Early life

Sidney Poitier's parents were Evelyn (née Outten) and Reginald James Poitier, Bahamian farmers who owned a farm on Cat Island and traveled to Miami to sell tomatoes and other produce. Reginald worked as a cab driver in Nassau, Bahamas. Poitier was born in Miami while his parents were visiting. His birth was two months premature and he was not expected to survive, but his parents remained in Miami for three months to nurse him to health. Poitier grew up in the Bahamas, then a British Crown colony. But because of his birth in the United States, he automatically received American citizenship. Poitier's uncle has claimed that the Poitier ancestors on his father's side had migrated from Haiti and were probably part of the runaway slaves who had established maroon communities throughout the Bahamas, including Cat Island. He mentions that the surname Poitier is a French name, and there were no white Poitiers from the Bahamas.

Poitier lived with his family on Cat Island until he was 10, when they moved to Nassau. He was raised a Roman Catholic but, later became an agnostic with views closer to deism.

At the age of 15, he was sent to Miami to live with his brother. At the age of 17, he moved to New York City and held a string of jobs as a dishwasher. A waiter sat with him every night for several weeks helping him learn to read the newspaper. He then decided to join the United States Army during the Korean War where he became an officer. After which he worked as a dishwasher until a successful audition landed him a spot with the American Negro Theatre.

Hollywood

Acting

Poitier joined the North American Negro Chicken Club, but was rejected by audiences. Contrary to what was expected of African American actors at the time, Poitier's tone deafness made him unable to sing. Determined to refine his acting skills and rid himself of his noticeable Bahamian accent, he spent the next six months dedicating himself to achieving theatrical success. On his second attempt at the theater, he was noticed and given a leading role in the Broadway production Lysistrata, for which he received good reviews. By the end of 1949, he had to choose between leading roles on stage and an offer to work for Darryl F. Zanuck in the film No Way Out (1950). His performance in No Way Out, as a doctor treating a Caucasian bigot (played by Richard Widmark), was noticed and led to more roles, each considerably more interesting and more prominent than those most African American actors of the time were offered. Poitier's breakout role was as a member of an incorrigible high school class in Blackboard Jungle (1955).

Poitier was the first male actor of African descent to be nominated for a competitive Academy Award (for The Defiant Ones, 1958). He was also the first actor of African descent to win the Academy Award for Best Actor (for Lilies of the Field in 1963). (James Baskett was the first African American male to receive an Oscar, an Honorary Academy Award for his performance as Uncle Remus in the Walt Disney production of Song of the South in 1948, while Hattie McDaniel predated them both, winning as Best Supporting Actress for her role in 1939's Gone with the Wind, making her the first person of African descent to be nominated for and receive an Oscar). His satisfaction at this honor was undermined by his concerns that this award was more of the industry congratulating itself for having him as a token and it would inhibit him from asking for more substantive considerations afterward. Poitier worked relatively little over the following year; he remained the only major actor of African descent and the roles offered were predominantly typecast as a soft-spoken appeaser.

He acted in the first production of A Raisin in the Sun on Broadway in 1959, and later starred in the film version released in 1961. He also gave memorable performances in The Bedford Incident (1965), and A Patch of Blue (1965) co-starring Elizabeth Hartman and Shelley Winters. In 1967, he was the most successful draw at the box office, the commercial peak of his career, with three popular films, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner; To Sir, with Love and In the Heat of the Night. The last film featured his most successful character, Virgil Tibbs, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, detective whose subsequent career was the subject of two sequels: They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and The Organization (1971).

Poitier began to be criticized for being typecast as over-idealized African American characters who were not permitted to have any sexuality or personality faults, such as his character in Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. Poitier was aware of this pattern himself, but was conflicted on the matter. He wanted more varied roles; but he also felt obliged to set an example with his characters, by challenging old stereotypes as he was the only major actor of African descent being cast in leading roles in the American film industry, at that time. For instance, in 1966, he turned down an opportunity to play the lead in an NBC production of Othello with that spirit in mind.

