Sidney Poitier

Acting

Born February 20, 1927 · Miami, Florida, USA

Died January 6, 2022

Also known as Sir Sidney Poitier · Сидней Пуатье · シドニー・ポワティエ

Biography

Sidney Poitier KBE (February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022) was a Bahamian and American actor, film director, and diplomat. In 1964, he became the first black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for Lilies of the Field. Other accolades include two competitive Golden Globe Awards, a competitive British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA), and a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. Major films featuring Poitier in a starring role include Blackboard Jungle (1955), The Defiant Ones (1958), To Sir, with Love (1967), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), In the Heat of the Night (1967), Sneakers (1992), and The Jackal (1997). Later in his career, he turned to directing with features such as Buck and the Preacher (1972), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Stir Crazy (1980), and Ghost Dad (1990). At the time of his death, Poitier was one of the last major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.

Awards & recognition

BAFTA Fellowship · 2016
Spingarn Medal · 2015
Presidential Medal of Freedom · 2009
Paul Robeson Award · 2008
Marian Anderson Award · 2006

Show all 51 awards →

Academy Honorary Award · 2002
Grammy Award — Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording · 2001
NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award · 2001
NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special · 2000
Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award · 2000
Kennedy Center Honors · 1995
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame · 1994
AFI Life Achievement Award · 1992
honorary doctor of the University of Miami · 1986
Coretta Scott King Award · 1981
Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award · 1981
Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame · 1978
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire · 1974
Henrietta Award · 1968
Silver Shell — Best Actor · 1968
Academy Award — Best Actor · 1964
Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1963
Silver Bear · 1963
Silver Bear · 1958
Audie Award — Narration by the Author or Authors
Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Grammy Award — Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording · 2008 · nominated
Grammy Award — Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording · 2000 · nominated
NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special · 2000 · nominated
NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special · 1998 · nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie · 1998 · nominated
Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie · 1997 · nominated
NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special · 1996 · nominated
NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture · 1994 · nominated
NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series · 1992 · nominated
Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie · 1991 · nominated
NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture · 1988 · nominated
Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award · 1981 · nominated
Henrietta Award · 1970 · nominated
Henrietta Award · 1969 · nominated
Henrietta Award · 1968 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1967 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1965 · nominated
Academy Award — Best Actor · 1964 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1963 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1961 · nominated
Tony Award — Best Actor in a Play · 1960 · nominated
Academy Award — Best Actor · 1959 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy · 1959 · nominated
Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 1958 · nominated