View source for Sidney Poitier

{{short description|Bahamian-American actor, filmmaker, diplomat (1927–2022)}}
{{for|his daughter, the actress|Sydney Tamiia Poitier}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KBEh}}
| image        = Sidney Poitier 1968.jpg
| caption      = Poitier in 1968
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1927|2|20}}
| birth_place  = [[Miami, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|2022|1|6|1927|2|20}}
| death_place  = [[Beverly Hills, California]], U.S.
| nationality  = {{hlist|American|Bahamian}}
| occupation   = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* film director
* activist
* diplomat
}}
| spouse       = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Juanita Hardy|1950|1965|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Joanna Shimkus]]|1976}}
}}
| partner      = [[Diahann Carroll]] (1959–1968)
| children     = 6, including [[Sydney Tamiia Poitier|Sydney Tamiia]]
| years_active = 1946–2009
| works        = [[Sidney Poitier filmography|Full list]]
| awards       = [[List of awards and nominations received by Sidney Poitier|Full list]]
| module       = {{Infobox officeholder|embed=yes
| office       = [[Foreign relations of the Bahamas|Ambassador of the Bahamas]]
| suboffice    = <!-- Bahamian --> Ambassador to Japan
| subterm      = 1997–2007
| suboffice2   = <!-- Bahamian --> Ambassador to [[UNESCO]]
| subterm2     = 2002–2007
}}
<!-- Military Service -->
| module2      = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| allegiance   = <!-- United States; obvious -->
| branch       = [[United States Army]]
| battles      = [[World War II]]
| serviceyears = 1943–1944
}}}}
<!-- Poitier's knighthood was honorary, so does not carry the prenominal "Sir". This is fully discussed on the Talk page. Do not add "Sir". -->'''Sidney Poitier''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|w|ɑː|t|j|eɪ}} {{respell|PWAH|tyay}};<ref>{{Cite web|title=NLS Other Writings: Say How, M-P|url=https://www.loc.gov/nls/about/organization/standards-guidelines/mnop/|access-date=March 21, 2022|website=National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) &#124; Library of Congress}}</ref> February 20, 1927&nbsp;– January 6, 2022) was a Bahamian-American actor, film director, activist, and diplomat. In 1964, he was the [[List of black Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Actor in a Leading Role|first black actor]] and first Bahamian to win the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1964/film/news/sidney-poitier-first-black-ever-to-receive-best-actor-oscar-1201342512/|title=Sidney Poitier First Black Ever To Receive 'Best Actor' Oscar|first=Dave|last=Kaufman|website=Variety|date=April 14, 1964|access-date=February 20, 2021|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184811/https://variety.com/1964/film/news/sidney-poitier-first-black-ever-to-receive-best-actor-oscar-1201342512/|url-status=live}}</ref> Among [[List of awards and nominations received by Sidney Poitier|his other accolades]] are two competitive [[Golden Globe Awards]], a [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Award]] and a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]], in addition to nominations for two [[Emmy Awards]] and a [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]]. In 1999, he was ranked number 22 among the "[[AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars|American Film Institute's 100 Stars]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/sidney-poitier|title= Sidney Poitier|publisher=Golden Globes|access-date= February 20, 2021|archive-date= March 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306163734/https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/sidney-poitier|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sagawards.org/about/6th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards|title= The 6th annual screen actors guild awards|website= sagawards.org|access-date= February 20, 2021|archive-date= March 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307085722/https://sagawards.org/about/6th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards|url-status= live}}</ref> Poitier was one of the last surviving stars from the [[Golden Age of Hollywood]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sidney-poitier-net-worth-upon-202523623.html|title=What Was Sidney Poitier's Net Worth Upon His Death at Age 94?|date=January 7, 2022|website=finance.yahoo.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1315542/legendary-actor-sidney-poitier-dead-at-94|title=Legendary Actor Sidney Poitier Dead at 94|date=January 7, 2022|website=E! Online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/actor-and-civil-rights-pioneer-sidney-poitierdies-at-94/a-60360606|title=Actor, civil rights pioneer, Sidney Poitier dies – DW – 01/07/2022|website=dw.com}}</ref>

Poitier's family lived in [[the Bahamas]], then still a [[Crown colony]], but he was born in [[Miami, Florida]], while they were visiting, which granted him U.S. citizenship. He grew up in the Bahamas, but moved to Miami at age 15, and to New York City when he was 16. He joined the [[American Negro Theatre]], gaining his breakthrough film role as a high school student in the film ''[[Blackboard Jungle]]'' (1955). Poitier gained fame for his leading roles in films such as ''[[The Defiant Ones]]'' (1958), for which he won the [[Silver Bear for Best Actor]] and became the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. In 1964, he won the Academy Award and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama|Golden Globe for Best Actor]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Bill |last=Goodykoontz |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/02/25/black-history-month-poitier-oscar/5817735 |title=Oscar win proved Sidney Poitier was second to none |website = USA Today |date=February 25, 2014 |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504174709/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/02/25/black-history-month-poitier-oscar/5817735/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{NoteTag|[[James Baskett]] won an [[Academy Honorary Award]] for ''[[Song of the South]]'' (1946); it was not competitive.}} for ''[[Lilies of the Field (1963 film)|Lilies of the Field]]'' (1963).<ref>{{IMDb name|1627|section=awards}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Legendary-actor-Sidney-Poitier-dead-at-94-16757085.php|title= Sidney Poitier, groundbreaking actor and Hollywood legend, dead at 94|website= Times Union|date= January 7, 2022|accessdate= April 25, 2023|last1= Television|first1= Hearst}}</ref>

Poitier broke ground playing strong leading African American male roles in films such as ''[[Porgy and Bess (film)|Porgy and Bess]]'' (1959), ''[[A Raisin in the Sun (1961 film)|A Raisin in the Sun]]'' (1961), and ''[[A Patch of Blue]]'' (1965). He acted in three films in 1967, films which addressed race and [[race relations]]: ''[[To Sir, with Love]]''; ''[[Guess Who's Coming to Dinner]]'', and ''[[In the Heat of the Night (film)|In the Heat of the Night]]'', the latter of which earned him Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations. In a poll the next year he was voted the US's top box-office star.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Ten Money Making Stars|publisher=Quigley Publishing Co.|url=http://www.quigleypublishing.com/MPalmanac/Top10/Top10_lists.html|access-date=August 30, 2009|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114130743/http://www.quigleypublishing.com/MPalmanac/Top10/Top10_lists.html|archive-date=January 14, 2013}}</ref> Poitier made his directorial film debut with ''[[Buck and the Preacher]]'' (1972), followed by ''[[A Warm December]]'' (1973), ''[[Uptown Saturday Night]]'' (1974), and ''[[Stir Crazy (film)|Stir Crazy]]'' (1980). He later starred in ''[[Shoot to Kill (1988 film)|Shoot to Kill]]'' (1988) and ''[[Sneakers (1992 film)|Sneakers]]'' (1992).

Poitier was granted an honorary [[Knight|knighthood]] by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1974.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11245449 |title=Award of Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) to Sidney Poitier, actor... &#124; The National Archives |publisher=Discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk |access-date=February 5, 2020 |archive-date=February 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205011124/https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11245449 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bafta2016">{{cite news|title=Sidney Poitier to be Honoured with BAFTA Fellowship|url=http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/sidney-poitier-to-be-honoured-with-bafta-fellowship|access-date=June 10, 2017|publisher=BAFTA|date=January 12, 2016|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312052013/http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/sidney-poitier-to-be-honoured-with-bafta-fellowship|url-status=live}}</ref> His honors include the [[Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award]] in 1982, the [[Kennedy Center Honor]] in 1995, [[Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award]] in 1999, and the [[Academy Honorary Award|Honorary Academy Award]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1200268027690|title=''Sidney Poitier awards: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences'' awards database |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |date=January 29, 2010|access-date=August 10, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114044424/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1200268027690|archive-date=January 14, 2012}}</ref> In 2009, he was awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] by President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081203383.html |title=Sidney Poitier, Sen. Ted Kennedy Among 16 Who Receive Medal of Freedom |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Ruth |last=McCann |author2=Anne E. Kornblut |author2-link=Anne Kornblut |date=September 13, 2009 |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=November 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111152218/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081203383.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, he was awarded the [[BAFTA Fellowship]] for outstanding lifetime achievement in film.<ref name="bafta2016" /> From 1997 to 2007, he was the Bahamian Ambassador to Japan.<ref name="nbcsandiego">{{cite web|title=Legendary Actor Sidney Poitier Dead at 94|date=January 7, 2022 |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/legendary-actor-sidney-poitier-dead-at-94/2833491/|publisher=NBC|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407020002/https://www.nbcsandiego.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/legendary-actor-sidney-poitier-dead-at-94/2833491/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life==
Sidney Poitier was born on February 20, 1927, in Miami, Florida.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Grimes|first=William|author-link=William Grimes (journalist)|date=January 7, 2022|title=Sidney Poitier, Who Paved the Way for Black Actors in Film, Dies at 94|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/movies/sidney-poitier-dead.html|access-date=January 7, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107155212/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/movies/sidney-poitier-dead.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was the youngest of seven children<ref>{{Cite book|title=This Life|last=Poitier|first=Sidney|publisher=Knopf (US), Random House (Canada)|year=1980|location=US, Canada|pages=2, 5|quote=At this point [his father, Reginald Poitier] still had four boys and two girls (quite a few to make it through)... (2); When Reginald and Evelyn Poitier returned to Cat Island from Miami, carrying me—the new baby they now called 'Sidney'—they were greeted by their six children... my older brother Cyril, fifteen; Ruby, thirteen; Verdon (Teddy) [female], eleven; Reginald, eight; Carl, five; and Cedric, three. (5)}}</ref> born to Evelyn ({{nee|Outten}}) and Reginald James Poitier, [[Afro-Bahamian]] farmers who owned a farm on [[Cat Island, Bahamas|Cat Island]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Goudsouzian|first=Aram|date=April 25, 2004|title=Sidney Poitier|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/25/books/chapters/sidney-poitier.html|access-date=January 10, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110124358/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/25/books/chapters/sidney-poitier.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The family would travel to Miami to sell tomatoes and other produce to wholesalers. His father also worked as a cab driver in [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]].<ref name="Interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200806/20080609.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316054952/http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200806/20080609.html|url-status=dead|title=Tavis Smiley interviews Sidney Poitier|publisher=[[PBS]]|archive-date=March 16, 2009}}</ref><!--ENDRef--> Poitier was born unexpectedly in Miami while his parents were there on business; his birth was [[Preemie|two months premature]], and he was not expected to survive, but his parents remained in Miami for three months to nurse him to health.<ref name="Aram Goudsouzian 2004 p.8">Goudsouzian, Aram, ''Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon'' (2004), p. 8.</ref> Poitier grew up in the Bahamas, then a [[British Crown colony]]. His birth in the United States [[Birthright citizenship in the United States|entitled him]] to US citizenship.<ref name="Aram Goudsouzian 2004 p.8" />

