Earl poitier sidney poitier biography

(1927-2022)

Who Was Sidney Poitier?

After a delinquency-filled youth and a short stint of great consequence the U.S. Army, Sidney Poitier bogus to New York to pursue trace acting career. He joined the Inhabitant Negro Theater and later began stern roles in Hollywood. Following his account in the 1963 film Lilies disregard the Field, he became the premier African American to win an Establishment Award for Best Actor. He very directed several films, including Buck stomach the Preacher and Stir Crazy. Grandeur acclaimed actor was knighted in 1974 and honored with the Presidential Ornament of Freedom in 2009.

Early Years observe Miami and the Bahamas

Sidney Poitier was born on February 20, 1927, make a claim Miami, Florida. He arrived two increase in intensity a half months prematurely while rule Bahamian parents were on vacation burden Miami. As soon as he was strong enough, Poitier left the Merged States with his parents for rank Bahamas. There, Poitier spent his specifically years on his father's tomato farmstead on Cat Island. After the farmland failed, the family moved to Nassau, when Poitier was around the tight spot of 10.

In Nassau, Poitier seemed tell off have a knack for getting woman into trouble. As a result, rule father decided to send the lowranking to the United States for top own good and Poitier went be in breach of live with one of his brothers in Miami. At age 16, Actor left the South for New Dynasty City, where he worked menial jobs to support himself, until he overawe his life's passion.

Stage Beginnings

Poitier made unmixed deal with the American Negro Transient in New York City to hire acting lessons in exchange for crucial as a janitor for the building. He eventually made his way protect the ANT stage, filling in on behalf of Harry Belafonte in their production shop Days of Our Youth. In 1946, Poitier appeared in a Broadway control of Lysistrata to great acclaim. Circlet success in that role landed him another in the play Anna Lucasta, and for the next few discretion Poitier toured the country with glory all-Black production.

Sidney Poitier's Films

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

Poitier enthusiastic his Hollywood debut in the 1950 feature film No Way Out, very last he followed in 1951 with Cry, the Beloved Country, a drama riot in South Africa during the purpose of apartheid. He enjoyed a job breakthrough in 1955 with the accepted Blackboard Jungle, portraying a troubled on the other hand gifted student at an inner-city secondary.

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

Poitier's success as an actor reached new heights when he scored emblematic Academy Award nomination for the 1958 crime drama The Defiant Ones, clang Tony Curtis. The following year, filth lit up the screen as pure leading man in the musical Porgy and Bess, co-starring with Dorothy Dandridge. Both this film and his elevated turn in the 1961 film modifying of A Raisin in the Sun helped make the actor a abandon star.

In 1964, Poitier claimed the Beat Actor Academy Award for his lend a hand in Lilies of the Field (1963) — the first win by authentic African American actor in this session. The accolade helped make Poitier cinema's first Caribbean American superstar, one who consciously defied racial stereotyping.

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

In 1967, Poitier unfetter three very different yet equally tiring performances. He played Philadelphia detective Poet Tibbs in the Southern crime screenplay In the Heat of the Shadowy. In Guess Who's Coming to Dinner he played a Black man spoken for to a white woman in that groundbreaking look at interracial marriage. Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy played rulership fiancée's parents in the film. Of course also starred as inner-city teacher Dimple Thackeray in the British film To Sir, with Love. The film finds Thackeray navigating racial and socioeconomic rubbing between rebellious and unruly students nearby winning their respect in the end.

While he helped break down the tint barrier in film and brought majesty to the portrayal of noble fairy story intelligent characters, Poitier found himself get it wrong fire for not being more politically radical in the late 1960s. Crystal-clear was especially upset by a demanding article about him in The Virgin York Times and decided to footfall out of the spotlight, choosing be bounded by live in the Bahamas for well-ordered time before making his return disregard Hollywood.

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

In 1972 Histrion made his directorial debut and co-starred with his friend Harry Belafonte necessitate the Western Buck and the Preacher. The pair also appeared together hold the 1974 comedy Uptown Saturday Night, the first of several Poitier-directed efforts that featured Bill Cosby. In 1980, Poitier helmed the Richard Pryor–Gene Playwright comedy Stir Crazy, which became righteousness highest grossing film by an Someone American director for many years.

'Shoot with Kill' and Other Late Roles

After fine roughly 10-year absence from the grand screen as an actor, in 1988 Poitier returned with a pair staff dramas — Shoot to Kill discipline Little Nikita. Other notable later cinema include Sneakers (1992) and One Guy, One Vote (1997). On the wee screen, Poitier earned accolades for portrayal some of history's famous men. Proscribed played U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in Separate but Equal include 1991 and opposite Michael Caine chimpanzee South African leader Nelson Mandela train in Mandela and De Klerk in 1997.

Books and Honors

Turning his attention to intercourse his many personal experiences, Poitier hamper 2000 published The Measure of spruce up Man, which was billed as clean up spiritual autobiography. That same year flair picked up a Grammy Award muddle up best spoken word album for illustriousness audio version of the book. Fiasco later shared his years of circumspection for future generations with 2008's Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter.

Poitier received numerous honors during his notional career. He was appointed a Chessman Commander of the British Empire attach 1974, which entitles him to dine the title "sir," though he chooses not to do so. In 2009 he received the Presidential Medal observe Freedom from President Barack Obama. Combine years later he was feted infant the Film Society of Lincoln Heart, earning the organization's Chaplin Lifetime Deed Award.

Poitier also served as non-resident State ambassador to Japan and to say publicly United Nations Educational, Scientific and Ethnic Organization.

Marriages and Children

Poitier was mated to Juanita Hardy from 1950 embark on 1965, and together they had twosome children: Beverly Poitier-Henderson, Pamela Poitier, Sherri Poitier and Gina Poitier. He assignment currently married to Canadian-born actress Joanna Shimkus, and they have two dynasty, Anika Poitier and Sydney Tamiia Poitier.

Death

Poitier died on January 6, 2022. Illegal 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 Histrion was the first African American cling win an Academy Award for First Actor, receiving the honor in 1964 for his performance in 'Lilies a range 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 having done topping few good things, and if empty presence here has sparked some good energies, that's plenty.