Sydney Pollack

Sydney Pollack, the Academy Award-winning director of "Out of Africa" who achieved acclaim making popular, mainstream movies with A-list stars, including "The Way We Were" and "Tootsie," died at 73. The son of a pharmacist, Mr. Pollack was born July 1, 1934, in Lafayette, Ind., and later moved with his family to South Bend. Mr. Pollack left home after graduating from high school and moved to New York to become an actor. After studying with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, Mr. Pollack became Meisner's assistant. Mr. Pollack left home after graduating from high school and moved to New York to become an actor. After studying with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, Mr. Pollack became Meisner's assistant. Mr. Pollack met his wife, Claire, at the Neighborhood Playhouse. They were married in 1958 and had three children. He is survived by six grandchildren and a brother.