Although there were few Poitiers of French ancestry in the Bahamas,<ref>{{cite book |last=Goudsouzian |first=Aram |url=https://archive.org/details/sidneypoitierman00goud |title=Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-8078-2843-4 |editor= |page=9 |url-access=registration}}</ref> some believe that the Poitier ancestors had migrated from [[Haiti]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ifogo.com/1Authors/Sidney%20Poitier/poitier.html |title=Bio – Sidney Poitier |access-date= May 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506092315/http://ifogo.com/1Authors/Sidney%20Poitier/poitier.html |archive-date=May 6, 2014 }}</ref> and were probably among the runaway slaves who established [[Maroon (people)|maroon]] communities throughout the Bahamas, including Cat Island.

Poitier lived with his family on Cat Island until he was ten, when they moved to Nassau. There he was exposed to the modern world, where he saw his first automobile and first experienced electricity, plumbing, refrigeration, and motion pictures.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Sidney Poitier |series=[[Oprah's Master Class]] |network=[[Oprah Winfrey Network]] |season=1 |number=7 |airdate=April 22, 2012 |url=http://www.oprah.com/topics/entertainment/movies/actors/sidney-poitier.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027220213/http://www.oprah.com/topics/entertainment/movies/actors/sidney-poitier.htm |archive-date=October 27, 2013 }}</ref><ref>Poitier, Sidney. ''The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography''. (2000). New York. [[HarperCollins]].</ref> He was raised [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Winfrey|first=Oprah|url=http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Oprah-Interviews-Sidney-Poitier/11|title=Oprah Talks to Sidney Poitier|work=[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]|quote=I come from a Catholic family.|date=October 15, 2000|access-date=September 16, 2010|archive-date=December 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204214401/http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Oprah-Interviews-Sidney-Poitier/11|url-status=dead}}</ref> but later became an agnostic<ref>{{cite book|title=Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter|year=2009|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-06-149620-2|first=Sidney |last=Poitier|page=84|quote=The question of God, the existence or nonexistence, is a perennial question, because we don't know. Is the universe the result of God, or was the universe always there?}}</ref> with views closer to [[deism]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Life Beyond Measure|url=https://archive.org/details/lifebeyondmeasur00poit|url-access=registration|year=2009|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-06-173725-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/lifebeyondmeasur00poit/page/85 85–86]|first=Sidney|last= Poitier|quote=I don't see a God who is concerned with the daily operation of the universe. In fact, the universe may be no more than a grain of sand compared with all the other universes.... It is not a God for one culture, or one religion, or one planet.}}</ref>

At age fifteen, in 1942, he was sent to Miami to live with his brother's large family, but Poitier found it impossible to adjust to the racism in [[Jim Crow]] era Florida.<ref>{{Cite news |last=James |first=Frank |date=May 20, 2009 |title=Sidney Poitier's Reflections Of Dignity |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2009/05/sidney_poitiers_reflection_of.html |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111210147/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2009/05/sidney_poitiers_reflection_of.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At sixteen, he moved to New York City, looking to become an actor, holding a string of jobs as a dishwasher in the meantime.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sidney Poitier Biography and Interview|website=achievement.org|date=February 17, 2009|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/achiever/sidney-poitier/#interview|access-date=March 16, 2020|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812073442/https://achievement.org/achiever/sidney-poitier/#interview|url-status=live}}</ref> After failing his first audition with the [[American Negro Theatre]] due to his inability to fluently read the script, an elderly Jewish waiter sat with him every night for several months, helping him to improve his reading by using the newspaper.<ref>Goudsouzian, Aram (2004), ''Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon'', University of North Carolina Press, {{ISBN|978-0-8078-2843-4}}, p. 44.</ref><ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Sidney Poitier: The 2013 "Sunday Morning" interview| date=January 9, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPI5zev4Too|access-date=January 10, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110032338/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPI5zev4Too|url-status=live}}</ref> During [[World War II]], in November 1943, he lied about his age (he was only 16 at the time) and enlisted in the [[United States Army|Army]]. He was assigned to a [[Veterans' Administration]] hospital in [[Northport, New York]], and was trained to work with psychiatric patients. Poitier became upset with how the hospital treated its patients and feigned mental illness to obtain a discharge. Poitier confessed to a psychiatrist that he was faking his condition, but the doctor was sympathetic and granted his discharge under [[Section 8 (military)|Section VIII]] of Army regulation 615–360 in December 1944.<ref name="Bergman">{{cite book |last1=Bergman |first1=Carol |title=Sidney Poitier |url=https://archive.org/details/sidneypoitier00berg |url-access=limited |date=1988 |publisher=Chelsea House Publishers |isbn=978-1-55546-605-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/sidneypoitier00berg/page/54 54]–56}}</ref>

After leaving the Army, he worked as a dishwasher until a successful audition landed him a role in an American Negro Theatre production, the same company he failed his first audition with.<ref>Poitier, Sidney. ''The Measure of a Man'' (2000). New York: HarperCollins Publishers.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Chenrow|first=Fred|title=Reading Exercises in Black History|year=1974|publisher=The Continental Press, Inc.|location=Elizabethtown, PA|isbn=0-8454-2108-5|page=46|author2=Chenrow, Carol}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==Career==
===1947–1957: Early work and blacklist===
Poitier joined the American Negro Theater but was rejected by audiences. Contrary to what was expected of negro actors at the time, Poitier's [[tone deafness]] made him unable to sing.<ref>Missourian; ''Sidney Poitier''; pp. 69, 133.</ref> Determined to refine his acting skills and rid himself of his noticeable Bahamian accent, he spent the next six months dedicating himself to achieving theatrical success. He modeled his legendary speech pattern after radio personality [[Norman Brokenshire]]. On his second attempt at the theater, he was noticed and given a leading role in the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production of ''[[Lysistrata]]'', through which, though it ran a failing four days, he received an invitation to understudy for ''[[Anna Lucasta (play)|Anna Lucasta]]''. Poitier would later befriend [[Harry Belafonte]] at the American Negro Theater.<ref>{{cite book|last=Poitier|first=Sidney|title=The Measure of a Man|url=https://archive.org/details/measureofmanspir00poit_0|url-access=registration|date=2000|publisher=Harper|location=San Francisco|isbn=978-0-06-135790-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/measureofmanspir00poit_0/page/59 59–60]|edition=First}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nypl.org/blog/2015/06/26/harry-belafonte|title=How the American Negro Theatre Shaped the Career of the Iconic Harry Belafonte|website=The New York Public Library}}</ref>

In 1947, Poitier was a founding member of the Committee for the Negro in the Arts (CNA),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Buckner |first1=Jocelyn |chapter=Sidney Poitier |title=The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Stage Actors and Acting |editor-first=Simon |editor-last=Williams |date=2015 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge, UK |page=456 |url=https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=theatre_books |access-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108054127/https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=theatre_books |url-status=live }}</ref> an organization whose participants were committed to a left-wing analysis of class and racial exploitation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Judith E |title=Finding a New Home in Harlem: Alice Childress and the Committee for the Negro in the Arts |url=https://scholarworks.umb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=amst_faculty_pubs |website=ScholarWorks |publisher=[[University of Massachusetts Boston]] |access-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303033702/https://scholarworks.umb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=amst_faculty_pubs |url-status=live }}</ref> Among his other CNA-related activities, in the early 1950s he was a Vice Chair of the organization.<ref>{{cite book | last = Washington | first = Mary | title = The other blacklist : the African American literary and cultural left of the 1950s | publisher = Columbia University Press | location = New York New York | year = 2014 | isbn = 978-0231526470 | oclc = 1088439510}}</ref> In 1952, he was one of several narrators in a pageant written by [[Alice Childress]] and [[Lorraine Hansberry]] for the Negro History Festival put on by the leftist Harlem monthly newspaper ''[[Freedom (American newspaper)|Freedom]]''.<ref>{{cite book | last = Perry | first = Imani | title = Looking for Lorraine : the radiant and radical life of Lorraine Hansberry | publisher = Beacon Press | location = Boston, Massachusetts | year = 2018 | isbn = 978-0807039830|oclc=1080274303 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QtdGDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Negro%20History%20Festival%22%201952%20belafonte%20poitier&pg=PT81 |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref>

