Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier | CNN

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Actor Sidney Poitier stars in "Buck and the Preacher," a film that he also directed in 1972.
Actor Sidney Poitier stars in "Buck and the Preacher," a film that he also directed in 1972.
AP
Entertainment

In pictures: Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier

Updated 11:35 AM EST, Fri January 7, 2022
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Sidney Poitier, whose elegant bearing and principled onscreen characters made him Hollywood's first Black movie star, has died at the age of 94.

Poitier became the first Black man to win an Academy Award when he took home the best actor Oscar in 1964.

Poitier, who won the award for his performance in "Lilies of the Field," was one of the biggest box-office stars of the 1960s. He remained a Hollywood legend in his later years.

Poitier appears with Glenn Ford in a scene from the film "Blackboard Jungle" in 1955. It was Poitier's breakthrough role, five years after he made his film debut in "No Way Out." Poitier was born in Miami in 1927, but he spent much of his childhood in the Bahamas. A heavy Bahamian accent and limited reading ability once cost him an acting job at Harlem's American Negro Theater, but he worked on his accent by imitating radio announcers and he improved his reading skills by studying newspapers.
Poitier appears with Glenn Ford in a scene from the film "Blackboard Jungle" in 1955. It was Poitier's breakthrough role, five years after he made his film debut in "No Way Out." Poitier was born in Miami in 1927, but he spent much of his childhood in the Bahamas. A heavy Bahamian accent and limited reading ability once cost him an acting job at Harlem's American Negro Theater, but he worked on his accent by imitating radio announcers and he improved his reading skills by studying newspapers.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Moviepix/Getty Images
Poitier and Tony Curtis are chained together in 1958's "The Defiant Ones." Both men were nominated for the Academy Award for best actor. It was the first time a Black man had been nominated for the award.
Poitier and Tony Curtis are chained together in 1958's "The Defiant Ones." Both men were nominated for the Academy Award for best actor. It was the first time a Black man had been nominated for the award.
United Artists/Moviepix/Getty Images
Poitier and his first wife, Juanita, relax at their home in New York in 1959. They had four daughters before divorcing in 1965.
Poitier and his first wife, Juanita, relax at their home in New York in 1959. They had four daughters before divorcing in 1965.
Gordon Parks/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Poitier talks to Dorothy Dandridge in the 1959 musical "Porgy and Bess." At right is Pearl Bailey.
Poitier talks to Dorothy Dandridge in the 1959 musical "Porgy and Bess." At right is Pearl Bailey.
Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images
Poitier, center, attends a civil-rights rally near the Statue of Liberty in 1960. Singer and actor Harry Belafonte is on the far left.
Poitier, center, attends a civil-rights rally near the Statue of Liberty in 1960. Singer and actor Harry Belafonte is on the far left.
Al Fenn/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Poitier appears on the talk show "Open End" with actor Tony Franciosa, host David Susskind, singer and actor Harry Belafonte and actress Shelley Winters.
Poitier appears on the talk show "Open End" with actor Tony Franciosa, host David Susskind, singer and actor Harry Belafonte and actress Shelley Winters.
Archive Photos/Getty Images
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., left, is joined by, from left, singer and actor Harry Belafonte, activist Asa Philip Randolph and Poitier circa 1960. A few years later, Poitier was one of the Hollywood celebrities who attended the 1963 March on Washington.
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., left, is joined by, from left, singer and actor Harry Belafonte, activist Asa Philip Randolph and Poitier circa 1960. A few years later, Poitier was one of the Hollywood celebrities who attended the 1963 March on Washington.
Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Poitier attends the Cannes Film Festival in France in 1961. He starred in the theatrical version of "A Raisin in the Sun," which won the Gary Cooper Award at the festival.
Poitier attends the Cannes Film Festival in France in 1961. He starred in the theatrical version of "A Raisin in the Sun," which won the Gary Cooper Award at the festival.
DALMAS/SIPA/AP
Poitier also starred in the stage version of "A Raisin in the Sun."
Poitier also starred in the stage version of "A Raisin in the Sun."
Gordon Parks/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Poitier appears with Diahann Carroll in a scene from the 1961 movie "Paris Blues."
Poitier appears with Diahann Carroll in a scene from the 1961 movie "Paris Blues."
Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Poitier appears with Lilia Skala in the 1963 film "Lilies of the Field."
Poitier appears with Lilia Skala in the 1963 film "Lilies of the Field."
Courtesy Everett Collection
Poitier holds his best actor Oscar after winning for "Lilies of the Field." It was the first time a Black man had won the award for best actor.
Poitier holds his best actor Oscar after winning for "Lilies of the Field." It was the first time a Black man had won the award for best actor.
Archive Photos/Getty Images
Poitier signs his name and leaves his handprints at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Poitier signs his name and leaves his handprints at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Globe Photos/ZUMA Wire
Poitier stars in 1967's "To Sir, with Love."
Poitier stars in 1967's "To Sir, with Love."
Columbia TriStar/Moviepix/Getty Images
Poitier appears in a scene from "In the Heat of the Night." The 1967 film won the Oscar for best picture and is also known for one of Poitier's most famous film quotes: "They call me Mister Tibbs!"
Poitier appears in a scene from "In the Heat of the Night." The 1967 film won the Oscar for best picture and is also known for one of Poitier's most famous film quotes: "They call me Mister Tibbs!"
United Artists/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/Getty Images
