Oscar-Winning Director Sydney Pollack Is Dead

Veteran actor and director Sydney Pollack has died aged 73, according to reports in Hollywood.Sydney PollackHe was best known for directing Dustin Hoffman comedy Tootsie and romantic drama Out Of Africa, for which he won two Oscars.He was also a popular and respected character actor, often appearing in small roles in his own films, as he did in Tootsie and The Interpreter.

More recently he appeared opposite George Clooney in Michael Clayton, which he also produced, as well as television series such as Will & Grace, The Sopranos and King Of The Hill.Pollack died at his home in Los Angeles, a family representative said.His illness had come to public attention after he withdrew in August 2007 as the director of an HBO television movie for unspecified health reasons.He had been working on Recount, about the disputed 2000 US presidential election.