Sydney Pollack
- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- July 1, 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Died
- May 26, 2008
- Active Years
- 1944–2025 (82 Years)
- Total Credits
- 194 credits in database
Directing Born Jul 1, 1934 Died May 26, 2008 Lafayette, Indiana, USA 194 credits
Biography
Sydney Pollack was an American film director, producer, and actor. Born on July 1, 1934, in Lafayette, Indiana, USA, Pollack directed commercially and critically acclaimed studio films throughout his forty-year career. He is known for directing films such as Jeremiah Johnson, The Way We Were, and The Yakuza. Pollack received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, and was nominated for several other awards. He won the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture for Out of Africa in 1985. Pollack also received Primetime Emmy Awards and was nominated for Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards.
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Career overview
Sydney Pollack is a renowned American film director. He directed commercially and critically acclaimed studio films throughout his career. Pollack's work spanned over forty years, during which he received numerous accolades.
Pollack is known for directing notable films such as Jeremiah Johnson, The Way We Were, and The Yakuza. His work in the film industry earned him recognition, including two Academy Awards. He won the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture for Out of Africa. Additionally, Pollack was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Director for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and Tootsie.
Pollack's directing career is marked by his ability to create successful and critically acclaimed films. His work has been recognized through various awards and nominations, demonstrating his skill and impact on the film industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Cliff Robertson
2 shared titles
John Lithgow
2 shared titles
Robert Altman
2 shared titles
Harrison Ford
2 shared titles
Kristin Scott Thomas
2 shared titles
Kathleen Quinlan
2 shared titles
Lynne Thigpen
2 shared titles
Richard Jenkins
2 shared titles
Dylan Baker
2 shared titles
Tom Cruise
1 shared title
Career timeline
John Candy: I Like Me
Citizen Jane FondaBabenco: Tell Me When I Die
Amazing GraceAmazing Grace · Director
The Story of The SwimmerMagician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles
Silver Linings Playbook · ThanksChar·ac·ter
Margaret · Producer
Adapting AustenA Very Quiet ManGlanz und Elend in Hollywood: Natalie Wood
The Reader · ProducerMade of HonorLeatherheads · Executive ProducerElvis Mitchell: Under the InfluenceRecount · Executive Producer
Michael ClaytonMichael Clayton · ProducerJames Taylor | One Man Band · Executive ProducerThe Visions of Stanley KubrickView from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining'
Filmmakers in ActionBreaking and Entering · ProducerFilm Noir: Bringing Darkness to LightAvenue MontaigneCatch a Fire · Executive Producer
The InterpreterThe Interpreter · DirectorThe Interpreter · Executive ProducerForty Shades of Blue · Executive ProducerFilmmakers vs. Tycoons
EntourageBarbra Streisand: The Concert - Live at the MGM GrandSomething About Sydney PollackA Dying Breed: The Making of 'The Leopard'In Free Fall - Tom Tykwer and the Cinema
Cold Mountain · ProducerA Decade Under the InfluenceMore About the CondorIn the Name of Love · Executive ProducerCharlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin
Changing LanesThe Quiet American · Executive ProducerHeaven · Executive ProducerThe Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel FullerAFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories
Iris · Executive ProducerThe MajesticBirthday Girl · Executive ProducerBlow Dry · Executive ProducerStanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures
A Song of AfricaUp at the Villa · Executive ProducerInside 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'Lost Angeles - Eine Stadt zwischen Traum und Trauma
The SopranosEyes Wide ShutThe Talented Mr. Ripley · Executive ProducerThe DirectorsRandom Hearts
Will & GraceSliding Doors · ProducerA Civil ActionPoodle Springs · Executive ProducerIndependent's Day
King of the HillJust Shoot Me!The Saga of Jeremiah Johnson
Love in HollywoodBurt Lancaster: Daring to Reach
Sense and Sensibility · Executive ProducerSabrina · DirectorSabrina · ProducerRed Wind · Executive Producer
American CinemaInside the Actors Studio
FrasierFallen Angels · Executive ProducerThe Firm · DirectorThe Firm · ProducerSearching for Bobby Fischer · Executive Producer
Mad About YouDeath Becomes HerThe PlayerHusbands and WivesLeaving Normal · Executive Producer
Pebble MillDead Again · Executive ProducerKing Ralph · Executive ProducerRobert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star
Presumed Innocent · ProducerWhite Palace · Executive ProducerHavana · DirectorHavana · ProducerSanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret
The Fabulous Baker Boys · Executive ProducerBroadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
Bright Lights, Big City · ProducerHello Actors StudioA Tiger's Tale · Thanks
Nine 1/2 Weeks · OtherBarbra Streisand: One VoicePutting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album
Out of Africa · ProducerOut of Africa · Director
Full Filmography
194 titles- John Candy: I Like Me (2025) as Self - Director (archive footage)
- Citizen Jane Fonda (2020)
- Babenco: Tell Me When I Die (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Amazing Grace (2018) as Self - Director (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Amazing Grace (2018) Director
- The Story of The Swimmer (2014) as Self (archive footage)
- Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Thanks
- Char·ac·ter (2012) as Self
- Margaret (2011) Producer
- Adapting Austen (2009) as Self
- A Very Quiet Man (2009) as Self
- Glanz und Elend in Hollywood: Natalie Wood (2009) as Self
- The Reader (2008) Producer
- Made of Honor (2008) as Thomas Sr.
