Sidney Poitier is an American film director, actor, diplomat, and first black to win an Academy Award. His career spans a range of fields and has shaped the world.
Early life
During his early years, Sidney Poitier lived on a farm in the Bahamas. His family had a strong Bahamian heritage. When he was just ten years old, the Poitier family moved to Miami.
Despite a poor childhood, Poitier’s ambition to be an actor was not dampened. He worked hard to develop his reading skills. The older waiter at a restaurant he worked at took an interest in him and helped him read. In addition, he studied film making.
In the 1960s, Poitier made a mark as an actor. His films delved into racial tensions. These roles showed audiences that Black people could be professionals. As a result, he became a box-office success.
However, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, he faced a dearth of dramatic roles. Racial taboos kept him from playing many romantic roles. Eventually, he turned down some roles because he was concerned about being cast as a powerless victim.
Nevertheless, he continued to make a name for himself in Hollywood. He was nominated for two Academy Awards. After his successful turn as an actor, he began leveraging his fame to help advance social justice movements in the United States.
One of his most memorable roles was that of an itinerant handyman in the 1963 film Lilies of the Field. This movie earned him an Oscar.
Although he did not receive an education, Poitier remained dedicated to learning. He completed a film-related study at the Actors Studio.
He also received a special award for lifetime achievement in 2002. Among his awards are the Cunard Britannia Award for Lifetime Contribution to International Film and the Marian Anderson Award for humanitarian work.
Throughout his career, Poitier continued to write. He wrote a spiritual autobiography, “Montaro Caine,” which was published in 2013. He has also written a sequel to this book, titled, “Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter.” Ultimately, Poitier has found success through his hard work and determination. By the time he died, he had carved out a successful career as an actor, author, and civil rights advocate.
During his career, Poitier has won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and a Kennedy Medal. He has also been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Film career
Sidney Poitier was the first Black actor to become a major box office draw. He was also the first to win an Oscar for Best Actor. His career reflected the progress of race relations in America, although it also reflected the lack of progress in equal opportunities.
Poitier’s film career began in the early 1950s. In the mid-’50s, he made two films that were considered classics. One was a western called BUCK AND THE PREACHER, which he starred in with Ruby Dee. Another was a film directed by Poitier, called LILIES OF THE FIELD.
The movie’s success in the early 1960s helped launch an important cultural campaign against racism. It was also one of the few films to include black actors in starring roles. However, Blackboard Jungle, a film about the fear of juvenile delinquency in the 1950s, was banned in several countries.
During this period, there was also a significant effort to make miscegenation more common in America. In the late 1950s, the Public Accommodations Act was passed. This allowed for a parlor setting for miscegenation.
Sidney Poitier’s films were often criticized by critics. Some felt that he only accepted roles that catered to white audiences. Others argued that his performances were too idealized. For his part, he was only concerned with providing inspiring characters.
Although he was criticized for his role in Blackboard Jungle, Sidney Poitier is a very talented actor. Among his other awards are the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “No Way Out,” the Golden Globe Award for his role in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” and the Primetime Emmy Award for his performance in “Frank’s Place.”
In the 1980s, Sidney Poitier appeared on the Perry Como show. On the show, he had a kissing scene with Molly Goldberg, a black ball player. A year later, he starred in a drama, called Cry, the Beloved Country.
Sidney Poitier died at age 94 on August 1, 2011. Although he was a star, he was a trailblazer. By breaking the mold for black actors, he paved the way for others to become more visible in American culture.
Supporter of the independence movement
Sidney Poitier was a legendary actor, director, and activist. He was a key figure in the civil rights movement, particularly in the early days of the movement. In addition, he was an inspiration to a younger generation of Black stars.
The first Black man to win an Academy Award, Poitier made his mark on the Hollywood world by redefining what a Black actor could be. His career spanned decades and he was awarded with many accolades, including the British Commonwealth title of Sir Sidney Poitier.
He also made many charitable contributions to his home country of the Bahamas. He was also a leading advocate for the independence of the nation. One of his most famous films was “The Lost Ones”, a race relations drama.
While he was not a radical, Sidney Poitier was not afraid to use his name to push for change. For example, he encouraged the actor Will Smith, the singer Diana Ross, and others to donate to charities. This is one of the many reasons that his legacy is a cornerstone in the American civil rights movement.
Another big win for Poitier was winning the first ever Oscar for Best Actor. In addition, his work as a director and mentor helped pave the way for other talented Black actors.
When Sidney Poitier was a teenager, his family moved to the Bahamas. During the late 1950s, he was a part of the American Negroes theatre scene in New York City. After the Second World War, he met Harry Belafonte, a well-known African American actor. Both men developed a friendship. Eventually, Belafonte convinced him to join him in Mississippi for the Freedom Summer.
Aside from participating in the famous March on Washington, Sidney Poitier is remembered for his philanthropic efforts and his contributions to the civil rights movement. Many Black entertainers chose to stay out of the movement, focusing on their own success. But it was Poitier who broke the glass ceiling by using his fame to help the movement.
Other notable contributions by Poitier include his role in the creation of the African-American Students Foundation. This nonprofit organization was formed to raise funds for the education of Black students in the United States.
Family life
When he was a teenager, Sidney Poitier had a tough time. He was born prematurely and went through an upbringing of racism in the US. But, Poitier was able to succeed despite his hardships.
In addition to his acting career, Poitier also became a father. He had four children by his first marriage, and two by his second. His youngest daughter, Sydney Tamiia Portier, was born November 15, 1973 in Los Angeles. She has acted in films like Park Day and Death Proof.
In the late 1960s, Poitier had an opportunity to break down the social barriers between blacks and whites, and his films helped. However, he was under scrutiny for not being politically radical. It was not until an article in the New York Times that he decided to step back from the spotlight.
Poitier’s family was key to his development. His mother, Evelyn Outten, was a poor Bahamian farmer. After he was born, the family moved to Nassau, the colonial capital of the Bahamas. While living there, Poitier saw his first movies.
Poitier’s first job was at the American Negro Theater. At age 20, he met actor Harry Belafonte. They became friends. Later, they would work together on many projects.
As a teenager, Sidney Poitier was sent to Miami to prevent delinquent behavior. Although he was born in the Bahamas, he had American citizenship. With this, Poitier was able to pursue a career in the U.S. Eventually, he moved to New York.
Sidney Poitier was a great actor. He was the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. Not only did he receive an Oscar, but he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
Despite his struggles, Poitier never lost his passion for his acting. Over the years, he directed a number of successful movies. Additionally, he published his autobiography, This Life, and the spiritual autobiography, The Measure of a Man: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter.
His work is an inspiration to others. In 2013, he released his novel, Montaro Caine. During his career, he was an ambassador to Japan and the Bahamas.
