Sydney Pollack was born to first generation Russian-Jewish Americans on July 1, 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana, USA.

He then moved behind the camera to direct and produce. His directing career began in the 1960s with episodes of TV series such as The Fugitive and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He won the Academy Award for Directing for Out of Africa (1985).

His first feature film as a director was The Slender Thread (1965), starring Sidney Poitier. For his next film, This Property is Condemned (1966), Pollack called on his good friend Redford to play the male lead opposite Natalie Wood. Pollack and Redford would work together on six more films over the years, including Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Way We Were (1973), Three Days of the Condor (1975), The Electric Horseman (1979), Out of Africa (1985) and Havana (1990).

Although nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for his direction of the Depression-era drama They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), it wasn’t until he directed, produced and played a role in Tootsie (1982), starring Dustin Hoffman that Pollack was so honored again.

His last movie directed The Firm (1993), Random Hearts (1999) and The Interpreter (2005).

Director

• Sketches of Frank Gehry (2005)
• The Interpreter (2005)
• Random Hearts (1999)
• Sabrina (1995)
• The Firm (1993)
• Havana (1990)
• Out of Africa (1985)
• Tootsie (1982)
• Absence of Malice (1981)
• The Electric Horseman (1979)
• Bobby Deerfield (1977)
• Three Days of the Condor (1975)
• The Yakuza (1974)
• The Way We Were (1973)
• Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
• They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
• Castle Keep (1969)
• The Swimmer (1968)
• The Scalphunters (1968)
• This Property Is Condemned (1966)
• The Slender Thread (1965)
• "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" (5 episodes, 1963-1965)
• "Kraft Suspense Theatre" (2 episodes, 1964-1965)
• "Slattery's People" (1 episode, 1964)
• "The Fugitive" (1 episode, 1964)
• "Breaking Point" (1 episode, 1963)
• "Ben Casey" (10 episodes, 1962-1963)
• "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" (2 episodes, 1962-1963)
• "The Defenders" (1 episode, 1963)
• "Target: The Corruptors" (1 episode, 1962)
• "Cain's Hundred" (1 episode, 1961)

Awards

• John Huston Award for Artists Rights 2000
• Oscar Best Picture "Out of Africa" 1985
• Oscar Best Director "Out of Africa" 1985
• NATO Director of the Year Award 1983
• New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Director "Tootsie" 1982
• Emmy Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama "The Game" 1965 - 66