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Sidney Poitier Biography

Birth Name:Sidney L. Poitier

Birth Place:Miami, Florida, United States

Profession Actor, Director, Producer, Soundtrack, Writer

Fast Facts

President Barack Obama awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States of America's highest civilian honor, in 2009
Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1974, though he chooses not to use the title Sir Sidney Poitier
For his performance in "The Lilies of the Field," became the first African-American to win an Oscar for Best Actor
Ranked No․ 22 on the American Film Institute's "100 Years․․․ 100 Stars" list for Male Legends
Is the father or actress Sydney Tamiia Poitier
After his parents sent him to live in the U․S․ with his brother, he worked as a dishwasher in New York, then decided to join the United States Army
Quote: "I decided in my life that I would do nothing that did not reflect positively on my father's life․"
During the civil rights era, acted in films that explored racism and prejudice
Usually portrayed the parts of faultless black characters in order to break previous stereotypes of African Americans in film
Recorded an album with composer Fred Katz in which he recites passages from Plato called "Poitier Meets Plato․"
Though he grew up with his family in the Bahamas, he was born prematurely in Miami while his parents were traveling, giving him U․S․ citizenship
Was appointed Ambassador of the Bahamas to Japan in 1997

Awards

1958BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1958Silver Berlin Bear-Best Actor: winner
1959Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1959BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actor: winner
1959Golden Globe-Best Actor - Drama: nominated
1959Golden Laurel-Top Male Dramatic Performance: nominated
1960Golden Globe-Best Actor - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1962BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1962Golden Globe-Best Actor - Drama: nominated
1963Silver Berlin Bear-Best Actor: winner
1963NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1964Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1964Golden Globe-Best Actor - Drama: winner
1964Golden Laurel-Top Male Dramatic Performance: nominated
1965BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1966Golden Globe-Best Actor - Drama: nominated
1966Golden Laurel-Dramatic Performance, Male: nominated
1967BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1967Golden Laurel-Action Performance: nominated
1968BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1968Golden Globe-Best Actor - Drama: nominated
1968Golden Laurel-Male Dramatic Performance: nominated
1968Gold Medal-Favorite Motion Picture: nominated
1968Gold Medal-Favorite Motion Picture: nominated
1968Gold Medal-Favorite Motion Picture: nominated
1968Prize San Sebastián-Best Actor: winner
1969Fotogramas de Plata-Best Foreign Performer (Mejor intérprete de cine extranjero): winner
1971Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1974Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1976Image Award-Best Director: winner
1988Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1994Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1997CableACE-Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1998Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Suspense: nominated
1998Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2000Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Actor: nominated
2000Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie/Miniseries/Dramatic Special: winner
2021OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Character: winner