His participation in such events and CNA generally, along with his friendships with other leftist Black performers, including [[Canada Lee]] and [[Paul Robeson]], led to his subsequent [[Hollywood blacklist|blacklisting]] for a few years.<ref>{{cite book|first=Aram|last= Goudsouzian|title=Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon|url=https://archive.org/details/sidneypoitierman00goud|url-access=registration|editor=|year=2004|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|isbn=978-0-8078-2843-4| oclc=899204579|access-date = January 29, 2022 }}</ref> Even associating with Poitier added to the basis for blacklisting Alfred Palca, the writer and producer of one of Poitier's earliest films, the 1954 ''[[Go Man Go (film)|Go Man Go]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first= Bruce |last= Weber |title= Four Decades After He Was Blacklisted, A Writer-Producer Finally Gets Credit |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/20/nyregion/four-decades-after-he-was-blacklisted-a-writer-producer-finally-gets-credit.html |work= [[The New York Times]] |date= August 20, 1997 |access-date= April 19, 2022 |archive-date= February 10, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220210145344/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/20/nyregion/four-decades-after-he-was-blacklisted-a-writer-producer-finally-gets-credit.html |url-status= live }}</ref> Poitier never did sign a [[Loyalty oath#Roosevelt/Truman era|loyalty oath]], despite being asked in connection with his prospective role in ''[[Blackboard Jungle]]'' (1955).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trescott |first1=Jacqueline |title=The Prime Time of Sidney Poitier |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1991/04/07/the-prime-time-of-sidney-poitier/6a61cc0e-53d4-4755-bbb1-dfb9a997c3c1/ |access-date=January 29, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 7, 1991 |archive-date=February 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210144834/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1991/04/07/the-prime-time-of-sidney-poitier/6a61cc0e-53d4-4755-bbb1-dfb9a997c3c1/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:A Raisin in the Sun 1959 2.JPG|thumb|A scene from the play ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]'' in 1959, with (from left) [[Louis Gossett Jr.]] as George Murchison, [[Ruby Dee]] as Ruth Younger, and Poitier as Walter Younger]]

By late 1949, Poitier had to choose between leading roles on stage and an offer to work for [[Darryl F. Zanuck]] in the film ''[[No Way Out (1950 film)|No Way Out]]'' (1950).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/85174/no-way-out/#overview|title=No Way Out|publisher=TCM|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107182245/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/85174/no-way-out/#overview|url-status=dead}}</ref> His performance with [[Ruby Dee]] and [[Maude Simmons]] in ''No Way Out'', as a doctor treating a white bigot (played by [[Richard Widmark]], who became a friend), was noticed and led to more roles, each considerably more interesting and more prominent than those most African-American actors of the time were offered.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/no-way-out/|title='No Way Out' and the Best of "Social Message" Film Noir|date=November 21, 2021|publisher=Film School Rejects|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230000218/https://filmschoolrejects.com/no-way-out/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1951, he traveled to South Africa with the African-American actor Canada Lee to star in the film version of ''[[Cry, the Beloved Country (1951 film)|Cry, the Beloved Country]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://read.dukeupress.edu/radical-history-review/article-abstract/2014/119/72/22226/Crossing-the-Black-AtlanticThe-Global|title=Crossing the Black Atlantic: The Global Antiapartheid Movement and the Racial Politics of the Cold War|first=Nicholas|last=Grant|date=January 1, 2014|journal=[[Radical History Review]]|volume=2014|issue=119|pages=72–93|publisher=[[Duke University Press]]|doi=10.1215/01636545-2401951|access-date=March 23, 2018|archive-date=July 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701165221/https://read.dukeupress.edu/radical-history-review/article-abstract/2014/119/72/22226/Crossing-the-Black-AtlanticThe-Global|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Poitier's distinction continued in his role as Gregory W. Miller, a member of an incorrigible high-school class in ''Blackboard Jungle'' (1955).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/10-essential-sidney-poitier-movies-153514946.html|title=10 Essential Sidney Poitier Movies, From 'Blackboard Jungle' to 'To Sir, With Love' (Photos)|first=Thom|last=Geier|date=January 7, 2022|publisher=Yahoo|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107160550/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/10-essential-sidney-poitier-movies-153514946.html|url-status=live}}</ref> But it was his performance in [[Martin Ritt]]'s 1957 film ''[[Edge of the City]]'' that the industry could not ignore. 

Poitier enjoyed working for director [[William Wellman]] on ''[[Good-bye, My Lady (film)|Good-bye, My Lady]]'' (1956).<ref name=wellman /> Wellman was a big name, who had previously directed the famous ''[[Roxie Hart (film)|Roxie Hart]]'' (1942) with [[Ginger Rogers]] and ''[[Magic Town]]'' (1947) with [[James Stewart]].<ref name=wellman /> What Poitier remembered indelibly was the wonderful humanity in this talented director. Wellman had a sensitivity that Poitier thought was profound, which Wellman felt he needed to hide."<ref name=wellman>{{cite book|last=Powers|first=Philip|author-link=Philip Powers|title=Sidney Poitier Black and White: Sidney Poitier's Emergence in the 1960s as a Black Icon|date=2020|publisher=1M1 Digital|location=Sydney|isbn=979-8-56-763871-2|page=102|edition=First}}</ref> Poitier later praised Wellman for inspiring his thoughtful approach to directing when he found himself taking the helm from Joseph Sargent on ''[[Buck and the Preacher]]'' in 1971.<ref name=wellman /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/29/archives/poitier-directs-buck-and-the-preacher.html|title=Poitier Directs 'Buck and the Preacher'|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 29, 1972|access-date=January 7, 2022|last1=Canby|first1=Vincent|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107173606/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/29/archives/poitier-directs-buck-and-the-preacher.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 1958–1969: Breakthrough and stardom ===
In 1958 he starred alongside [[Tony Curtis]] in director [[Stanley Kramer]]'s ''[[The Defiant Ones]]''.<ref name=stream>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/lists/sidney-poitier-best-movies-streaming-online/|title=Sidney Poitier's Best Films: 13 Movies Now Streaming Online|first=Zack|last=Sharf|date=January 7, 2022|website=Variety|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107172300/https://variety.com/lists/sidney-poitier-best-movies-streaming-online/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was a critical and commercial success with the performances of both Poitier and Curtis being praised.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Thompson|first=Bosley Crowtherhoward|date=September 25, 1958|title=Screen: A Forceful Social Drama; ' The Defiant Ones' Has Debut at Victoria|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/09/25/archives/screen-a-forceful-social-drama-the-defiant-ones-has-debut-at.html|access-date=March 21, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 1, 1958|title=The Defiant Ones|url=https://variety.com/1957/film/reviews/the-defiant-ones-1200419029/|access-date=March 21, 2022|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> The film landed eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor nominations for both stars, making Poitier the first African-American actor to be nominated in a lead role.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/01/sidney-poitier-dead-at-94.html|title=Sidney Poitier, Trailblazing Oscar Winner and Activist, Dead at 94|first=Rebecca|last=Alter|date=January 7, 2022|publisher=Vulture|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107160236/https://www.vulture.com/2022/01/sidney-poitier-dead-at-94.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Poitier did win the [[12th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Award]] for Best Foreign Actor.<ref name="BAFTAs" />

Poitier acted in the first production of ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]'' alongside [[Ruby Dee]] on the Broadway stage at the [[Ethel Barrymore Theatre]] in 1959. The play was directed by [[Lloyd Richards]]. The play introduced details of Black life to the overwhelmingly White Broadway audiences, while director Richards observed that it was the first play to which large numbers of Black people were drawn.<ref name=Corley>{{Cite news|title=A Raisin In the Sun|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1139728|access-date=March 21, 2022}}</ref> The play was a groundbreaking piece of American theater, with [[Frank Rich]], critic from ''[[The New York Times]]'', writing in 1983 that ''A Raisin in the Sun'' "changed American theater forever".<ref>{{cite news |last=Rich |first=Frank |author-link=Frank Rich |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/05/theater/theater-raisin-in-sun-anniversary-in-chicago.html |title=Theater: 'Raisin in Sun,' Anniversary in Chicago |work=The New York Times |date=October 5, 1983 |access-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621150419/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/05/theater/theater-raisin-in-sun-anniversary-in-chicago.html |archive-date=June 21, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> For his performance Poitier earned a [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]] nomination. That same year he starred in the film adaptation of ''[[Porgy and Bess (film)|Porgy and Bess]]'' (1959) with [[Dorothy Dandridge]]. For his performance, Poitier received a 1960 [[Golden Globe Award]] nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/porgy-and-bess|title=Porgy and Bess|access-date=January 7, 2022|publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111183904/https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/porgy-and-bess|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Poitier Belafonte Heston Civil Rights March 1963.jpg|thumb|Poitier (left) at the 1963 [[March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom]], alongside actors [[Harry Belafonte]] and [[Charlton Heston]]]]
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#F3F0FD |salign=right| quote = If the fabric of the society were different, I would scream to high heaven to play villains and to deal with different images of Negro life that would be more dimensional . . . But I'll be damned if I do that at this stage of the game. Not when there is only one Negro actor working in films with any degree of consistency . . . |source= Sidney Poitier (1967)<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=McGreevy |first=Nora |date=January 7, 2022 |title=How Sidney Poitier Rewrote the Script for Black Actors in Hollywood |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-sidney-poitier-rewrote-the-script-for-black-actors-in-hollywood-180979333/ |magazine=[[Smithsonian Magazine]] |access-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108205154/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-sidney-poitier-rewrote-the-script-for-black-actors-in-hollywood-180979333/ |url-status=live }}</ref>|align=right| width=250px}}

