Sydney Pollack was an American film director, producer and actor. He was born in Lafayette, Indiana to Russian-American parents. In high school, he fell in love with theater which prompted him to move to New York to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater. He spent several years gaining experience in theater before turning to directing for film and television. Some of his most acclaimed films included Tootsie, Out of Africa and They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, his brother and six grandchildren.