On Assignment w/ CT

Oscar-winning Director, Sydney Pollack who died at the age of 73 has a Dallas connection. In 1996 the USAFilm Festival honored Mr. Pollack with its Great Director Tribute.  This photo is of Sydney Pollack, Terri Garr( whose movie credits include TOOTSIE) and me at a USAFF after-party.

USAFF Managing Director Ann Alexander says she had a first-class ticket and a stay at The Mansion on Turtle Creek ready for him.  But he was a pilot and told her that he would fly his private jet into Dallas. She was suprised when he told her that he'd stay at The Mansion but he'd do that on his own dime...he didn't want the non-profit to have to spend money honoring him. Ann Alexander says Sydney was a "class act, a gifted artist and a precious, precious man".

My husband is a board member of the USAFF and we got to sit on either side of Sydney Pollack during the USAFF screening of TOOTSIE.  He got an Oscar nomination for TOOTSIE. During the movie Pollack would lean over and share a tidbit about this scene or that...or a funny behind-the-scenes moment during the making of the movie. Sydney Pollack was fun and gracious and a great story-teller; that was a thrill Stephen and I will always remember.    

Sydney Pollack's brother, Bernie is a noted costume designer. In fact he's the one who designed the costumes for the Mega-Hit INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL.  Their late sister, Sharon Pollack Griffith, lived in Dallas and she was a film producer. In 1997 she debuted REGGIE AND THE ROUST-ABOUTS at the USAFF's KIDFILM.        

Sydney Pollack won the Best Director Oscar and Best Producer Oscar for OUT OF AFRICA.  He leaves a prolific body of work as a director, producer and actor.  Godspeed!