Poitier talks with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in a scene from another 1967 hit, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."
Poitier talks with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in a scene from another 1967 hit, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."
Columbia Pictures/Getty Images
Poitier appears in "The Lost Man" with Joanna Shimkus in 1969. The two married in 1976.
Poitier appears in "The Lost Man" with Joanna Shimkus in 1969. The two married in 1976.
Courtesy Everett Collection
From left, actors Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Barbra Streisand and Poitier gather at their movie production company First Artists in 1972.
From left, actors Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Barbra Streisand and Poitier gather at their movie production company First Artists in 1972.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Poitier carries his daughter Anika as his wife, actress Joanna Shimkus, wheels their younger daughter Sydney at Heathrow Airport in London in 1974.
Poitier carries his daughter Anika as his wife, actress Joanna Shimkus, wheels their younger daughter Sydney at Heathrow Airport in London in 1974.
Press Association/AP
Bill Cosby talks to Poitier during a scene from the film "Uptown Saturday Night" in 1974.
Bill Cosby talks to Poitier during a scene from the film "Uptown Saturday Night" in 1974.
Warner Brothers/Getty Images
Poitier explains a scene to actor Richard Pryor as he directs the 1980 comedy "Stir Crazy."
Poitier explains a scene to actor Richard Pryor as he directs the 1980 comedy "Stir Crazy."
Michael Ochs Archives/Moviepix/Getty Images
Poitier stands near President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1995. At left is ballet dancer Jacques d'Amboise, who also was honored that year.
Poitier stands near President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1995. At left is ballet dancer Jacques d'Amboise, who also was honored that year.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
South African President Nelson Mandela stands next to Poitier at a news conference in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1996. Poitier played Mandela in the film "Mandela and de Klerk."
South African President Nelson Mandela stands next to Poitier at a news conference in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1996. Poitier played Mandela in the film "Mandela and de Klerk."
Sasa Kralj/AP
Poitier chats with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the premiere of the film "Mandela and de Klerk" in 1997.
Poitier chats with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the premiere of the film "Mandela and de Klerk" in 1997.
STR New/Reuters
Poitier plays around with boxing legend Muhammad Ali at an ESPY Awards rehearsal in 1997. Poitier would present Ali with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.
Poitier plays around with boxing legend Muhammad Ali at an ESPY Awards rehearsal in 1997. Poitier would present Ali with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.
Peter Morgan/Reuters
Poitier is joined by his wife, Joanna, and several of his daughters at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2000.
Poitier is joined by his wife, Joanna, and several of his daughters at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2000.
Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images
Poitier is presented with a Hall of Fame tribute at the NAACP Image Awards in 2001.
Poitier is presented with a Hall of Fame tribute at the NAACP Image Awards in 2001.
Lucy Nicholson/AFP/Getty Images
Poitier laughs with actor Denzel Washington at an NBA playoff game in Los Angeles in 2002.
Poitier laughs with actor Denzel Washington at an NBA playoff game in Los Angeles in 2002.
Kevin Reece/WireImage/Getty Images
Poitier and Diahann Carroll present an award at the NAACP Image Awards in 2005.
Poitier and Diahann Carroll present an award at the NAACP Image Awards in 2005.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Poitier talks to children in Porto Novo, Benin, during a measles vaccination campaign organized by the Red Cross in 2005.
Poitier talks to children in Porto Novo, Benin, during a measles vaccination campaign organized by the Red Cross in 2005.
Erick-Christian Ahounou/AFP/Getty Images
President Barack Obama talks with Poitier after presenting him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. "It's been said that Sidney Poitier does not make movies, he makes milestones — milestones of artistic excellence; milestones of America's progress," Obama said during the ceremony. "On screen and behind the camera, in films such as 'The Defiant Ones,' 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,' 'Uptown Saturday Night,' 'Lilies of the Field' — for which he became the first African American to win an Academy Award for best actor — Poitier not only entertained, but enlightened, shifting attitudes, broadening hearts, revealing the power of the silver screen to bring us closer together."
President Barack Obama talks with Poitier after presenting him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. "It's been said that Sidney Poitier does not make movies, he makes milestones — milestones of artistic excellence; milestones of America's progress," Obama said during the ceremony. "On screen and behind the camera, in films such as 'The Defiant Ones,' 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,' 'Uptown Saturday Night,' 'Lilies of the Field' — for which he became the first African American to win an Academy Award for best actor — Poitier not only entertained, but enlightened, shifting attitudes, broadening hearts, revealing the power of the silver screen to bring us closer together."
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Poitier attends a tribute to actress Shirley MacLaine in 2012.
Poitier attends a tribute to actress Shirley MacLaine in 2012.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Poitier and actress Angelina Jolie present an Academy Award together in 2014.
Poitier and actress Angelina Jolie present an Academy Award together in 2014.
Adam Taylor/Walt Disney Television/Getty Images
Poitier's handprints are seen at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in 2020.
Poitier's handprints are seen at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in 2020.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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