In 1961, Poitier starred in the film adaptation of ''[[A Raisin in the Sun (1961 film)|A Raisin in the Sun]]'' for which he received another Golden Globe Award nomination.<ref name=gga>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/sidney-poitier|title=Sidney Poitier|publisher=Golden Globes|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107161732/https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/sidney-poitier|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 1961, Poitier starred in ''[[Paris Blues]]'' alongside [[Paul Newman]], [[Joanne Woodward]], [[Louis Armstrong]], and [[Diahann Carroll]].<ref name=paris>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/16151/paris-blues/#overview|title=Paris Blues|access-date=January 7, 2022|publisher=TMC|archive-date=December 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222131209/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/16151/paris-blues/#overview|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film dealt with the [[Racism in the United States|American racism]] of the time by contrasting it with Paris's open acceptance of [[Black people]].<ref name=paris /> In 1963 he starred in ''[[Lilies of the Field (1963 film)|Lilies of the Field]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/81430/lilies-of-the-field#overview|title=Lilies of the Field|publisher=TCM|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108225658/https://admin.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/81430/lilies-of-the-field#overview|url-status=dead}}</ref> For this role, he won the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] and became the first African-American to win the award in a leading role.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Culture/sidney-poitier-1st-black-man-win-best-actor/story?id=41432549|title=Sidney Poitier, 1st Black man to win best actor Oscar, dies at 94|first=Luchina|last=Fisher|date=January 7, 2022|publisher=ABC News|access-date=April 17, 2022|archive-date=April 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417152526/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Culture/sidney-poitier-1st-black-man-win-best-actor/story?id=41432549|url-status=live}}</ref> His satisfaction at this honor was undermined by his concerns that this award was more of the industry congratulating itself for having him as a token and it would inhibit him from asking for more substantive considerations afterward.<ref>{{cite book|last=Harris|first=Mark|title=Pictures at a Revolution: Five Films and the Birth of a New Hollywood|url=https://archive.org/details/picturesatrevolu00harr_0|url-access=registration|year=2008|publisher=Penguin Press|pages=[https://archive.org/details/picturesatrevolu00harr_0/page/58 58–9]|isbn=978-1-59420-152-3}}</ref> Poitier worked relatively little over the following year; he remained the only major actor of African descent and the roles offered were predominantly typecast as a soft-spoken appeaser.<ref>Harris 2008, pp. 81–2.</ref>

In 1964, Poitier recorded an album with the composer [[Fred Katz (cellist)|Fred Katz]] called ''[[Poitier Meets Plato]]'', in which Poitier recites passages from [[Plato]]'s writings.<ref>Goudsouzian, Aram, ''Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon'', The University of North Carolina Press, 2004, p. 395.</ref> He also performed in the Cold War drama ''[[The Bedford Incident]]'' (1965) alongside the film's producer Richard Widmark, the Biblical epic film ''[[The Greatest Story Ever Told]]'' (1965) alongside [[Charlton Heston]] and [[Max von Sydow]], and ''[[A Patch of Blue]]'' (1965) co-starring [[Elizabeth Hartman]] and [[Shelley Winters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/21990/the-bedford-incident/#overview|title=The Bedford Incident (1965)|publisher=TMC|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107184114/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/21990/the-bedford-incident/#overview|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3656/the-greatest-story-ever-told#overview|title=The Greatest Story Ever Told|publisher=TMC|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107173841/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3656/the-greatest-story-ever-told#overview|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/1040/a-patch-of-blue#overview|title=A Patch of Blue|access-date=January 7, 2022|publisher=TMC|archive-date=January 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108235513/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/1040/a-patch-of-blue#overview|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1967, he was the most successful draw at the box office, the commercial peak of his career, with three popular films, ''[[To Sir, with Love]]'', and ''[[In the Heat of the Night (film)|In the Heat of the Night]]'', and ''[[Guess Who's Coming to Dinner]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/01/07/311902059/sidney-poitier-obituary|title=Sir, we loved you: Sidney Poitier dies at 94|last=Watson|first=Walter Ray|work=[[Morning Edition]]|publisher=NPR|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107161039/https://www.npr.org/2022/01/07/311902059/sidney-poitier-obituary|url-status=live}}</ref> Although these three films seemingly shared little similarity, they all, albeit not overtly, dealt with the black and white divide.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Powers |first1=Philip |title=Sidney Poitier Black and White: Sidney Poitier's Emergence in the 1960s as a Black Icon |date=December 31, 2020 |publisher=1M1 Digital Pty Ltd |page=77 |asin-tld=au |asin=B08RCJDV8D}}</ref> In ''To Sir, with Love'', Poitier plays a teacher at a secondary school in the [[East End of London]]. The film deals with social and racial issues in the inner city school. The film was met with mixed response; however, Poitier was praised for his performance, with the critic from ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' writing, "Even the weak moments are saved by Poitier, who invests his role with a subtle warmth."<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,837070,00.html|title=Cinema: Class War|magazine=Time|date=June 30, 1967|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107162242/http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,837070,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[Norman Jewison]]'s mystery drama ''In the Heat of the Night'', Poitier played [[Virgil Tibbs]], a police detective from [[Philadelphia]] who investigates a murder in the [[Deep South]] in Mississippi alongside a cop with racial prejudices played by [[Rod Steiger]]. The film was a critical success with [[Bosley Crowther]] of ''The New York Times'' calling it "the most powerful film I have seen in a long time."<ref name=open>{{cite magazine|title='Heat of Night' Scores With Crix; Quick B.O. Pace|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 9, 1967|page=3}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] placed it at number ten on his top ten list of 1967 films.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707145722/http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/eberts-10-best-lists-1967-present|date=December 15, 2004|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/eberts-10-best-lists-1967-present|archive-date=July 7, 2013|title= Ebert's 10 Best Lists: 1967 to Present|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|via=[[Internet Archive]]|access-date=October 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/the-best-10-movies-of-1967|title=The Best 10 Movies of 1967|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=December 31, 1967|via=[[Internet Archive]]|access-date=October 18, 2016|archive-date=August 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825215224/http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/the-best-10-movies-of-1967|url-status=live}}</ref> Art Murphy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' felt that the excellent Poitier and outstanding Steiger performances overcame noteworthy flaws, including an uneven script.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/1967/film/reviews/in-the-heat-of-the-night-1200421432/|date=June 21, 1967|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|title=In The Heat Of The Night|last=Murphy|first=A.D.|access-date=April 19, 2022|archive-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113021433/https://variety.com/1967/film/reviews/in-the-heat-of-the-night-1200421432/|url-status=live}}</ref> Poitier received a Golden Globe Award and [[British Academy Film Award]] nomination for his performance.<ref name="BAFTAs">{{cite news |title=Sidney Poitier's BAFTA wins and nominations |url=http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=Sidney%20Poitier |access-date=January 7, 2022 |agency=BAFTA.org |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107165417/http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=Sidney%20Poitier |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Stanley Kramer's social drama ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'', Poitier played a man in a relationship with a White woman played by [[Katharine Houghton]]. The film revolves around her bringing him to meet with her parents played by [[Katharine Hepburn]] and [[Spencer Tracy]]. The film was one of the rare films at the time to depict an interracial romance in a positive light, as [[interracial marriage]] historically had been illegal in most states of the United States. It was still illegal in 17 states—mostly Southern states—until June 12, 1967, six months before the film was released. The film was a critical and financial success. In his film review, Roger Ebert described Poitier's character as "a noble, rich, intelligent, handsome, ethical medical expert" and that the film "is a magnificent piece of entertainment. It will make you laugh and may even make you cry."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner-1968|title=Guess Who's Coming to Dinner|website=[[RogerEbert.com]]|first=Roger|last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|date=January 25, 1968|access-date=February 21, 2021|archive-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206033205/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner-1968|url-status=live}}</ref> To win his role as Dr. Prentice in the film, Poitier had to audition for Tracy and Hepburn at two separate dinner parties.<ref>Powers, Philip, "Sidney Poitier Black and White", 1M1 Digital, Sydney, 2020, p.210</ref>

