Quick Facts

Sidney Poitier aka Sidney L. Poitier was a Bahamian American actor, director and diplomat. In 1964, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, being the first African American and Bahamian to do so. Poitier also gained critical praise for his performances in Porgy and Bess, A Raisin in the Sun, and A Patch of Blue.

How much was the Net worth of Sidney Poitier?

As of 2022, Sidney Poitier ’s net worth is $20 million. He has garnered two Golden Globe nominations, a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nomination, and a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album. Queen Elizabeth II knighted Poitier in 1974. He was presented with the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1982.

Early Years and Bio

Sidney Poitier, who was born on February 20, 1927, will be 94 years old in 2022. He was raised in a Baptist lower middle-class household in Miami, Florida, where he was born and raised. He belonged to the Baptist faith and was an American-Bahamian national. Also, he finished his early education in Miami, Florida, at the Actors Studio. He didn’t ever sign up for any of the colleges. He was more interested in performing than in school from the very beginning of his youth.

What was the Professional career of Sidney Poitier?

During World War 11, Sidney Poitier joined the Army. He faked having a mental illness in order to be let go from the Army. He returned to working as a dishwasher after leaving the army before getting his first acting job with an American NEGRO Theatre performance. Also, he received a lot of attention and eventually helped him win more jobs thanks to his debut picture, “No Way Out.” Shoot to Kill, The Defiant Ones, Lilies of the Field, Stir Crazy, In the Heat of the Night, and Porgy and Bess are just a few of his masterpieces. He has also helmed films including Ghost dad, A piece of Action, and A pleasant December. Additionally, he served on the Walt Disney Company’s Board of Directors.

Sidney made history in 1963 when he became the first black man to ever take home an Oscar. After his appearance in “Lilies of the Field,” he received the award. Poitier expressed worries that he was seen as a “token” in Hollywood despite these accolades, and he continued to be the only significant black actor in the industry at the time. He was given a lot of jobs that were similar as a result. Sidney temporarily withdrew from the world of film due to these worries.

He changed his direction in 1964 and started concentrating on music. Sidney read several of Plato’s writings on the album “Poitier Meets Plato,” which was produced by musician Fred Katz that same year. He eventually made a comeback to acting, making roles in films including “The Bedford Incident,” “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” and “A Patch of Blue” during the following few years. He had reached the pinnacle of his career by the late 1960s, when he appeared in popular films including “To Sir, With Love,” “In the Heat of the Night,” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”

How was the Personal Life of Sidney Poitier?

Sidney Poitier was first married to Juanita Hardy in 1950. The couple split in 1965 after Poitier’s affair with actress Diahann Carroll. He then got married to Canadian actress Joanna Shimkus, and they remained together till the time of his death.

He has six children; four kids from his first wife and two kids from his second marriage. He also had grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Poitier died at his home in Los Angeles on 6 January 2022, at the age of 94.

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