Posted on 01/07/2022 7:32:35 AM PST by Borges
Sidney Poitier, a Bahamian-American actor who became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 1963 film "Lilies of the Field," has died. He was 94.
News of the legendary actor and filmmaker’s death was confirmed to FOX News on Friday by the Bahamas Foreign Affairs' office.
Poitier, who was born in Miami and raised in the Bahamas, was the son of tomato farmers before launching a career that went from small, hard-won theater parts to eventual Hollywood stardom. Poitier received acclaim for several films, including "A Raisin in the Sun," "Porgy and Bess" and "A Patch of Blue."
In 2009, he received the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, from former President Barack Obama. The White House at the time noted his work as a "groundbreaking actor, becoming the top Black movie star in the 1950s and 1960s."
"Poitier insisted that the film crew on The Lost Man be at least 50 percent African American, and starred in the first mainstream movies portraying ‘acceptable’ interracial marriages and interracial kissing. Poitier began his acting career without any training or experience by auditioning at the American Negro Theatre," it said in the 2009 statement.
Arizona State University’s new film school, The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, was named after him in early 2021. The university did not make Poitier, who had remained out of the public eye for some time, available for an interview. But his daughter Beverly Poitier-Henderson told The Associated Press at the time that her father was "doing well and enjoying his family," and considered it an honor to be the namesake of the new film school.
Sheriff: “Philadelphia, Mississippi ?”
Tibbs: “PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA”
Qunicy Jones Soundtrack, and Steiger, Poitier. Great combination in "The Heat of the Night".
Loved Sydney in the 1997 movie The Jackal with Bruce Willis and Richard Gere.
I was just a kid, maybe 10 years old, when I saw him accept his well deserved award for ‘Lillies of the Field’. It stands out to me as probably one of the most moving moments ever at the Academy Awards.
I would say in Sidney’s time, blacks did have legitimate things to “whine” about.
His film ‘A Patch of Blue’ probably had the biggest influence on my views on race in my childhood days. If I were to watch it now I’d probably see it as cliched in regards to views on Southerners and bigotry. I do remember it making me think seriously about how color influences our perceptions of people. If that was the film’s goal, it succeeded with me.
RIP... a great actor.
RIP...fine actor.
‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ - Best scenes: Poitier tells his Postman father where to get off; and Spencer Tracy gives them all hell for claiming he does not understand love ... and he then proceeds to explain the deep love he holds for his wife (Katherine Hepburn), bringing her to tears. Absolute classic.
RIP, SP
The Bedford Incident
He was great in To sir with love
Blackboard Jungle
Ahhhh Men ... No, It’s AAA Men !!!
Two of my favorites were “To Sir, With Love” and “A Patch of Blue.” They always make me cry!
Rest in peace to Sir.
“Shoot to Kill” - thriller with Kirstie Alley and Tom Berenger. Surprisingly a lot of humor with Sidney and Tom trying to rescue Kirstie from a murderer.
Sorry but…
…another dead commie
He was in a lot of “coming together” movies. Really appreciate that nowadays. Liked him. RIP.
Maybe
He seems like most people we call great actors
He played himself reading his lines
Rau Ru
Bullshit
It’s about group behavior not color
Color is nothing more than ones uniform
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