Poitier began to be criticized for being typecast as over-idealized African-American characters who were not permitted to have any sexuality or personality faults, such as his character in ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner''. Poitier was aware of this pattern himself but was conflicted on the matter. He wanted more varied roles; but he also felt obliged to set an example with his characters, by challenging old stereotypes, as he was the only major actor of African descent being cast in leading roles in the American film industry at the time. For instance, in 1966, he turned down an opportunity to play the lead in an NBC television production of ''[[Othello]]'' with that spirit in mind.<ref>Harris 2008, p. 161.</ref> Despite this, many of the films in which Poitier starred during the 1960s would later be cited as [[social thriller]]s by both filmmakers and critics.<ref name="Bleiler, 2013">{{cite book|last1=Bleiler|first1=David|title=TLA Film and Video Guide 2000–2001: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide|date=2013|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1-4668-5940-1}}</ref><ref name="Maltin, 2008">{{cite book|last1=Maltin|first1=Leonard|author1-link=Leonard Maltin|last2=Sader|first2=Luke|last3=Clark|first3=Mike|title=Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide|date=2008|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-452-28978-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780452289789/page/681 681]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780452289789/page/681}}</ref><ref name="Thompson, 2004">{{cite journal |last1=Thompson |first1=Bennie G. |title=Etension of Remarks: A Tribute to Ms. Beulah "Beah" Richards |journal=Congressional Record |date=March 10, 2004 |volume=150 |issue=3 |page=2872 |publisher=Government Printing Office }}</ref><ref name="Ebiri, 2017">{{cite news|last1=Ebiri|first1=Bilge|author-link=Bilge Ebiri|title=Get Out's Jordan Peele Brings the 'Social Thriller' to BAM|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2017/02/14/get-outs-jordan-peele-brings-the-social-thriller-to-bam/|access-date=August 1, 2017|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|date=February 14, 2017|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108211916/https://www.villagevoice.com/2017/02/14/get-outs-jordan-peele-brings-the-social-thriller-to-bam/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Such films included ''For Love of Ivy'' in which he modifies the over-idealized African American as Jack Parks, a trucking company executive, who also operates an illegal casino.

===1970–1989: Transition to directing ===
''In the Heat of the Night'' featured his most successful character, Virgil Tibbs, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, detective whose subsequent career was the subject of two sequels: ''[[They Call Me Mister Tibbs!]]'' (1970) and ''[[The Organization (film)|The Organization]]'' (1971).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://greensboro.com/sidney-poitiers-tibbs-trilogy-out-on-dvd/article_ba3cc2ed-5ca3-503a-88e4-fe1ab969e42f.html|title=Sidney Poitier's "Tibbs Trilogy" Out On DVD|author=Nye, Doug|date=January 18, 2001|access-date=January 7, 2022|newspaper=Greensboro News|publisher=Knight Ridder|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107173703/https://greensboro.com/sidney-poitiers-tibbs-trilogy-out-on-dvd/article_ba3cc2ed-5ca3-503a-88e4-fe1ab969e42f.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1972, he made his feature film directorial debut, the [[Western (genre)|Western]] ''Buck and the Preacher'', in which Poitier also starred, alongside [[Harry Belafonte]] and Ruby Dee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/4470/buck-and-the-preacher#overview|title=Buck and the Preacher|access-date=January 7, 2022|publisher=TMC|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107180429/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/4470/buck-and-the-preacher#overview|url-status=dead}}</ref> Poitier replaced the original director, [[Joseph Sargent]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/54565|title=Buck and the Preacher|access-date=January 7, 2022|publisher=AFI|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107174927/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/54565|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year he directed his second feature, the romantic drama ''[[A Warm December]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/95108/a-warm-december#overview|title=A Warm December|publisher=TMC|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107174929/https://prod-www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/95108/a-warm-december#overview|url-status=dead}}</ref> Poitier also starred in the film alongside [[Esther Anderson (Jamaican actress)|Esther Anderson]].

Along with [[Barbra Streisand]] and [[Paul Newman]], Poitier formed [[First Artists Production Company]] so actors could secure properties and develop movie projects for themselves.<ref name="new">{{cite news|newspaper=New York Times|title=First Artists Star-Crossed Child of the 1960s|first=Pamela G.|last= Hollie|date=December 23, 1979|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/23/archives/first-artistsstarcrossed-child-of-the-1960s-at-a-glance-first.html|page=F3}}</ref> Working with First Artists, Poitier directed several financially successful comedy films, including three in which he also starred: ''[[Uptown Saturday Night]]'' (1974) with [[Bill Cosby]] and Harry Belafonte; and ''[[Let's Do It Again (1975 film)|Let's Do It Again]]'' (1975) and ''[[A Piece of the Action (film)|A Piece of the Action]]'' (1977), both with Cosby.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blackclassicmovies.com/uptown-saturday-night/|title=Uptown Saturday Night|work=Black Classic Movies |access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107174934/https://www.blackclassicmovies.com/uptown-saturday-night/|url-status=live}}</ref> His most successful comedy was ''[[Stir Crazy (film)|Stir Crazy]]'' (1980; not a First Artists production), starring [[Richard Pryor]] and [[Gene Wilder]], which for many years was the highest-grossing film directed by a person of African descent.<ref name="test">{{cite magazine|author=George Alexander|magazine=[[Black Enterprise]]|title=Fade to Black: Black filmmakers make the most profitable movies, but still fight for dollars and respect|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W2UEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA107|date=December 2000|page=107|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-date=August 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820005727/https://books.google.com/books?id=W2UEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA107|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Sidney Poitier.jpg|thumb|upright|Poitier in 2000]]
In 1985, he directed ''[[Fast Forward (film)|Fast Forward]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/15/movies/film-fast-forward-by-poitier.html|title=FILM: FAST FORWARD,' BY POITIER|work=The New York Times|first=Vincent|last=Canby|date=February 15, 1985|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107174943/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/15/movies/film-fast-forward-by-poitier.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and, in 1990, he reunited with Cosby directing him in the family comedy ''[[Ghost Dad]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/trending/Report-Sidney-Poitier-disgusted-with-Bill-Cosby-over-sexual-assault-allegations.html|title=Report: Sidney Poitier 'disgusted' with Bill Cosby over sexual assault allegations|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|first=Nick|last=Vadala|date=February 4, 2015|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107174948/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/trending/Report-Sidney-Poitier-disgusted-with-Bill-Cosby-over-sexual-assault-allegations.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1988, he starred in ''[[Shoot to Kill (1988 film)|Shoot to Kill]]'' with [[Tom Berenger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/shoot-to-kill-1988|title=Shoot to Kill Review|first=Roger|last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|website=RogerEbert.com|date=February 12, 1988|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107175739/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/shoot-to-kill-1988|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 1990–2022: Later work ===
In 1992, he starred in ''[[Sneakers (1992 film)|Sneakers]]'' with [[Robert Redford]] and [[Dan Aykroyd]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sneakers: Robert Redford and River Phoenix nerd out in 1992's prescient, high-tech caper|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/dec/20/sneakers-robert-redford-and-river-phoenix-nerd-out-in-1992s-prescient-high-tech-caper|date=December 19, 2021|author=Cryer, Vanessa|access-date=January 7, 2022|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106205159/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/dec/20/sneakers-robert-redford-and-river-phoenix-nerd-out-in-1992s-prescient-high-tech-caper|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1997, he co-starred in ''[[The Jackal (1997 film)|The Jackal]]'' with [[Richard Gere]] and [[Bruce Willis]].<ref name=varietyobit>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/obituaries-people-news/sidney-poitier-dead-dies-oscar-winner-1235148871/|title=Sidney Poitier, Oscar Winner Who Helped Tear Down Racial Barriers, Dies at 94|first=Rick|last=Schulz|website=Variety|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107155528/https://variety.com/2022/film/obituaries-people-news/sidney-poitier-dead-dies-oscar-winner-1235148871/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1990s, he starred in several well received television movies and miniseries such as ''[[Separate but Equal (film)|Separate but Equal]]'' (1991), ''[[To Sir, with Love II]]'' (1996), ''[[Mandela and de Klerk]]'' (1997), and ''[[The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn]]'' (1999).<ref name=varietyobit /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/the-simple-life-of-noah-dearborn-1117499723/|title=The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn|website=Variety|date=May 7, 1999|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107175728/https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/the-simple-life-of-noah-dearborn-1117499723/|url-status=live}}</ref> He received [[Emmy Awards|Emmy]] nominations for his work in ''Separate but Equal'' and ''Mandela and de Klerk'', as well as a [[Golden Globe]] nomination for the former.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/sidney-poitier|title=Sidney Poitier|publisher=Television Academy|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107154536/https://www.emmys.com/bios/sidney-poitier|url-status=live}}</ref> He won a [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]] in 2001.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url= https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/sidney-poitier/5419|title= Sidney Poitier – Artist|website= grammys.com|date= November 23, 2020|access-date= February 20, 2021|archive-date= January 25, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210125225121/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/sidney-poitier/5419|url-status= live}}</ref>

