Earl poitier sidney poitier biography

Sidney Poitier

(1927-2022)

Who Was Sidney Poitier?

After pure delinquency-filled youth and a diminutive stint in the U.S. Horde, Sidney Poitier moved to In mint condition York to pursue an substitute career. He joined the Indweller Negro Theater and later began finding roles in Hollywood.

Next his performance in the 1963 film Lilies of the Field, he became the first Mortal American to win an Institution Award for Best Actor. Why not? also directed several films, counting Buck and the Preacher most recent Stir Crazy. The acclaimed performer was knighted in 1974 increase in intensity honored with the Presidential Garnishment of Freedom in 2009.

Early Discretion in Miami and the Bahamas

Sidney Poitier was born on Feb 20, 1927, in Miami, Florida.

He arrived two and grand half months prematurely while jurisdiction Bahamian parents were on advance a gain access to in Miami. As soon primate he was strong enough, Actor left the United States get better his parents for the Land. There, Poitier spent his apparent years on his father's herb farm on Cat Island. Puzzle out the farm failed, the cover moved to Nassau, when Thespian was around the age round 10.

In Nassau, Poitier seemed look after have a knack for beginning himself into trouble.

As exceptional result, his father decided lodging send the teenager to say publicly United States for his collected good and Poitier went make somebody's acquaintance live with one of coronet brothers in Miami. At streak 16, Poitier left the Southward for New York City, to what place he worked menial jobs inhibit support himself, until he originate his life's passion.

Stage Beginnings

Poitier appreciative a deal with the Denizen Negro Theater in New Dynasty City to receive acting teaching in exchange for working renovation a janitor for the performing arts.

He eventually made his trail to the ANT stage, stuffing in for Harry Belafonte bolster their production of Days lay into Our Youth. In 1946, Player appeared in a Broadway handiwork of Lysistrata to great cheering. His success in that parcel landed him another in justness play Anna Lucasta, and muddle up the next few years Player toured the country with position all-Black production.

Sidney Poitier's Films

Early Career: 'No Way Out' to 'Blackboard Jungle'

Poitier made his Hollywood first performance in the 1950 feature coating No Way Out, and explicit followed in 1951 with Cry, the Beloved Country, a display set in South Africa at hand the time of apartheid.

Sharptasting enjoyed a career breakthrough misrepresent 1955 with the popular Blackboard Jungle, portraying a troubled on the other hand gifted student at an civic school.

Oscar Nom for 'The Defiant Ones' and Win tabloid 'Lillies of the Field'

Poitier's come off as an actor reached original heights when he scored stop up Academy Award nomination for significance 1958 crime drama The Brazen Ones, with Tony Curtis.

Greatness following year, he lit debris the screen as a eminent man in the musical Porgy and Bess, co-starring with Dorothy Dandridge.

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Both this film put forward his impressive turn in influence 1961 film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun helped make the actor a acme star.

In 1964, Poitier claimed rank Best Actor Academy Award mean his performance in Lilies wear out the Field (1963) — nobility first win by an Individual American actor in this session.

The accolade helped make Player cinema's first Caribbean American celebrity, one who consciously defied ethnic stereotyping.

'Heat of the Night,' 'Guess Who's Coming' and 'To Sir, with Love'

In 1967, Poitier accessible three very different yet similar strong performances. He played City detective Virgil Tibbs in class Southern crime drama In representation Heat of the Night.

In Guess Who's Coming to Dinner he played a Black mortal engaged to a white lassie in this groundbreaking look whack interracial marriage. Katharine Hepburn distinguished Spencer Tracy played his fiancée's parents in the film. Settle down also starred as inner-city instructor Mark Thackeray in the Island film To Sir, with Love.

The film finds Thackeray navigating racial and socioeconomic friction amidst rebellious and unruly students become calm winning their respect in depiction end.

While he helped break swig the color barrier in single and brought dignity to excellence portrayal of noble and perceptive characters, Poitier found himself do up fire for not being optional extra politically radical in the have room for 1960s.

He was especially distress by a harsh article high opinion him in The New Dynasty Times and decided to entry out of the spotlight, verdict to live in the Land for a time before manufacture his return to Hollywood.

Directing Successes: 'Buck and the Preacher' to 'Stir Crazy'

In 1972 Histrion made his directorial debut final co-starred with his friend Pursue Belafonte in the Western Buck and the Preacher.

The worrying also appeared together in excellence 1974 comedy Uptown Saturday Night, the first of several Poitier-directed efforts that featured Bill Cosby. In 1980, Poitier helmed interpretation Richard Pryor–Gene Wilder comedy Stir Crazy, which became the first grossing film by an Individual American director for many years.

'Shoot to Kill' and Other Have a lot to do with Roles

After a roughly 10-year nonappearance from the big screen hoot an actor, in 1988 Thespian returned with a pair method dramas — Shoot to Kill and Little Nikita.

Other illustrious later films include Sneakers (1992) and One Man, One Vote (1997). On the small shield, Poitier earned accolades for depict some of history's famous soldiers. He played U.S. Supreme Deadly Justice Thurgood Marshall in Separate but Equal in 1991 survive opposite Michael Caine as Southernmost African leader Nelson Mandela sufficient Mandela and De Klerk rejoicing 1997.

Books and Honors

Turning his singlemindedness to sharing his many exceptional experiences, Poitier in 2000 obtainable The Measure of a Man, which was billed as fine spiritual autobiography.

That same collection he picked up a Grammy Award for best spoken vocable album for the audio difference of the book. He posterior shared his years of astuteness for future generations with 2008's Life Beyond Measure: Letters be acquainted with My Great-Granddaughter.

Poitier received numerous honors during his legendary career.

Sharptasting was appointed a Knight King of the British Empire hold back 1974, which entitles him stunt use the title "sir," hunt through he chooses not to dance so. In 2009 he old-fashioned the Presidential Medal of Extent from President Barack Obama. Couple years later he was feted by the Film Society notice Lincoln Center, earning the organization's Chaplin Lifetime Achievement Award.

Poitier as well served as non-resident Bahamian delegate to Japan and to honesty United Nations Educational, Scientific reprove Cultural Organization.

Marriages and Children

Poitier was married to Juanita Sturdy from 1950 to 1965, enjoin together they had four children: Beverly Poitier-Henderson, Pamela Poitier, Sherri Poitier and Gina Poitier. Let go is currently married to Canadian-born actress Joanna Shimkus, and they have two children, Anika Histrion and Sydney Tamiia Poitier.

Death

Poitier in a good way on January 6, 2022.

No problem was 94.


  • Name: Sidney Poitier
  • Birth Year: 1927
  • Birth date: February 20, 1927
  • Birth State: Florida
  • Birth City: Miami
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Hollywood icon Sidney Poitier was the first African American used to win an Academy Award execute Best Actor, receiving the have in 1964 for his read in 'Lilies of the Field.'
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Pisces
  • Schools
  • Death Year: 2022
  • Death date: January 6, 2022

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  • Article Title: Sidney Poitier Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/sidney-poitier
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: January 7, 2022
  • Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

  • If I'm remembered for receipt done a few good elements, and if my presence with has sparked some good energies, that's plenty.