Cinema legend Sidney Poitier died this Friday, January 7 at the age of 94. Known for his roles in the films “In the heat of the night” or “Guess who’s coming to dinner?”, He was the first black actor to receive the Oscar for best actor in 1964 for “Le Lys des champs”.
Hollywood mourns a legendary actor. Sidney Poitier, the first black star of American cinema, is died at the age of 94, announced this Friday, January 7 the Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas, where he was from.
“We have lost an icon, a hero, a mentor, a fighter, and a national treasure”, writes Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper on his Facebook page, without mentioning the cause of his death.
Considered one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema, Sidney Poitier, son of a tomato planter, managed to climb the ranks to impose himself in the Hollywood of the 1950s and 1960s, marked by the lack of of diversity and where black actors were almost always invisible.
First black actor to receive the Oscar for best actor
Sidney Poitier, also a pioneer in the struggle for civil rights, reached the peak of his career in 1964 thanks to his portrayal of Homer Smith in the film The lily of the fields of Ralph Nelson, which allows him to become the first black comedian to land theOscar for the best actor, almost twenty years after that of Hattie McDaniel for Gone with the wind (1939).
In 1967, he even became the biggest american box office star ahead of legends Steve Mc Queen and Paul Newman, thanks to the success of Guess who’s coming to dinner?, Angels with Clenched Fists and In the heat of the Night.
In the 1970s, he started directing, alternating genres, whether westerns (Buck and his accomplice) or even comedies (Uptown Saturday Night). Films which will meet with limited success. Sidney Poitier finally decided to turn his back on the world of cinema in the 1980s, and chose to devote himself to humanitarian actions and a political career. He was notably appointed Ambassador of the Bahamas to Japan in 1997.
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Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier, the first black star of American cinema, has died at the age of 94, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas, where he was from, announced this Friday, January 7.
© JUAN RICO
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Sidney Poitier
“We have lost an icon, a hero, a mentor, a fighter, and a national treasure,” writes Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper on his Facebook page, without mentioning the cause of his death.
© FAME PICTURES
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Sidney Poitier
Considered one of the greatest actors in the history of cinema, Sidney Poitier, son of a tomato farmer, managed to rise through the ranks to establish himself in the Hollywood of the 1950s and 1960s.
© STARMAX
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Sidney Poitier
A time marked by the lack of diversity and when black actors were almost always invisible.
© Backgrid USA
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Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier, also a pioneer in the struggle for civil rights, reached the peak of his career in 1964 thanks to his portrayal of Homer Smith in Ralph Nelson’s film The Lily of the Fields
© Backgrid USA
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Sidney Poitier
A role that allows him to become the first black comedian to win the Oscar for best actor
© Backgrid USA
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Sidney Poitier
In 1967, he even became the biggest star of the American box office in front of the legends Steve Mc Queen and Paul Newman.
© Backgrid USA
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Sidney Poitier
In the 1970s, he started directing, alternating genres, whether westerns (Buck and his accomplice) or comedies (Uptown Saturday Night)
© Backgrid USA
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Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier finally decided to turn his back on the world of cinema in the 1980s, and chose to devote himself to humanitarian actions and a political career.
© Backgrid USA
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Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier was notably appointed Ambassador of the Bahamas to Japan in 1997.