Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier, KBE (February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022) was a Bahamian-American actor, film director, author, and diplomat. In 1964, he became the first African-American actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, for his performance in Lilies of the Field (1963). He also received eight other Academy Award nominations, including two for Best Director for his films Uptown Saturday Night (1974) and Ghost Dad (1990).
Poitier's career began in the 1940s, and he quickly became one of the most popular and successful African-American actors in Hollywood. He starred in a wide variety of films, including westerns, comedies, dramas, and musicals. Some of his most notable films include No Way Out (1950), Cry, the Beloved Country (1951), Blackboard Jungle (1955), The Defiant Ones (1958), A Raisin in the Sun (1961), Lilies of the Field (1963), In the Heat of the Night (1967), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), and Stir Crazy (1980).
In addition to his acting career, Poitier also directed several films, including Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Let's Do It Again (1975), A Piece of the Action (1977), and Fast Forward (1985). He also wrote two books, This Life (1980) and The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (2000).
In 1995, Poitier was appointed Bahamas' ambassador to Japan. He served in this role until 2007. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Poitier died on January 6, 2022, at the age of 94. He was survived by his wife, Joanna Shimkus, and his six children.
Legacy
Sidney Poitier was one of the most influential actors of all time. He broke down racial barriers in Hollywood and helped to change the way that African-Americans were portrayed in film. He was also a talented director and author, and his work continues to inspire people around the world.
Awards and honors
- Academy Award for Best Actor (1964)
- Eight Academy Award nominations
- Two Golden Globe Awards
- Three Emmy Awards
- BAFTA Award
- Tony Award
- Kennedy Center Honors (1995)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009)
- Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2002)
