Sydney Pollack is best known for the fine performances he has elicited from Hollywood stars, including Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Paul Newman and Burt Lancaster. Pollack began his own career as an actor. After studying at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse with Sanford Meisner, he stayed on at Meisner's request as an acting coach, while also appearing on Broadway, in summer stock and on TV. A role in a "Playhouse 90" production of "For Whom the Bell Tolls", directed by John Frankenheimer, led to an introduction to Burt Lancaster. It was through Lancaster that Pollack got his chance to begin directing for TV and over the next five years, he directed over 80 shows, most notably 15 episodes of the popular "Ben Casey" series.

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