Sydney Pollack, 73, died peacefully from cancer on May 26, 2008. Born in Indiana to David and Rebecca Pollack, he attended Los Angeles City College and UCLA, which furthered his interest in both film and art. Pollack achieved vocation success in 1966, when his directorial debut This Property is Condemned was released. This Property is Condemned was dubbed a box-office success and saw him nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director. He was well known for his roles on both the big and small screens, as well as directing, producing, and at times, acting. His diverse portfolio included such films from the 1960s as The Slender Thread and Jeremiah Johnson. Pollack’s subsequent films, such as Out of Africa, Tootsie, and Sabrina, helped cement his place in film history. In later years, Pollack worked closely with Robert Redford, producing such films as Havana, The Horse Whisperer, and The Legend of Bagger Vance. He continued to explore and hone his craft, producing the TV series Will & Grace, executive-producing Alias, and directing such films as The Interpreter, The Firm, and Michael Clayton. Pollack’s television film Reckless was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Picture, and his last directing venture was for the HBO series Empire Falls. He is survived by a wife, three daughters, and four grandchildren. His generous nature and his love of entertainment and the arts make his loss deeply felt.