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Sydney Pollack dies, aged 73

Oscar-winning director loses cancer fight.

by Amber Wilkinson

Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack has died of cancer, aged 73.

He passed away on Monday at his Los Angeles home after a nine-month battle with cancer.

Widely viewed as an "actor's director", he achieved critical and Academy acclaim with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep starrer Out Of Africa, which garnered him both a producing and a directing Oscar.

He worked with a string of other big-name stars, including Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie), Jane Fonda (They Shoot Horses Don't They) and Tom Cruise (The Firm).

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