In 2002, Poitier received the 2001 [[Honorary Academy Award]] for his overall contribution to American cinema.<ref name=varietyobit /> Later in the ceremony, [[Denzel Washington]] won the award for Best Actor for his performance in ''[[Training Day]]'', becoming the second Black actor to win the award.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/sidney-poitier-first-black-actor-win-best-actor-academy-award-dies-94-bahamian-2022-01-07/|first=Katharine|last=Jackson|title=Sidney Poitier, first Black actor to win best actor Academy Award, dies at 94 -Bahamian official|work=Reuters|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107154233/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/sidney-poitier-first-black-actor-win-best-actor-academy-award-dies-94-bahamian-2022-01-07/|url-status=live}}</ref> In his victory speech, Washington saluted Poitier by saying "I'll always be chasing you, Sidney. I'll always be following in your footsteps. There's nothing I would rather do, sir."<ref>O'Neil, Tom (New York, 2003), "Movie Awards: The Ultimate, Unofficial Guide to the Oscars. Golden Globes, Critics, Guild and Indi Honors", Berkley Publishing Group, p. 761.</ref>

With the death of [[Ernest Borgnine]] in 2012, Poitier became the oldest living recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor.<ref name=cbs>{{cite web|title=Ernest Borgnine's death makes Sidney Poitier the oldest living best actor Oscar winner|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ernest-borgnines-death-makes-sidney-poitier-the-oldest-living-best-actor-oscar-winner/|work=Celebrity Circuit|publisher=CBS News|access-date=July 27, 2012|first=Lauren|last=Moraski|date=July 10, 2012|archive-date=July 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716053147/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57469520-10391698/ernest-borgnines-death-makes-sidney-poitier-the-oldest-living-best-actor-oscar-winner/|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 2, 2014, Poitier appeared with [[Angelina Jolie]] at the [[86th Academy Awards]] to present the [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director Award]].<ref name=fortune>{{cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2022/01/07/hollywood-actor-oscar-winner-sidney-poitier-obit/|title=Beloved Hollywood actor Sidney Poitier dies at 94|website=Fortune|first=Felix|last=Kessler|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107173705/https://fortune.com/2022/01/07/hollywood-actor-oscar-winner-sidney-poitier-obit/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was given a standing ovation and Jolie thanked him for all his Hollywood contributions, stating: "We are in your debt."<ref name=fortune /> Poitier gave a brief speech, telling his peers to "keep up the wonderful work" to warm applause.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stolworthy |first1=Jacob |title=Sidney Poitier death: First Black man to win Best Actor Oscar dies aged 94 |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/sidney-poitier-death-first-black-151301654.html |access-date=January 7, 2022 |work=Yahoo News |date=January 7, 2022 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107155149/https://ca.news.yahoo.com/sidney-poitier-death-first-black-151301654.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2021, the academy dedicated the lobby of the new [[Academy Museum of Motion Pictures]] in Los Angeles as the "Sidney Poitier Grand Lobby" in his honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/academy-museum-dedicates-grand-lobby-to-sidney-poitier-1235005229/|title=Academy Museum Dedicates Grand Lobby to Sidney Poitier|first=Scott|last=Feinberg|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 30, 2021|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107180017/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/academy-museum-dedicates-grand-lobby-to-sidney-poitier-1235005229/|url-status=live}}</ref> Poitier was a lifelong activist for racial and social justice. He declined film roles he considered based on offensive racial stereotypes.<ref name="nbcsandiego" />

==Board and diplomatic service==
From 1995 to 2003, Poitier was a member of the board of directors of [[the Walt Disney Company]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/08/business/media/08disney.html|title=Actor Takes Center Stage as Disney Trial Grinds On|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Rita K.|last=Farrell|date=August 12, 2004|access-date=February 18, 2017|archive-date=May 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528035416/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/08/business/media/08disney.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 1997, Poitier was appointed ambassador from the Bahamas to Japan, a position he held until 2007.<ref name="nbcsandiego" /><ref>[http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/sidney-poitier.html Sidney Poitier Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724072743/http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/sidney-poitier.html|date=July 24, 2015}} AETN UK. The Biography Channel. 2005–11. Retrieved July 23, 2015.</ref> From 2002 to 2007, he was concurrently the ambassador of the Bahamas to [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{cite news |title=New play about Sidney Poitier in development for Broadway run |url=https://broadwaynews.com/2021/12/07/new-play-about-sidney-poitier-in-development-for-broadway-run/ |access-date=January 8, 2022 |website=Broadway News |date=December 7, 2021 |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108030838/https://broadwaynews.com/2021/12/07/new-play-about-sidney-poitier-in-development-for-broadway-run/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Sidney Poitier’s house.jpg|thumb|Poitier's house in [[Stuyvesant, New York]], 2019]]
Poitier was first married to Juanita Hardy from April 29, 1950, until 1965. Though Poitier became a resident of [[Mount Vernon, New York|Mount Vernon]] in [[Westchester County, New York]], in 1956,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://westchestermagazine.com/publications/a-timeline-of-black-history-in-westchester|title=A Timeline of Black History in Westchester|first=Nichelle|last=Rascoe|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=December 27, 2021|magazine=Westchester Magazine|archive-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227115150/https://westchestermagazine.com/publications/a-timeline-of-black-history-in-westchester|url-status=live}}</ref> they raised their family in [[Stuyvesant, New York]], in a house on the [[Hudson River]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.stuyvesantoutdoor.com/ | title = Stuyvesant Outdoor Adventures | access-date = September 30, 2019 | publisher = Stuyvesant Outdoor Adventures | archive-date = October 1, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191001025445/https://www.stuyvesantoutdoor.com/ | url-status = live }}</ref> In 1959, Poitier began a nine-year affair with actress Diahann Carroll<!-- linked in [[#1960s]] -->.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.com/archive/guess-whos-coming-to-terms-at-last-with-his-kids-racial-politics-and-life-sidney-poitier-vol-14-no-5/|title=Guess Who's Coming to Terms at Last with His Kids, Racial Politics and Life? Sidney Poitier|last=Armstrong|first=Louis|date=August 4, 1980|website=People|access-date=January 30, 2018|archive-date=January 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131023248/http://people.com/archive/guess-whos-coming-to-terms-at-last-with-his-kids-racial-politics-and-life-sidney-poitier-vol-14-no-5/|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 23, 1976, he married [[Joanna Shimkus]], a Canadian actress who starred with Poitier in ''[[The Lost Man]]'' in 1969,  and they remained married until his death. Poitier had four daughters with his first wife: Beverly,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/06/archives/miss-beverly-marie-poitier-bride-of-william-jq-mould.html|title=Miss Beverly Marie Poitier Bride of William J. Q. Mould|date=September 6, 1970|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 4, 2019|archive-date=September 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904094903/https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/06/archives/miss-beverly-marie-poitier-bride-of-william-jq-mould.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wlbt.com/story/1099232/poitier-henderson-holds-book-signing |title=Poitier-Henderson Holds Book Signing|publisher=WLBT 3 |date=August 6, 2014 |access-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-date=November 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111093442/http://www.wlbt.com/story/1099232/poitier-henderson-holds-book-signing/?redirected=true |url-status=live }}</ref> Pamela,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Feuer|first=Alan|date=February 12, 2005|title=Hundreds Mourn Ossie Davis in Harlem|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/12/nyregion/hundreds-mourn-ossie-davis-in-harlem.html|access-date=March 21, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Sherri,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-09-me-864-story.html |title=Daughters of King, Malcolm X Also Have a Message |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 9, 1988 |access-date=April 19, 2022 |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220420003606/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-09-me-864-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and Gina.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bjornson |first1=Greta |title=What to Know About Sidney Poitier's Late Daughter, Gina, Who Died at 57 |url=https://people.com/movies/what-to-know-about-sidney-poitiers-late-daughter-gina/ |website=People |access-date=April 19, 2022 |date=January 7, 2022}}</ref> He had two daughters with his second wife: Anika<ref>{{cite news|first=Dan|last=Shaw|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/21/style/chronicle-166936.html|title=Chronicle|work=The New York Times|date=May 21, 1994|access-date=August 10, 2014|archive-date=August 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812223556/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/21/style/chronicle-166936.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Sydney Tamiia Poitier|Sydney Tamiia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-01-06/entertainment/18227142_1_sydney-tamiia-poitier-upn-cbs-productions |first=David|last=Bianculli|author-link=David Bianculli|title=Advice For UPN: Get Rid Of 'Abby' |work=Daily News|location=New York |date=August 9, 1969 |access-date=August 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730082314/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2003-01-06/entertainment/18227142_1_sydney-tamiia-poitier-upn-cbs-productions |archive-date=July 30, 2012 }}</ref> Poitier had eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.<ref>{{Cite web|title=News : Press Item : Bahamas International Film Festival|url=http://bintlfilmfest.com/news/press_item/107|access-date=March 21, 2022|website=bintlfilmfest.com}}</ref> When [[Hurricane Dorian]] hit the Bahamas in September 2019, Poitier's family had 23 missing relatives.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/08/hurricane-dorian-23-members-sidney-poitiers-family-missing/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/08/hurricane-dorian-23-members-sidney-poitiers-family-missing/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Hurricane Dorian: more than 23 members of Sidney Poitier's family missing|last1=Dixon|first1=Hayley|date=September 8, 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=September 9, 2019|last2=Millward|first2=David|issn=0307-1235|last3=Maximin|first3=Colin}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Death==
On January 6, 2022, Poitier died at his home in [[Beverly Hills, California]], at the age of 94.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 6, 2021|title= Sidney Poitier: Hollywood trailblazer dies aged 94|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-59907931|access-date=January 6, 2021}}</ref> His death was confirmed by [[Fred Mitchell (Bahamian politician)|Fred Mitchell]], the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bahamas)|Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulver |first1=Andrew |title=Sidney Poitier, Black acting pioneer, dies aged 94 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jan/07/sidney-poitier-in-the-heat-of-the-night-acting-pioneer-dies |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=January 7, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111043840/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jan/07/sidney-poitier-in-the-heat-of-the-night-acting-pioneer-dies |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a copy of his [[death certificate]] obtained by [[TMZ]], the cause of death was [[Heart failure|cardiopulmonary failure]], with [[Alzheimer's disease]] and [[prostate cancer]] listed as underlying causes.<ref name="deathcertificate">{{cite news |title=Sidney Poitier Death Certificate Revealed |url=https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/18/sidney-poitier-death-certificate-cause-of-death-heart-failure-dementia-prostate-cancer/?adid=social-twa |access-date=January 18, 2022 |publisher=TMZ |date=January 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118235207/https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/18/sidney-poitier-death-certificate-cause-of-death-heart-failure-dementia-prostate-cancer/?adid=social-twa |url-status=live }}</ref>