In 2001, Poitier received an Honorary Academy Award for his overall contribution to American cinema. With the death of Ernest Borgnine, in 2012, he became the oldest living man to have won the Academy Award for Best Actor. On March 2, 2014, Poitier appeared with Angelina Jolie at the 86th Academy Awards, to present the Best Director Award. He was given a standing ovation. Jolie thanked him for all his Hollywood contributions, stating "we are in your debt". Poitier gave a brief acceptance speech, telling his peers to "keep up the wonderful work" to warm applause.

Directing

Poitier directed several films, the most successful being the Richard Pryor-Gene Wilder comedy Stir Crazy, which for many years was the highest grossing film directed by a person of African descent. His feature film directorial debut was the Western, Buck and the Preacher, in which Poitier also starred, alongside Harry Belafonte. Poitier replaced original director, Joseph Sargent. The trio of Poitier, Cosby, and Belafonte reunited, with Poitier again directing, in, Uptown Saturday Night. He directed Cosby in Let's Do It Again, A Piece of the Action, and Ghost Dad. Poitier directed the first popular dance battle movie, Fast Forward in 1985.

Recording

Poitier recorded an album with the composer Fred Katz called Poitier Meets Plato, in which Poitier recites passages from Plato's writings.

Business

From 1995 to 2003, he served as a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company.

Diplomatic service

In April 1997, Poitier was appointed ambassador of the Bahamas to Japan, a position he held until 2007. From 2002 to 2007, he was concurrently the ambassador of the Bahamas to UNESCO.

In March 2014, he swore in the new mayor of Beverly Hills, California, Lili Bosse, in a ceremony at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

Personal life

Poitier was first married to Juanita Hardy from April 29, 1950, until 1965. He has been married to Joanna Shimkus, a Canadian former actress of Lithuanian-Jewish and Irish descent, since January 23, 1976. He has four daughters with his first wife and two with his second: Beverly, Pamela, Sherri, Gina, Anika, and Sydney Tamiia.

In addition to his six daughters, Poitier has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Honors and awards

• 1958 British Academy Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for The Defiant Ones
• 1958 Silver Bear for Best Actor (Berlin Film Festival) for The Defiant Ones
• 1963 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for Lilies of the Field
• 1963 Silver Bear for Best Actor (Berlin Film Festival) for Lilies of the Field
• 1964 Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Lilies of the Field
• 1974 Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
• 1982 Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award
• 1992 AFI Life Achievement Award
• 1995 Kennedy Center Honors
• 1997 Appointed non-resident Bahamian Ambassador to Japan
• 1999 SAG Life Achievement Award
• 2000 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special for The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
• 2001 NAACP Image Award - Hall of Fame Award
• 2001 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album - Rick Harris, John Runnette (producers) and Sidney Poitier for The Measure of a Man
• 2002 Honorary Oscar - "For his extraordinary performances and unique presence on the screen and for representing the industry with dignity, style and intelligence"
• 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom
• 2011 Film Society of Lincoln Center Gala Tribute honoring his life and careers
• 2016 BAFTA Fellowship

