Friends, Colleagues Remember Sydney Pollack

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Following the death of big screen legend Sydney Pollack, some of his Hollywood friends and colleagues are speaking out in remembrance of a fallen icon, who died on Monday at the age of 73.

"I first met him while he was in the midst of editing 'Tootsie' (one of the all time classics). I'd seen every one of his pictures and he generously took the meeting. Years later, having lived through some short post schedules myself, I realized just how generous. He spent over six hours, with the patience of Job, answering all my questions. Throughout the years, unpretentious and never condescending, he shared with me what he loved about family, storytelling, food, flying and a great bottle of vino. He was a Renaissance man and a great friend. I will miss him dearly." - Tom Cruise

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"Sydney made the world a little better, movies a little better and even dinner a little better. A tip of the hat to a class act. He'll be missed terribly." - George Clooney

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"I am so deeply saddened by the news of Sydney Pollack's passing. I considered him a friend and brother long before I scored his first film 'The Slender Thread' in 1965, and I am proud to say that our close friendship remained intact right to the end. Sydney Pollack's immense talents as a director were only surpassed by the compassion that he carried in his soul for his fellow man. Today we've lost not only one of our greatest filmmakers, but a great human being. My deepest sympathies go out to his wife Claire and his daughters Rebecca and Rachel." - Quincy Jones

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"He knew how to tell a love story. He was a great actor's director because he was a great actor. And he was a very good friend, someone I even shared secrets with." -- Barbra Streisand

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"Ever since we started together in New York, Sydney excelled at everything he set out to do, his friendships and his humanity no less than his extraordinary talents." - Martin Landau