01of 15Sidney Poitier’s Early YearsMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer/GettyBorn in Miami in 1927,Sidney Poitierwas raised in the Bahamas but returned to the States as a teen, acting with the North American Negro Theatre before landing his breakthrough role in 1955’sBlackboard Jungle.One of the first Black actors to find commercial success, he was also the first Black man to win the Best Actor Oscar, and paved the way for many actors of color who’ve since followed.

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Sidney Poitier’s Early Years

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Sidney Poitier And Glenn Ford In ‘Blackboard Jungle’

Born in Miami in 1927,Sidney Poitierwas raised in the Bahamas but returned to the States as a teen, acting with the North American Negro Theatre before landing his breakthrough role in 1955’sBlackboard Jungle.

One of the first Black actors to find commercial success, he was also the first Black man to win the Best Actor Oscar, and paved the way for many actors of color who’ve since followed.

02of 15Sidney Poitier and Wife Juanita HardyGordon Parks/The Life Picture Collection/GettyRelaxing with his first wife, Juanita Hardy, at their home in New York City in 1959. Together, they had four daughters.

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Sidney Poitier and Wife Juanita Hardy

Gordon Parks/The Life Picture Collection/Getty

Sidney Poitier and his wife, Juanita Hardy, as they relax at home together, New York, New York

Relaxing with his first wife, Juanita Hardy, at their home in New York City in 1959. Together, they had four daughters.

03of 15Sidney Poitier in ‘The Defiant Ones’Silver Screen Collection/GettyWith Tony Curtis in 1959’sThe Defiant Ones,for which he earned an Oscar nomination.

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Sidney Poitier in ‘The Defiant Ones’

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The Defiant Ones Sidney Poitier as Noah Cullen and Tony Curtis as John

With Tony Curtis in 1959’sThe Defiant Ones,for which he earned an Oscar nomination.

04of 15Sidney Poitier in ‘A Raisin in the Sun’Gordon Parks/The LIFE Picture Collection via GettyOn Broadway in 1959’sA Raisin in the Sun; he later starred in the 1961 film version of the story.

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Sidney Poitier in ‘A Raisin in the Sun’

Gordon Parks/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty

Sidney Poitier In ‘A Raisin in the Sun’

On Broadway in 1959’sA Raisin in the Sun; he later starred in the 1961 film version of the story.

05of 15Sidney Poitier and Diahann CarollEarl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyWith Diahann Caroll, with whom he had a years-long affair, at the 36th Academy Awards in Santa Monica, California, in 1964.

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Sidney Poitier and Diahann Caroll

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Sidney Poitier with Diahann Carroll

With Diahann Caroll, with whom he had a years-long affair, at the 36th Academy Awards in Santa Monica, California, in 1964.

06of 15Sidney Poitier Wins an OscarArchive Photos/GettyShowcasing his historic Oscar forLilies of the Fieldat the 36th Academy Awards in 1964.

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Sidney Poitier Wins an Oscar

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Sidney Poitier With Oscar

Showcasing his historic Oscar forLilies of the Fieldat the 36th Academy Awards in 1964.

07of 15Sidney Poitier in ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’Columbia Pictures/GettyOn screen with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in 1967’sGuess Who’s Coming to Dinner,one of the biggest films of his career. The film also drew attention for dealing with race: Poitier played the Black fiancé of a White woman, meeting her parents for the first time.

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Sidney Poitier in ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’

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Sidney POitier, Spencer Tracy And Katharine Hepburn In ‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner’

On screen with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in 1967’sGuess Who’s Coming to Dinner,one of the biggest films of his career. The film also drew attention for dealing with race: Poitier played the Black fiancé of a White woman, meeting her parents for the first time.

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Sidney Poitier in Uptown Saturday Night

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BILL COSBY, SIDNEY POITIER UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT

09of 15Sidney Poitier and wife Joanna ShimkusRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyWith wife Joanna Shimkus at the Neighborhood of Watts Benefit Dinner at Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills in 1984. Still married at the time of his death, together they had two daughters.

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Sidney Poitier and wife Joanna Shimkus

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Joanna Shimkus and Sidney Poitier during Neighborhood of Watts Benefit Dinner at Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California

With wife Joanna Shimkus at the Neighborhood of Watts Benefit Dinner at Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills in 1984. Still married at the time of his death, together they had two daughters.

10of 15Sidney Poitier’s DaughtersThe LIFE Picture Collection via GettyOut with three of his six daughters and wife Joanna Shimkus in New York City in the early 1980s.

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Sidney Poitier’s Daughters

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Sidney Poitier and His Three Daughters, Sydney Tamiia, Anika, and (either Gina, Pamela or Beverly)

Out with three of his six daughters and wife Joanna Shimkus in New York City in the early 1980s.

11of 15Sidney Poitier Wins an Honorary OscarSidney Poitier.SGranitz/WireImageWith his honorary Academy Award at the 2002 ceremony. He received a minutes-long standing ovation when walking to the mic, and in his moving acceptance speech, spoke of the whiteness of early Hollywood and how the “unselfish” choices of a handful of filmmakers opened doors for him, allowing barriers to be broken for other Black actors and actresses.Poignantly that night, Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards; Berry was the first Black woman to ever win that honor.

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Sidney Poitier Wins an Honorary Oscar

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Sidney Poitier during The 74th Annual Academy Awards

With his honorary Academy Award at the 2002 ceremony. He received a minutes-long standing ovation when walking to the mic, and in his moving acceptance speech, spoke of the whiteness of early Hollywood and how the “unselfish” choices of a handful of filmmakers opened doors for him, allowing barriers to be broken for other Black actors and actresses.

Poignantly that night, Denzel Washington and Halle Berry won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards; Berry was the first Black woman to ever win that honor.

12of 15Sidney Poitier Receives the Presidential Medal of FreedomAndrew Harrer/Bloomberg via GettyReceiving the the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. PresidentBarack Obamain Washington, D.C.

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Sidney Poitier Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom

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Sidney Poitier receives the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009

Receiving the the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. PresidentBarack Obamain Washington, D.C.

13of 15Sidney Poitier in 1999Sam Levi/WireImageWith his family at the 6th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 1999.

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Sidney Poitier in 1999

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Sidney Poitier & Family

With his family at the 6th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 1999.

14of 15Sidney Poitier in 2014Kevin Winter/GettyMaking one of his more recent public appearances at the 2014 Oscars in Los Angeles, presenting Best Director withAngelina Jolie.

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Sidney Poitier in 2014

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Angelina Jolie (L) and Sidney Poitier walk onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014

Making one of his more recent public appearances at the 2014 Oscars in Los Angeles, presenting Best Director withAngelina Jolie.

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Sidney Poitier’s Final Years

Sidney Poitier.Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Sidney Poitier

At 90, Poitier made a rare public appearance at the 50th anniversary screening ofIn the Heat of the Nightduring the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival in L.A.

source: people.com