter and fan of Barbra throughout the years. He participated in recording studio sessions on Barbra's "Putting It Together" track from "The Broadway Album" and is seen in "The Making of The Broadway Album" video. He was there to support Barbra at her "One Voice" concert in 1986. When it came time for Barbra to be honored by the American Film Institute, Pollack was in attendance to pay tribute. More recently he was seen enjoying one of Barbra's concerts. We counted Sydney Pollack among the many celebrities on hand for the closing night of "Timeless" in Los Angeles.

Sydney Pollack as Actor and Director
"The Way We Were," as successful as it turned out to be, was not Pollack's greatest triumph. In 1985, he directed both Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in "Out of Africa." The picture won an amazing seven Oscars, including two for Pollack: Best Director and Best Picture. And who better to be on hand that year to make the Best Director presentation to Pollack but Barbra Streisand.

Other notable directorial efforts by Pollack included "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" (with Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin), "Tootsie" (with Dustin Hoffman), "Absence of Malice" (with Paul Newman and Sally Field) and "The Firm" (with Tom Cruise and Gene Hackman).

Sydney Pollack was also a versatile actor. In 2007, he co-starred in the Academy Award winning film, "Michael Clayton." His role as the film's producer garnered him a Best Picture nomination. His directed himself in the 1982 comedy, "Tootsie," where he played Dustin Hoffman's fair weather agent. Fellow director Woody Allen liked Pollack's acting so much, he cast him in the 1992 comedy, "Husbands and Wives."

Pollack directed and/or appeared in dozens of films and television shows. During the 1950s and throughout the 60s, he was a mainstay of golden age television with such classic shows as "Playhouse 90," "The Twilight Zone" and "Ben Casey" to his credit. In 1966, Pollack directed Cliff Robertson in the television drama, "The Game," for which both he and Robertson each won an Emmy. More recently, Sydney Pollack was seen in an episode of "The Sopranos" and had a recurring role as Will Truman's father in the NBC hit sitcom, "Will and Grace."

In 2008, Sydney Pollack co-stared in the romantic comedy, "Made of Honor." The film is currently in theatres.