Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier KBE (February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022) was a Bahamian and American actor, film director, and diplomat. In 1964, he became the first black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for Lilies of the Field. Other accolades include two competitive Golden Globe Awards, a competitive British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA), and a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. Major films featuring Poitier in a starring role include Blackboard Jungle (1955), The Defiant Ones (1958), To Sir, with Love (1967), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), In the Heat of the Night (1967), Sneakers (1992), and The Jackal (1997). Later in his career, he turned to directing with features such as Buck and the Preacher (1972), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Stir Crazy (1980), and Ghost Dad (1990). At the time of his death, Poitier was one of... more

First Magazine Covers

1958

1964

1968

1972

2022

Breakthrough Years

1950

No Way Out marked his impactful film debut, tackling racial themes with powerful gravitas.

1951

Gained international critical recognition for his powerful dramatic performance in the acclaimed Cry, the Beloved Country.

1955

Blackboard Jungle established him as a serious dramatic actor, a major breakthrough role.

1957

Edge of the City showcased his powerful dramatic acting, marking a significant step in his film career.

1958

The Defiant Ones (1958) brought his first Oscar nomination, solidifying his leading man status.

1963

Won Best Actor Oscar for Lilies of the Field (1963), the first for an African-American male.

1972

Made his feature film directorial debut with the western Buck and the Preacher.