Celebrity passings

This past weekend saw the passing of two of my favorite show biz figures. Director Sydney Pollack passed away on Monday from cancer at the age of 73 and former Laugh-In star Dick Martin (one half of the Rowan and Martin comedy team) died on Saturday at the age of 83. Ironically, both men did an about face later in their careers. Pollack stepped in front of the camera to act in a number of films such as Tootsie, Husbands and Wives, Eyes Wide Shut and his last performances in Michael Clayton and Maid of Honor while Martin stepped behind the camera to become a prolific director of situation comedies like Newhart, Family Ties and Sledge Hammer.