In 1964, Sidney Poitier made historical past when he gained the Academy Award for Finest Actor for “Lilies of the Discipline.”
WASHINGTON — Sidney Poitier, the legendary actor who made historical past as the primary Black actor to win the Oscar for greatest lead efficiency, has died on the age of 94.
Poitier, winner of the perfect actor Oscar in 1964 for “Lilies of the Discipline,” died Thursday within the Bahamas, Eugene Torchon-Newry, performing director normal of the Ministry of International Affairs within the Bahamas, confirmed to the Related Press.
Poitier starred in such movies as “The Defiant Ones,” which earned him his first Oscar nomination, “A Patch of Blue,” “Within the Warmth of the Evening” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”
In 2001, Poitier was additionally introduced with an honorary Academy Award.
The famous actor was born in Miami and grew up within the Bahamas and america, in line with his Academy Awards bio. Along with his award-winning performing profession, Poitier directed 9 motion pictures.
Earlier than Poitier, the son of Bahaman tomato farmers, no Black actor had a sustained profession as a lead performer or may get a movie produced primarily based on his personal star energy. Earlier than Poitier, few Black actors have been permitted a break from the stereotypes of bug-eyed servants and grinning entertainers.
In 2009, President Barack Obama presented the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to Poitier.
Tributes started pouring in throughout social media as information of his loss of life unfold Friday morning.
“He confirmed us easy methods to attain for the celebs,” Whoopi Goldberg tweeted.
In 2021, Arizona State College unveiled the Sidney Poitier New American Movie Faculty. The college stated on the time that it was increasing its present movie program into its personal college, with a view to create one of many largest, most accessible and most various movie colleges.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
