Sidney Poitier
- Born:
- February 20, 1927, Miami, Florida, U.S.
- Died:
- January 6, 2022, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Nationality:
- Bahamian-American
- Profession(s):
- Actor, Film Director, Author, Diplomat
Early Life and Education
- Born prematurely during a visit to Miami; primarily raised in the Bahamas.
- Received little formal education as a child.
- Moved to New York City at age 15 and worked various jobs while pursuing acting.
- Took acting lessons at the American Negro Theater.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began his acting career on Broadway.
- Made his film debut in No Way Out (1950).
- Won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Lilies of the Field (1963), becoming the first Black actor to win in a competitive category.
- Directed several films, including Uptown Saturday Night (1974) and Stir Crazy (1980).
- Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
- Served as the Bahamian ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2007.
Notable Works
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Blackboard Jungle | Gregory W. Miller |
| 1957 | Edge of the City | Tommy Tyler |
| 1958 | The Defiant Ones | Noah Cullen |
| 1959 | Porgy and Bess | Porgy |
| 1961 | A Raisin in the Sun | Walter Lee Younger |
| 1963 | Lilies of the Field | Homer Smith |
| 1967 | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner | John Prentice |
| 1967 | In the Heat of the Night | Detective Virgil Tibbs |
| 1967 | To Sir, with Love | Mark Thackeray |
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Legacy and Impact
- Broke racial barriers in Hollywood, becoming one of the first major Black film stars.
- His roles often challenged racial stereotypes and promoted social change.
- Inspired generations of Black actors and filmmakers.
- A towering figure in American cinema and a symbol of racial progress.