Sydney Pollack Dies at 73.

Today is another sad day for Bill and I since one of the most remarkable human beings that we ever met had just passed away. Sydney Pollack died yesterday of cancer.

Sydney Pollack and Bill (photo above) were partners for over ten years and together they produced some great movies. Sydney has been Bill's most important Mentor and some kind of Father figure since his beginnings in Hollywood, that's why this loss is one of the most painful that Bill ever experienced.

I met Sydney for the first time in 2001 in Vietnam when he was producing The Quiet American with Bill. I admired Sydney Pollack since I was a teenager and I loved his movies but I never thought that I was going to meet him in person, even less could I imagine that one day I was going to fly with him and Bill from Los Angeles to New York and that Sydney was going to be the Pilot. I couldn't believe that such a unique Artist could also be a real Pilot. During the whole fly I was just wondering if Sydney was a real person or someone from another planet (above you can see the single picture that I took that day in order to remember such an extraordinary experience). Sydney was a man of many talents, he was extremely smart, articulated, but most of all he was a beautiful human being, a family man and an extraordinary person who was curious about everything. Very deep Sydney Pollack was like a little boy plus he had one of the sweetest smiles that I ever saw. I remember that he told me a whole joke about a little chicken in Spanish, the pronunciation was perfect but he didn't understand a word about what he was saying, he said that he had learned the joke many years ago because he really liked how it sounded, I never heard anything like it, he was some kind of genius.

In this photo Pollack directs Robert Redford in "The Electric Horseman" in 1979, one of seven movies the two would ultimately collaborate on. And below you can see a selection of photos of Sydney with some Actors and Directors that he worked with over the years.

Sydney also experienced some devastating traumas during his life like the death of his son in a plain accident. Imagine how painful something like this was for such a family oriented man. But Sydney always knew how to turn his pain into creative energy and I can say that personally that's one of the things that I most admire about him. When he found out about his terminal cancer some months ago he told Bill about it. Bill said that his tone of voice was not sentimental or weak at all, but firm and even positive. He said that he had nothing to complain about because he was very happy about the life that he had and that it was OK to die. Bill was extremely affected by this news then and by his death yesterday but as we look at Sydney's legacy we realize that he will always be alive through the amazing body of work that he left to the world.

Here you can see a list of some of his movies:

FILMOGRAPHY: (DIRECTOR)
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 (1975)
The Way We Were (1973)
Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
The Swimmer (1968, Co-Director)
The Scalphunters (1968)
This Property is Condemned (1966)
The Slender Thread (1965)

FILMOGRAPHY: (ACTOR)
Made of Honor (2008)
Michael Clayton (2007)
Fauteuils d'orchestre (2006)
The Interpreter (2005)
Changing Lanes (2002)
The Majestic (2001) (voice)
Random Hearts (1999)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
A Civil Action (1998)
Husbands and Wives (1992)
Death Becomes Her (1992)
The Player (1992)
War Hunt (1962)

Dear Sydney, we love you very much and you will always have a very special place in our hearts. We don't want to say Good-Bye to you because you are and you will always be here with us in so many ways!
Here it goes a huge hug from Bill and Elsita to you!

Comments

[ei! kumpel]

he was indeed very special and I'm very sad that he's gone... but it's true, he will live forever in is amazing legacy.

lots of hugs for you and Bill.
*margarida

[Mim]

Since I know you through your blog, I thought of you and your husband right away when I read the news. Strange how the internet makes these connections.

I'll be thinking of you and your husband as you remember this talented man. It's nice to read that he was also a nice person and a truly wonderful human being.

[Margaret Oomen]

My heart has been with you ever since I heard this news yesterday . I am sending a huge hug to you and bill . Through bill's close connection to this amazing individual he lives on through bill and the movies and projects he works on.

[cami]

I am very sorry to hear such talented person has passed away. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.

[GraceBeading]

A beautiful tribute to a wonderful friend. Thank you for sharing your memories Elsita. My heart felt condolences to you and Bill on the loss of such a dear friend. I send you hug across the miles.

[tia]

i love you both a lot and can't wait to see everyone

[Lois Collins]

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of this wonderful man, it sounds like he meant a huge amount to you both,specially Bill, having him as a father figure/mentor. He obviously had a very positive approach to everything, including his future! This is something we can all learn from...to appreciate what we have, our family and friends, and this gift of life! Big hug to you and Bill,
Lois xxx

[Esti]

A big hug to you and Bill.

[nyjlm]

my sympathies to you and Bill.

[emdot]

Oh. :( I'm very sad about this. I have loved so many of his movies.

I'm not in the business, but once organized an event that he was going to attend. I had to talk to him on the phone several times. I was just the organizer... a glorified assistant of sorts. He was so nice to me -- so professional and respectful. This was over 15 years ago and it made such an impression on me that I have never forgotten it.

Thank for you all of the wonderful things you have given us Mr. Pollack. You will always be remembered.

[Nichol Brinkmannichol]

He sounds like a beautiful, beautiful man. My heart goes out to you, Bill and his family.

Best,
Nichol

[Anna]

I'm so sorry for your loss. You wrote a beautiful tribute. He left a wonderful legacy and will be remembered fondly by many.

[lisa wharton]

i too am sorry for your loss.
-lisa

[ari]

muchos besos y abrazos desde barcelona. ¡ánimo elsita!

[sosser]

we will all miss him. condolences to you and your family.

[Flassie's Fil'a]

So sorry to hear this. What a beautiful tribute.

I just watched the movie Out of Africa on Monday.

My deepest sympathy to his family and you and Bill.

{{{Lifting You all up in Prayer}}}

[Victoria]

What lovely personal memories you and your husband have of this brilliant man.
I am deeply sorry for the loss you must feel, and wishing you much love.

[Evelyn]

beautiful tribute to a great man.

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