film director biography Sydney Pollack died

The Best film director died Sydney Pollack
Pollack died of cancer on May 26, 2008 at his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California surrounded by family. He had been diagnosed with cancer about nine months before his death.Sydney Pollack (aged 73) was born July 1, 1934 and died May 26, 2008. He was an Academy Award-winning American film director, producer and actor.
He directed more than 21 films and 10 television shows, acted in over 30 films or shows, and produced over 44 films. Pollack is best known for directing films Out of Africa (Academy Awards, 1985), Tootsie (1982), Three Days of the Condor (1975), The Yakuza (1975), The Way We Were and Jeremiah Johnson (1972), along with newer films The Interpreter (2005), Sabrina (1995), The Firm (1993) and Havana (1990). He appeared in over 15 films, including The Interpreter (2005), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Husbands and Wives (1992), The Player (1992), and The Electric Horseman (1979). In 2007, he appeared opposite George Clooney in Michael Clayton, a film which he also co-produced. He died of cancer on May 26th, 2008.
Pollack was born in Lafayette, Indiana, to a family of Jewish immigrants from Russia, the son of Rebecca (Miller) and David Pollack, a professional boxer and pharmacist. His parents divorced when he was young and his mother, an alcoholic, died at the age of 37 while Pollack was a student at the Neighborhood Playhouse.
His brother is the costume designer, producer and actor Bernie Pollack.
Pollack was married to Claire Griswold, a former student of his, from 1958 until his death; they had three children, Rachel Pollack, Rebecca Pollack and Steven Pollack, who died in a plane crash in 1993. As a character actor, Pollack subsequently appeared in films such as A Civil Action, Changing Lanes, and Eyes Wide Shut, as well as his own, including Random Hearts and The Interpreter. He also appeared in Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives as a New York lawyer undergoing a midlife crisis. He had a recurring guest star role on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, playing Will Truman's (Eric McCormack) unfaithful but loving father, George Truman. In 2007, Pollack made guest appearances on the HBO TV series The Sopranos and Entourage as well as an appearance on NBC's Just Shoot Me.
Pollack received the first annual Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking award from the Austin Film Festival October 21, 2006.
As a producer he helped to guide many films that were successful with both the critic and movie audiences, such as The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Michael Clayton. He formed a production company called Mirage Enterprises with the English director Anthony Minghella (who died just a few months before Mr. Pollack in 2008).
Director Sydney Pollack Filmography
The Slender Thread (1965) director
This Property Is Condemned (1966) director
The Scalphunters' (1968) director
The Swimmer (1968) co-director
Castle Keep (1969) director
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) director
Jeremiah Johnson (1972) director
The Way We Were (1973) director
Three Days of the Condor (1975) director
The Yakuza (1975) director/producer
Bobby Deerfield (1977) director/producer
The Electric Horseman (1979) director/actor
Absence of Malice (1981) director/producer
Tootsie (1982) director/producer/actor
Out of Africa (1985) director/producer
Havana (1990) director/co-producer
The Firm (1993) director/producer
Sabrina (1995) director/producer
Random Hearts (1999) director
Sketches of Frank Gehry (2005) director
The Interpreter (2005) director, executive producer, and actor .

Steven Curtis Chapman family tragedy

Maria Sue Chapman was 5 year old. Adopted daughter of Steven Curtis Chapman. She was killed in an accident on May 21, 2008.
She was struck by an SUV driven by one of the Chapmans teenage sons as he backed down the driveway of the family's Franklin home. The entire family was home at the time celebrating their eldest daughter's engagement, and several members witnessed the tragedy. Maria Sue later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. A spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol termed it "a terrible accident" and said no charges are expected to be filed. Maria was the youngest in the family and one of three daughters adopted from China by Steven and his wife, Mary Beth.
Steven Curtis Chapman was born November 21, 1962 in Paducah, Kentucky. He is a Contemporary Christian musician.
After starting his career in the late 80s as a songwriter, Chapman has turned into one of the most prolific singers in the genre, releasing more than 20 albums to this date. As of 2007, he has sold more than 10 million albums and has 9 gold and platinum albums. Chapman has also won five Grammy awards and 51 Gospel Music Association Awards, more than any other artist in history.
Chapman is also a vocal advocate for adoption, along with his wife Mary Beth. Together, they have adopted three children from China and have started a charity organization called Shaohannah's Hope, which offers grants to qualifying families to help defray the cost of adopting, at home and abroad.
As of 2007, Chapman has been married to Mary Beth Chapman (they shared the same last name prior to their marriage) for 23 years. The couple met in the early 80s at Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana and married in the fall of 1984. They currently live in Franklin, Tennessee, and have three biological children (Emily Elizabeth, Caleb Stevenson, Will Franklin). They adopted three young girls from China (Shaohannah Hope Yan, Stevey Joy Ru, Maria Sue). Sadly, Maria Sue is deceased. (See 'Death of youngest daughter' below).
When Steven and Mary were first married, they struggled with finances and turned to God in prayer. A few days before their anniversary, they found out that Mary was pregnant. When arriving home one night, they noticed fire engines outside their apartment, and realized their apartment had burnt down. They had no insurance to cover the cost of damages, and they moved in with friends. Then Sparrow Records noticed Steven's vocal abilities and signed him.
Together, Chapman and his wife have written three children's books with adoption themes, Shaoey And Dot (2004), Shaoey and Dot: The Christmas Miracle (2005), and Shaoey and Dot: A Thunder and Lightning Bug Story (2006). Together with minister Scotty Smith, Chapman authored two books for the adult inspirational market, Speechless (1999) and Restoring Broken Things (2005). Chapman's song "All About Love" has been featured in commercials for the Fox television show, Celebrity Duets.
Chapman and his sons recorded under the name of "Stevenson" for the 2003 Veggie Rocks CD. (Song: "I Love My Lips", VeggieTales). Chapman also starred in the 2003 film Christmas Child.