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.
The Defiant Ones
‘A Patch of Blue’
I have never seen this movie, however, back in that time it was released I read that two different versions were released.
One for normal US release, and one with cuts of certain scenes for release only in the Deep South.
I read that he taught himself standard American English pronunciation by listening to the radio.
He spent many hours weaning himself from a “Bahamian” accent to a more acceptable (for movie roles) American accent, by listening to the radio broadcasts from the USA.
Respect isn’t worship.
He was a good actor. He risked his career standing up for what he believed.
Good for him.
He is worthy of respect. Rest In Peace.
I completely forgot he was in Sneakers. Been a while. What a stellar cast.
Let’s do it Again! Hilarious movie where Sydney hypnotizes string bean Jimmy “JJ” Walker into a championship boxer
Another giant has passed. RIP.
You’re confusing him with Harry Belafonte.
“The Heat Of The Night” is just excellence.
RIP to an artist.
To Sir, With Love
Epic
Belafonte is only nine days younger than Poitier. And he’s still alive...
There was a sequel to it made for TV in 1996. Look who directed it!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117927/
Thanks for that link.
Am usually leery of sequels, but found a copy and will give it a chance.
Wiki wiki
Btw I was replying to someone who already said verbatim what u just did
But by all let’s trust every Jimmy Wales burp
Borges I bet u love this
His memorial thread gives posters yet another avenue to prove they are not racist
The only steady about this place
Classic conservative ?
Do you have an Atticus Finch pillow too
Pelham beam me up
Freepers literally drink talk radio don’t they
Oh I’m not recommending it! I’ve not seen it. Just a coincidence that they died days apart.
Poitier is the perfect avenue for that. He marketed himself as ultra polite and harmless.
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