Upon Poitier's death, many people released statements honoring him, including then-President [[Joe Biden]], who wrote in part: "With unflinching grandeur and poise – his singular warmth, depth, and stature on-screen – Sidney helped open the hearts of millions and changed the way America saw itself." Former president [[Barack Obama]] paid tribute to Poitier, calling him "a singular talent who epitomized dignity and grace". [[Michelle Obama]], [[Bill Clinton]] and [[Hillary Clinton]] also released statements.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2022/01/barack-obama-sidney-poitier-tribute-1234906316/|title= Joe Biden Says Sidney Poitier 'Changed The Way America Saw Itself'; Barack Obama Praises "Singular Talent" – Update|first= Ted|last= Johnson|website= [[Deadline Hollywood]]|date= January 7, 2022|access-date= January 8, 2022|archive-date= January 8, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220108012940/https://deadline.com/2022/01/barack-obama-sidney-poitier-tribute-1234906316/|url-status= live}}</ref>

Many people in the entertainment industry also paid tribute to Poitier, including [[Martin Scorsese]] who wrote, "For years, the spotlight was on Sidney Poitier. He had a vocal precision and physical power and grace that at moments seemed almost supernatural."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/01/07/sidney-poitier-dies-hollywood-reactions-stars-share-memories/9130366002/|title= 'Legacy to behold': Joe Biden, Denzel Washington, Martin Scorsese honor trailblazer Sidney Poitier|first= Elise|last= Brisco|website= [[USA Today]]|access-date= January 8, 2022|archive-date= January 7, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220107224159/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/01/07/sidney-poitier-dies-hollywood-reactions-stars-share-memories/9130366002/|url-status= live}}</ref> [[Harry Belafonte]], [[Morgan Freeman]], [[Viola Davis]], [[Whoopi Goldberg]], [[Lupita Nyong'o]], [[Halle Berry]], [[Ava DuVernay]], [[Oprah Winfrey]], [[Octavia Spencer]], [[Jeffrey Wright]], [[Giancarlo Esposito]], [[Quincy Jones]], [[Michael Eisner]], [[Ron Howard]] and others also paid tribute.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2022/film/news/sidney-poitier-death-hollywood-reactions-tributes-1235148882/|title= Hollywood Honors Sidney Poitier: 'One of the Greatest Actors of His Generation'|first= Jazz|last= Tangcay|website= Variety|date= January 7, 2022|access-date= January 8, 2022|archive-date= January 7, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220107224201/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/sidney-poitier-death-hollywood-reactions-tributes-1235148882/|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upworthy.com/sidney-poitier-farewell?rebelltitem=3|title='To Sir, With Love': The world bids farewell to actor and civil rights icon Sidney Poitier|first=Annie|last=Reneau|website=[[Upworthy]]|date=January 8, 2022|access-date=January 12, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109202338/https://www.upworthy.com/sidney-poitier-farewell?rebelltitem=3#rebelltitem3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="voice-online.co.uk">{{Cite web|date=January 18, 2022|title=How Sidney Poitier inspired me to be excellent and among the stars|url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/opinion/comment/2022/01/18/how-sidney-poitier-inspired-me-to-be-excellent-and-among-the-stars/|access-date=January 18, 2022|website=Voice Online|language=en|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118193358/https://www.voice-online.co.uk/opinion/comment/2022/01/18/how-sidney-poitier-inspired-me-to-be-excellent-and-among-the-stars/|url-status=live}}</ref> Broadway paid tribute when its theaters dimmed their lights on January 19, 2022, at 7:45&nbsp;pm ET.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Broadway Dims Its Lights in Memory of Academy Award Winner Sidney Poitier January 19|url=https://playbill.com/article/broadway-dims-its-lights-in-memory-of-academy-award-winner-sidney-poitier-january-19|access-date=January 19, 2022|website=Playbill|language=en|archive-date=January 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119165157/https://playbill.com/article/broadway-dims-its-lights-in-memory-of-academy-award-winner-sidney-poitier-january-19|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Ebertfest]] film festival announced it would be dedicating its 2022 event to the memory of Poitier and [[Gilbert Gottfried]].<ref name="Ebertfest 2022 Announces Complete Lineup, Will Be Dedicated to Sidney Poitier and Gilbert Gottfried">{{cite news |title=Ebertfest 2022 Announces Complete Lineup, Will Be Dedicated to Sidney Poitier and Gilbert Gottfried |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/ebertfest-2022-announces-complete-lineup-sidney-poitier-gilbert-gottfried |access-date=April 17, 2022 |date=April 15, 2022 |website=[[RogerEbert.com]]}}</ref>

==Acting credits and accolades==
{{Main|Sidney Poitier filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Sidney Poitier}}
[[File:Sidney Poitier PMF.jpg|thumb|right|Poitier being awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] by President [[Barack Obama]] in August 2009]]

Poitier became the first Black actor to win the [[Academy Award]] for Best Actor for ''Lilies of the Field<!-- linked in [[#1960s]] -->'' (1963).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Grimes|first=William|author-link=William Grimes (journalist)|date=January 7, 2022|title=Sidney Poitier, Who Paved the Way for Black Actors in Film, Dies at XX|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/movies/sidney-poitier-dead.html|access-date=January 7, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107155212/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/movies/sidney-poitier-dead.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also received a [[Grammy Award]], two [[Golden Globe Awards]], and a [[British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Award]].<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=%22Sidney%20Poitier%22|title= BAFTA: Sidney Poitier|website= awards.bafta.org|access-date= February 20, 2021|archive-date= January 7, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220107180253/http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=%22Sidney%20Poitier%22|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=gga /> He received numerous honoraries during his lifetime including the [[Academy Honorary Award]] for his lifetime achievement in film in 2001.<ref name=varietyobit /> In 1992, Poitier received the [[AFI Life Achievement Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iv3lspRV7U&ab_channel=AmericanFilmInstitute|title=Video: Sidney Poitier Accepts the 20th AFI Life Achievement Award in 1992|date=February 17, 2010 |publisher=AFI|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107180901/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iv3lspRV7U&ab_channel=AmericanFilmInstitute|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1994, Poitier received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://walkoffame.com/sidney-poitier/|title=Sidney Poitier|date=October 25, 2019|publisher=Hollywood Walk of Fame|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107180805/https://walkoffame.com/sidney-poitier/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1981, he received the [[Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award]] and in 2016 he received the [[BAFTA Fellowship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/cecil-b-demille-award-winners-golden-globes-through-the-years/|title=Cecil B. DeMille Award Winners: Every Star Who's Ever Earned the Golden Globes' Big Honor|work=People|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107180802/https://people.com/movies/cecil-b-demille-award-winners-golden-globes-through-the-years/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bafta.org/film/awards/sir-sidney-poitier-bafta-fellowship-in-2016|title=Sir Sidney Poitier: BAFTA Fellowship in 2016|date=January 26, 2016|publisher=BAFTA|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107180803/https://www.bafta.org/film/awards/sir-sidney-poitier-bafta-fellowship-in-2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, he was inducted into the [[National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://nmwhm.org/hall-of-fame-inductees/ |website=National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum |access-date=June 17, 2023}}</ref>

