The first time I became aware of Sydney Pollack, I was 13 or so. A girlfriend and I went to see "The Way We Were" at a theater in Porterville. The film -- starring Barbra Streisand and in-his-prime-jaw-dropping gorgeous Robert Redford -- is still one of the most dramatic romantic movies I've ever seen.

And Pollack was behind the camera, a director with keen instincts and a knack for working with big-name stars. So, it's sad news to read that he died from cancer on Monday at age 73.

His resume is one of the most impressive in Hollywood the past few decades. In addition to directing, he produced or executive-produced films that included last year's Oscar contender, "Michael Clayton," a film I greatly admired and hoped more people would take the time to see. A scan of his work on The Internet Movie Database will remind you of how many good and great films he helped bring to the big screen. Films such as Best Picture Oscar winner "Out of Africa," for which Pollock won two statuettes, and "Tootsie." In addition, he exec-produced "Recount," which just premiered on HBO.

Pollack -- who started as an actor and, in recent years, returned to acting -- appeared in Clayton. He downplayed his acting ability, but I always found him effortless and authentic. His scenes with Dustin Hoffman as the actor's agent in Tootsie are hilarious.

Above all, Pollack seemed to be that rare class act in Hollywood: Talented, respected and always relevant.