Sydney Pollack has died!

I was surprised last night to learn that director Sydney Pollack died at the age of 73, from cancer. I have to admit, I'm surprised at his death, because it seems to me that he died too soon.

I think he was known more as a director than an actor, having won an Oscar for directing Out of Africa—though he's probably more remembered for directing Tootsie, the comedic cross-dressing film starring Dustin Hoffman. I have to say that he performed well as an actor, too, most recently with a substantial role in George Clooney's film Michael Clayton.