In 1995, he received the [[Kennedy Center Honor]] and in 2009, Poitier was awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] from Barack Obama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/a4f34c32a0fe27aed6269426f41bc3cd|title= Kennedy Center Honors Neil Simon, B.B. King, Sidney Poitier|first=Connie|last=Cass| work= Associated Press|date=September 5, 1995|access-date= February 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/presidential-medal-of-freedom/8/|title= Presidential Medal of Freedom|date= August 12, 2009|publisher= CBS|access-date= February 20, 2021|archive-date= January 7, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220107163835/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/presidential-medal-of-freedom/8/|url-status= live}}</ref> He was also named an honorary Knight Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1974.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 7, 2022 |title=Sidney Poitier: Hollywood trailblazer dies aged 94 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-59907931 |access-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108154233/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-59907931 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1986, he gave the Commencement Address to the University of Miami graduating class and was given the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Honorary Degree Recipients|url=https://commencement.miami.edu/about-us/archives/honorary-degree-recipients/index.html|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=commencement.miami.edu|publisher=University of Miami|archive-date=August 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804050043/https://commencement.miami.edu/about-us/archives/honorary-degree-recipients/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:Sidney Poitier-NPS.jpg|thumb|upright|Poitier {{circa|2013}}]]
Poitier was described as an icon in his obituary by ''[[USA Today]]''.<ref name=usat>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2022/01/07/sidney-poitier-dead-hollywood-legend-and-trailblazer-94/9129646002/|title=Trailblazing star Sidney Poitier, first Black man to win best actor Oscar, dies at 94|first=Hannah|last=Yasharoff|work=USA Today|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107160154/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2022/01/07/sidney-poitier-dead-hollywood-legend-and-trailblazer-94/9129646002/|url-status=live}}</ref> Laura Jacobs for ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' hailed Poitier as the "[[Martin Luther King Jr.]] of the movies".<ref name=vfl>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/02/sidney-poitier-remarkable-run-in-hollywood-history|title=Sidney Poitier, 1967, and One of the Most Remarkable Runs in Hollywood History|first=Laura|last=Jacobs|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=February 1, 2017|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428183827/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/02/sidney-poitier-remarkable-run-in-hollywood-history|url-status=live}}</ref> Several film historians and journalists have called him Hollywood's first African-American film star.<ref name=vfl /><ref name=nytobit>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/movies/sidney-poitier-dead.html|first=William|last=Grimes|author-link=William Grimes (journalist)|title=Sidney Poitier, Who Paved the Way for Black Actors in Film, Dies at 94|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107155212/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/movies/sidney-poitier-dead.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sidney-poitier-hollywoods-first-major-black-movie-star-who-won-an-oscar-for-best-actor-dies-at-94-2695587|title=Sidney Poitier, Hollywood's First Major Black Movie Star, Dies At 94|publisher=NDTV|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107165724/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sidney-poitier-hollywoods-first-major-black-movie-star-who-won-an-oscar-for-best-actor-dies-at-94-2695587|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' noted after his death that Poitier was instrumental for the diversity of Hollywood and "paved the way for Black actors in film".<ref name=nytobit /> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' wrote that "Poitier was the first actor to star in mainstream Hollywood movies that depicted a Black man in a non-stereotypical fashion, and his influence, especially during the 1950s and '60s as role model and image-maker, was immeasurable".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sidney-poitier-dead-lillies-of-the-field-1235071323/|title=Sidney Poitier, Regal Star of the Big Screen, Dies at 94|first=Duane|last=Byrge|author2=Mike Barnes|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107180922/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sidney-poitier-dead-lillies-of-the-field-1235071323/|url-status=live}}</ref>

While presenting Poitier the Honorary Academy Award in 2002, Denzel Washington said of Poitier: "Before Sidney, African American actors had to take supporting roles in major studio films that were easy to cut out in certain parts of the country. But you couldn't cut Sidney Poitier out of a Sidney Poitier picture".<ref name=usat /> He was an influential African-American actor and highly viewed as such as he became the first Black male actor to be nominated (1958) for an Academy Award (following the nominations of actresses Hattie McDaniel in 1940 and Dorothy Dandridge in 1954) and the first Black male actor to win the award.<ref name=usat /><ref name="voice-online.co.uk"/> He was also described as the "sole representative" of African-Americans in mainstream cinema during the 1950s and 1960s, especially during the height of the [[American Civil Rights movement]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thegrio.com/2022/01/07/sidney-poitier-many-legacies-but-his-acting-should-not-be-lost-among-them/|title=Sidney Poitier has many legacies, but his acting should not be lost among them|first=Adam|last=Howard|date=January 7, 2022|website=The Grio|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107183318/https://thegrio.com/2022/01/07/sidney-poitier-many-legacies-but-his-acting-should-not-be-lost-among-them/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=nytobit /> ''The New York Times'' wrote that Poitier was "an ambassador to white America and a benign emblem of [[Black power]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/sidney-poitier-legacy-still-looms-large-post-oscarssowhite-era-msna828041|title=Sidney Poitier legacy still looms large in post-#OscarsSoWhite era|first=Adam|last=Howard|publisher=MSNBC|date=April 6, 2016|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107192611/https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/sidney-poitier-legacy-still-looms-large-post-oscarssowhite-era-msna828041|url-status=live}}</ref> 

For his role in diversifying Hollywood and for his role in paving the way for further Black actors, he was described as one of "the most important figures of 20th century Hollywood".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/sidney-poitier-changed-face-of-hollywood-forever/|title=Sidney Poitier: The man who changed the face of Hollywood forever|first=Swapnil Dhruv|last=Bose|magazine=Far Out Magazine|date=January 7, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107154251/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/sidney-poitier-changed-face-of-hollywood-forever/|url-status=live}}</ref> The former US president Barack Obama said Poitier had "[advanced] the nation's dialogue on race and respect" and "opened doors for a generation of actors".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/barack-obama-sidney-poitier-tribute-1234906316/|title=Barack Obama Pays Tribute To Sidney Poitier: 'Epitomized Dignity And Grace'|first=Ted|last=Johnson|date=January 7, 2022|website=Deadline|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107192837/https://deadline.com/2022/01/barack-obama-sidney-poitier-tribute-1234906316/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Sidney (film)|Sidney]]'', a documentary film about Poitier's life and legacy by [[Reginald Hudlin]], was released on September 23, 2022.<ref name="carey">Matthew Carey, [https://deadline.com/video/sidney-poitier-documentary-trailer-release-apple-tv-plus-producer-oprah-winfrey-director-reginald-hudlin-video/ "Watch 'Sidney' Trailer, Documentary On Late Film Legend Sidney Poitier Produced By Oprah Winfrey"]. ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'', August 16, 2022.</ref>

==Works==
Poitier wrote three autobiographical books:
* ''This Life'' (1980), winner of the [[Coretta Scott King Award]] (1981)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present {{!}} Coretta Scott King Roundtable |url=https://www.ala.org/cskbart/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present#1981 |access-date=October 22, 2024 |website=www.ala.org |language=en}}</ref>
* ''[[The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography]]'' (2000)
* ''Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter'' (2008)

Two biographies of Poitier have been published:
* ''Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon'' (2004) by historian Aram Goudsouzian.
* ''Sidney Poitier Black and White: Sidney Poitier's Emergence in the 1960s as a Black Icon'' (2020) by [[Philip Powers]].

His life has been documented in the visual arts:
* ''Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light'' (2000)
* ''Sidney Poitier, un outsider à Hollywood'' (2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.torinofilmfest.org/en/26-torino-film-festival/film/sidney-poitier,-un-outsider-a-hollywood/8458/|title=Sidney Poitier, UN Outsider A Hollywood|publisher=Toronto Film Fest|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107181439/https://www.torinofilmfest.org/en/26-torino-film-festival/film/sidney-poitier,-un-outsider-a-hollywood/8458/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''[[Sidney (film)|Sidney]]'' (2022)

==See also==
* [[List of African-American actors]]
* [[African-American Tony nominees and winners#Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play|African-American Tony nominees and winners — Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play]]
* [[List of black Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Actor in a Leading Role|List of black Academy Award winners and nominees — Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
* [[List of actors with Academy Award nominations]]
* [[List of actors with more than one Academy Award nomination in the acting categories]]
* [[List of black Golden Globe Award winners and nominees]]
* [[List of Golden Globe winners]]
* [[David Hampton]], an impostor who posed as Poitier's son "David" in 1983, which inspired [[Six Degrees of Separation (play)|the 1990 play]] and 1993 film ''[[Six Degrees of Separation (film)|Six Degrees of Separation]]''
* [[John Stewart (character)|John Stewart]], aka [[Green Lantern]], a [[DC Comics]] superhero whose original design was based on Poitier

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AFI person | 140664-Sidney-Poitier }}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{TCMDb name}}
{{Sister project links|d=Q104049|c=Category:Sidney Poitier|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083724/http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/13974/Sidney_Poitier/index.aspx?WT.mc_id=WIKI_AUTH_POIT_041307 Official publisher web page]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/13/newsid_2524000/2524235.stm Poitier breaks new ground with Oscar win] ([[BBC News]], April 13, 1964)
* [http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/p/sidney-poitier.html The Purpose Prize: Sidney Poitier]
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1995/12/03/to-sir-with-honors/5137f745-48eb-44ed-83a9-dfe3de69a4fd/ To Sir With Honors] (Washington Post, December 3, 1995)
* [http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/p/sidney-poitier.html Overview of Sidney Poitier's life]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111106144518/https://www.hyenaproductions.com/sidney-poitier.aspx Artist of the Month: Sidney Poitier at Hyena Productions]
* [http://www.anorakzone.com/poitierrank1.html Sidney Poitier films ranked from worst to best]
* [http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/viewItem.do?ark=21198/zz0002s3d4 Image of Sidney Poitier holding his Oscar alongside Gregory Peck, Annabella and Anne Bancroft backstage at the Academy Awards, Los Angeles, 1964.] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, [[Charles E. Young Research Library]], [[University of California, Los Angeles]].
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{{Academy Award Best Actor}}
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{{AFI Life Achievement Award}}
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{{Golden Globe Award Best Actor Motion Picture Drama}}
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