- Leatherheads (2008) Executive Producer
- Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence (2008) as Self
- Recount (2008) Executive Producer
- A Better Man: The Making of 'Tootsie' (2008) as Self
- Michael Clayton (2007) as Marty Bach
- Michael Clayton (2007) Producer
- James Taylor | One Man Band (2007) Executive Producer
- The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (2007) as Self
- View from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining' (2007) as Self
- Great Bolshy Yarblockos!: Making 'A Clockwork Orange' (2007) as Self
- Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 (2007) as Self
- Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick (2007) as Self
- Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001 (2007) as Self
- Filmmakers in Action (2006) as Self
- Breaking and Entering (2006) Producer
- Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light (2006) as Self
- Avenue Montaigne (2006) as Brian Sobinski
- Catch a Fire (2006) Executive Producer
- Sketches of Frank Gehry (2006) as Self
- Sketches of Frank Gehry (2006) Director
- Sketches of Frank Gehry (2006) Director of Photography
- Sketches of Frank Gehry (2006) Executive Producer
- Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters (2006) as Self
- The Interpreter (2005) as Jay Pettigrew (uncredited)
- The Interpreter (2005) Director
- The Interpreter (2005) Executive Producer
- Forty Shades of Blue (2005) Executive Producer
- Filmmakers vs. Tycoons (2005) as Self
- The Last Mogul (2005) as Self
- One Six Right (2005) as Self
- The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz (2005) as Narrator (voice)
- Entourage (2004) as Sydney Pollack
- Barbra Streisand: The Concert - Live at the MGM Grand (2004) as Self
- Something About Sydney Pollack (2004) as Self
- A Dying Breed: The Making of 'The Leopard' (2004) as Self
- In Free Fall - Tom Tykwer and the Cinema (2004) as Self
- Männer im Trenchcoat, Frauen im Pelz (2004) as Self
- Cold Mountain (2003) Producer
- A Decade Under the Influence (2003) as Self
- More About the Condor (2003) as Self
- In the Name of Love (2003) Executive Producer
- Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin (2003) as Narrator
- Changing Lanes (2002) as Stephen Delano
- The Quiet American (2002) Executive Producer
- Heaven (2002) Executive Producer
- The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller (2002) as Narrator (voice)
- AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories (2002) as Self
- Iris (2001) Executive Producer
- The Majestic (2001) as Studio Executive (voice)
- Birthday Girl (2001) Executive Producer
- Blow Dry (2001) Executive Producer
- Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001) as Self
- AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Barbra Streisand (2001) as self
- Nobody's Perfect: The Making of Some Like It Hot (2001) as Self
- Dino De Laurentiis: The Last Movie Mogul (2001) as Self
- The Story Behind "Absence of Malice" (2001) as Self
- A Song of Africa (2000) as Self
- Up at the Villa (2000) Executive Producer
- Inside 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' (2000) as Self
- Lost Angeles - Eine Stadt zwischen Traum und Trauma (2000) as Self
- The Sopranos (1999) as Warren Feldman
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999) as Victor Ziegler
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Executive Producer
- The Directors (1999) as Self
- Random Hearts (1999) as Carl Broman
- Random Hearts (1999) Director
- Random Hearts (1999) Producer
- The Last Movie: Stanley Kubrick and 'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999) as Self
- The Way We Were: Looking Back (1999) as Self
- Will & Grace (1998) as George Truman
- Sliding Doors (1998) Producer
- A Civil Action (1998) as Al Eustis
- Poodle Springs (1998) Executive Producer
- Independent's Day (1998) as Self
- King of the Hill (1997) as Grant Trimble (voice)
- Just Shoot Me! (1997) as Sydney Pollack
- The Saga of Jeremiah Johnson (1997) as Self
- Love in Hollywood (1996) as Self
- Burt Lancaster: Daring to Reach (1996) as Self
- Sense and Sensibility (1995) Executive Producer
- Sabrina (1995) Director
- Sabrina (1995) Producer
- Red Wind (1995) Executive Producer
- American Cinema (1994) as Self
- Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
- Frasier (1993) as Holden Thorpe (voice)
- Fallen Angels (1993) Executive Producer
- The Firm (1993) Director
- The Firm (1993) Producer
- Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) Executive Producer
- Flesh and Bone (1993) Executive Producer
- Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O (1993) as Self
- Mad About You (1992) as Dr. Sydney Warren
- Death Becomes Her (1992) as Hospital Doctor (uncredited)
- The Player (1992) as Dick Mellen
- Husbands and Wives (1992) as Jack
- Leaving Normal (1992) Executive Producer
- A Private Matter (1992) Executive Producer
- Pebble Mill (1991) as Self
- Dead Again (1991) Executive Producer
- King Ralph (1991) Executive Producer
- Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star (1991) as Self
- Presumed Innocent (1990) Producer
- White Palace (1990) Executive Producer
- Havana (1990) Director
- Havana (1990) Producer
- Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret (1990) as Self
- Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret (1990) Executive Producer
- Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret (1990) Other
- Robert Redford & Sydney Pollack: The Men and Their Movies (1990) as Self
- Sanford Meisner Master Class (1990) Director
- The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) Executive Producer
- Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre (1989) as Self (voice)
- Bright Lights, Big City (1988) Producer
- Hello Actors Studio (1988) as Self
- A Tiger's Tale (1988) Thanks
- Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986) Other
- Barbra Streisand: One Voice (1986) as Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
- Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album (1986) as Self
- Out of Africa (1985) Producer
- Out of Africa (1985) Director
- Songwriter (1984) Producer
- Tootsie (1982) as George Fields
- Tootsie (1982) Producer
- Tootsie (1982) Director
- Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady (1982)
- The Making of 'Tootsie' (1982) as Self
- Absence of Malice (1981) Director
- Absence of Malice (1981) Producer
- Honeysuckle Rose (1980) Executive Producer
- The Electric Horseman (1979) as Man Who Makes Pass at Alice (uncredited)
- The Electric Horseman (1979) Director
- Bobby Deerfield (1977) Director
- Bobby Deerfield (1977) Producer
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- Three Days of the Condor (1975) Director
- Three Days of the Condor (1975) Producer
- The Yakuza (1974) Director
- The Yakuza (1974) Producer
- The Way We Were (1973) Director
- The Men Who Made the Movies: Howard Hawks (1973) as Narrator (voice)
- The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor (1973) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self
- Jeremiah Johnson (1972) Director
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) Director
- Castle Keep (1969) Director
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- The Scalphunters (1968) Director
- The Swimmer (1968) Co-Director
- This Property Is Condemned (1966) Director
- The Slender Thread (1965) Director
- Slattery's People (1964) Director
- The Fugitive (1963) Director
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) Director
- Arrest and Trial (1963) Director
- Breaking Point (1963) Director
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) Director
- War Hunt (1962) as Sgt. Owen Van Horn
- Ben Casey (1961) Director
- The Defenders (1961) Director
- Cain's Hundred (1961) Director
- The New Breed (1961) as Austin Rogers
- The New Breed (1961) as Bert Masters
- Target: The Corruptors! (1961) Director
- Frontier Circus (1961) Director
- The Young Savages (1961) Dialect Coach
- The Tall Man (1960) Director
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Arthur Willis
- Startime (1959) as Harry
- Startime (1959) Dialogue
- The Turn of the Screw (1959) Dialogue Coach
- For Whom the Bell Tolls (1959) as Andres
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) as Joe Culp
- Playhouse 90 (1956) as Andres
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Bernie Samuelson
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee / Nominee
- Now Is Tomorrow as Capt. Stein
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Sydney Pollack best known for?
Sydney Pollack is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including John Candy: I Like Me (2025), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), Margaret (2011), The Reader (2008).
When and where was Sydney Pollack born?
Sydney Pollack was born on July 1, 1934 in Lafayette, Indiana, USA. They passed away on May 26, 2008.
How many credits does Sydney Pollack have?
Sydney Pollack has accumulated over 194 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2025.
What is Sydney Pollack's background in cinema and television?
Sydney Pollack was an American film director, producer, and actor. Born on July 1, 1934, in Lafayette, Indiana, USA, Pollack directed commercially and critically acclaimed studio films throughout his forty-year career. He is known for directing films such as Jeremiah Johnson, The Way We Were, and The Yakuza. Pollack re...
Sydney Pollack by the numbers
194credits
155films
39TV series
1944–2025active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Sopranos (1999) as Warren Feldman — aged about 65
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Arthur Willis — aged about 25
- American Cinema (1994) as Self — aged about 60
- Le Grand Échiquier (1972) as Self — aged about 38
- John Candy: I Like Me (2025) as Self - Director (archive footage) — aged about 91
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Bernie Samuelson — aged about 21
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