Sidney Poitier Dies

Oscar winning actor, Hollywood legend and trailblazer Sidney Poitier has died. He was 94.

His death was announced by the minister of foreign affairs of the Bahamas. His family also released this statement:

“To us Sidney Poitier was not only a brilliant actor, activist, and a man of incredible grace and moral fortitude, he was also a devoted and loving husband, a supportive and adoring father, and a man who always put family first… So many have been touched by our dad’s extraordinary life, his unwavering sense of decency and respect for his fellow man.”

Sidney Poitier was born in Miami to Bahamian parents but they later moved and he was raised in the Bahamas. He returned to the U.S. at the age of 15 to work in a series of low paying jobs and eventually served in World War II briefly.

His career began in theater where he ended up working at the American Negro Theater in Harlem. He appeared in first movie role in 1950. His groundbreaking work in the 1950s and 60s paved the way for many Black actors today as he was often described as the "sole representative" of African Americans in mainstream cinema during that era. He was the first actor to play a non stereotypical role for Black men in Hollywood.

He became the 1st Black man to win an Oscar for best actor for "Lillies of the Field." He was also the recipient of a Grammy, 2 Golden Globes and an honorary Academy Award. He was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama and named an honorary Knight Commander by Queen Elizabeth II.

Other notable roles include: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, To Sir, With Love, and Porgy and Bess.

Aside from acting, he was an activist who fought in the Civil Rights Movement alongside his good friend Harry Belafonte.

He is survived by his wife Joanna, 5 daughters, family, friends and the countless amount of actors he lit a path for in the industry. A daughter preceded him in death.

His cause of death has not yet been revealed.

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