Filmography

Actor

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1947	Sepia Cinderella	Extra	Uncredited
1949	From Whence Cometh My Help	Himself	Documentary
1950	No Way Out	Dr. Luther Brooks
1951	Cry, the Beloved Country	Reverend Msimangu
1952	Red Ball Express	Cpl. Andrew Robertson
1954	Go, Man, Go!	Inman Jackson
1955	Blackboard Jungle	Gregory W. Miller
1956	Good-bye, My Lady	Gates Watson
1957	Edge of the City	Tommy Tyler	Nominated - BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
1957	Something of Value	Kimani Wa Karanja
1957	Band of Angels	Rau-Ru Ponce de Leon
1957	Mark of the Hawk, TheThe Mark of the Hawk	Obam
1958	Virgin Island	Marcus
1958	Defiant Ones, TheThe Defiant Ones	Noah Cullen	BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Silver Bear for Best Actor Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama Nominated - Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance
1959	Porgy and Bess	Porgy	Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1960	All the Young Men	Sgt. Eddie Towler
1961	Raisin in the Sun, AA Raisin in the Sun	Walter Lee Younger	Nominated - BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
1961	Paris Blues	Eddie Cook
1962	Pressure Point	Doctor (Chief Psychiatrist)
1963	Long Ships, TheThe Long Ships	Aly Mansuh
1963	Lilies of the Field	Homer Smith	Academy Award for Best Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama Silver Bear for Best Actor Nominated - BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated - Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance Nominated - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
1965	Bedford Incident, TheThe Bedford Incident	Ben Munceford
1965	Greatest Story Ever Told, TheThe Greatest Story Ever Told	Simon of Cyrene
1965	Patch of Blue, AA Patch of Blue	Gordon Ralfe	Nominated - BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama Nominated - Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance
1965	Slender Thread, TheThe Slender Thread	Alan Newell
1966	Duel at Diablo	Toller (contract horse dealer)	Nominated - Laurel Award for Top Male Action Performance
1967	To Sir, with Love	Mark Thackeray
1967	In the Heat of the Night	Det. Virgil Tibbs	Nominated - BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama Nominated - Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance
1967	Guess Who's Coming to Dinner	Dr. John Wade Prentice	Fotogramas de Plata Award for Best Foreign Performer
1968	For Love of Ivy	Jack Parks	Prize San Sebastián for Best Actor
1969	Lost Man, TheThe Lost Man	Jason Higgs
1970	King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis	Narrator	Documentary
1970	They Call Me Mister Tibbs!	Lt. Virgil Tibbs
1971	Brother John	John Kane
1971	Organization, TheThe Organization	Lt. Virgil Tibbs
1972	Buck and the Preacher	Buck
1973	Warm December, AA Warm December	Matt Younger
1974	Uptown Saturday Night	Steve Jackson
1975	Wilby Conspiracy, TheThe Wilby Conspiracy	Shack Twala
1975	Let's Do it Again	Clyde Williams	NAACP Image Award for Best Director
1977	Piece of the Action, AA Piece of the Action	Manny Durrell
1979	Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist	Narrator	Short subject
1988	Shoot to Kill	Warren Stantin
1988	Little Nikita	Roy Parmenter
1992	Sneakers	Donald Crease	Nominated - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
1994	Century of Cinema, AA Century of Cinema	Himself	Documentary
1996	Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick	Himself	Documentary
1996	To Sir, with Love II	Mark Thackeray
1997	Jackal, TheThe Jackal	FBI Deputy Director Carter Preston	Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor - Suspense
2001	Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey	Narrator	Documentary
2004	Tell Them Who You Are	Himself	Documentary
2008	Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project	Himself	Documentary

Director

Year	Title
1972	Buck and the Preacher
1973	Warm December, AA Warm December
1974	Uptown Saturday Night
1975	Let's Do it Again
1977	Piece of the Action, AA Piece of the Action
1980	Stir Crazy
1982	Hanky Panky
1985	Fast Forward
1990	Ghost Dad

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1991	Separate but Equal	Thurgood Marshall	Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Miniseries or a Movie Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film
1995	Children of the Dust	Gypsy Smith	Nominated - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
1996	To Sir, with Love II	Mark Thackeray
1997	Mandela and de Klerk	Nelson Mandela	Nominated - CableACE Award for Best Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Nominated - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Miniseries or a Movie Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film Nominated - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
1998	David and Lisa	Dr. Jack Miller
1999	Simple Life of Noah Dearborn, TheThe Simple Life of Noah Dearborn	Noah Dearborn	NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Nominated - Black Reel Award for Best Actor: T.V. Movie/Cable
1999	Free of Eden	Will Cleamons
2001	Last Brickmaker in America, TheThe Last Brickmaker in America	Henry Cobb

Works about Poitier

Autobiographies

Poitier has written three autobiographical books:

• This Life (1980)
• The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (2000)
• Life Beyond Measure - letters to my Great-Granddaughter (2008, an Oprah's Book Club selection).

Poitier is also the subject of the biography Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon (2004) by historian Aram Goudsouzian.

Poitier wrote the novel Montaro Caine, released in May 2013.

Movies about Poitier

• Sidney Poitier, an Outsider in Hollywood (Sidney Poitier, an outsider à Hollywood). Documentary film by Catherine Arnaud. Arte, France, 2008, 70 minutes.
• Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light. American Masters, PBS. USA, 2000. 60 minutes.

Charities

Sidney Poitier supports the following charitable cause: Diabetes.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]