In 1964, Sidney Poitier made historical past when he received 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 man to win the Oscar for Finest Actor, has died on the age of 94.
The Bahamian Minister of Overseas Affairs confirmed Poitier’s demise to a number of media retailers. The press secretary for the Prime Minister of the Bahamas confirmed to CNN that the actor died Thursday night time. A household supply additionally confirmed his demise to NBC Information.
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 1964, he acquired an Academy Award for Finest Actor for “Lilies of the Discipline.” In 2001, Poitier was additionally offered 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 films.
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 demise unfold Friday morning.
“He confirmed us attain for the celebs,” Whoopi Goldberg tweeted.
In 2021, Arizona State College unveiled the Sidney Poitier New American Movie College. The college stated on the time that it was increasing its current movie program into its personal college, so as to create one of many largest, most accessible and most various movie faculties.