Comedian Sidney Poitier, the first black man to receive the Oscar for best actor in 1964, died this Friday, January 7 at the age of 94.
Hollywood is in mourning. Actor Sidney Poitier, known for his roles in Guess who’s coming to dinner? and In the heat of the Night, died this Friday, January 7. He was 94 years old. It was Fred Mitchell, the Foreign Minister of the Bahamas, where he was from, who broke the terrible news. Considered one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema, he will remain as the first black comedian to have received the Oscar for best actor in 1964 for his role in Le Lys des champs.
Charismatic and elegant, Sidney Poitier was not predestined for a career in Hollywood. Son of a tomato farmer, he rose through all the ranks until he established himself in the world of American cinema in the early 1950s, a time in history when black actors were systematically invisible.. Pioneer in the fight for civil rights, he made a name for himself by becoming an icon of anti-racist films like Chain (1958) and The lily of the fields (1963).
Sidney Poitier, first black actor to receive the Oscar for best actor
The peak of his career dates from the year 1967, when Sidney Poitier was considered America’s biggest box office star, in front of actors like Steve Mc Queen or Paul Newman. After many films, he decided to take a step back, aware that his role in Hollywood could never exceed his skin color. “At the end of the 1960s, civil disobedience was giving rise to more radical approaches. My career as a Hollywood star was drawing to a close.”, he wrote in his autobiography. After a second career as a director with twelve films to his credit, he decides to turn his back on cinema in the 1980s to devote himself to a political career, during which he will become Ambassador of the Bahamas to Japan.
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Sidney Poitier
Actor Sidney Poitier, known for his roles in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? and In the heat of the night, passed away this Friday, January 7.
© FAME PICTURES
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Sidney Poitier
He was 94 years old.
© FAME PICTURES
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Sidney Poitier
It was Fred Mitchell, the Foreign Minister of the Bahamas, where he was from, who broke the terrible news.
© FAME PICTURES
6/12 –
Sidney Poitier
Considered one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema, he will go down as the first black actor to have received the Oscar for best actor in 1964 for his role in Le Lys des champs.
© FAMEFLYNET
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Sidney Poitier
Charismatic and elegant, Sidney Poitier was not predestined for a career in Hollywood.
© FAMEFLYNET
8/12 –
Sidney Poitier
Son of a tomato farmer, he rose through all the ranks until he established himself in the world of American cinema in the early 1950s, a time in history when black actors were systematically invisible.
© FAMEFLYNET
9/12 –
Sidney Poitier
A pioneer in the fight for civil rights, he made a name for himself by becoming an icon of anti-racist films such as The Chain (1958) and The Lily of the Fields (1963).
© FAMEFLYNET
10/12 –
Sidney Poitier
The peak of his career dates from the year 1967, when Sidney Poitier was considered the greatest star of the American box office, in front of actors like Steve Mc Queen or Paul Newman.
© FAMEFLYNET
11/12 –
Sidney Poitier
After many films, he decided to take a step back, aware that his role in Hollywood could never exceed his skin color.
© FAMEFLYNET
12/12 –
Sidney Poitier
“At the end of the 1960s, civil disobedience was giving rise to more radical approaches. My career as a Hollywood star was drawing to a close,” he wrote in his autobiography.