Poitier, Sidney, 1927–, American actor, b. Miami, raised in the Bahamas, returned to the United States at 15. The first African-American actor to achieve leading man status in Hollywood films, Poitier combines attractiveness and poise with an innate projection of dignity and self-assurance. Many of his plays and films have directly addressed issues of race, including his Broadway triumph, Lorraine Hansberry Hansberry, Lorraine, 1930–65, American playwright, b. Chicago. She grew up on Chicago's South Side. In 1959 she became the first black woman to have a play produced on Broadway when A Raisin in the Sun opened to wide critical acclaim.
..... Click the link for more information. 's A Raisin in the Sun (1959, film 1961), and such films as the pioneering No Way Out (1950), his movie debut; the internationally acclaimed Cry, the Beloved Country (1951), after Alan Paton Paton, Alan (pā`tən), 1903–88, South African novelist.
..... Click the link for more information. 's novel; The Defiant Ones (1957), the film that established Poitier's reputation; Lilies of the Field (1963; Academy Award); Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (1967), which treated the subject of interracial marriage; and In the Heat of the Night (1967). He turned to directing in 1971; among his films are Buck and the Preacher (1972), A Patch of Blue (1973), and Stir Crazy (1980). In 1991 he portrayed Thurgood Marshall Marshall, Thurgood, 1908–93, U.S. lawyer and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1967–91), b. Baltimore. He received his law degree from Howard Univ. in 1933.
..... Click the link for more information. in the Emmy-winning television film Separate but Equal.

Bibliography

See his autobiographies, This Life (1980) and The Measure of a Man (2000); biography by A. Goudsouzian (2004).

Poitier, Sidney

(born Feb. 20, 1927?, Miami, Fla., U.S.) U.S. actor. He was raised in The Bahamas, then studied and acted with the American Negro Theatre in New York City. He made his film debut in No Way Out (1950) and gave notable performances in Blackboard Jungle (1955) and The Defiant Ones (1958). He won acclaim on Broadway for his role in A Raisin in the Sun (1959). He became the first African American actor to win an Academy Award, for his role in Lilies of the Field (1963). He used his critical and commercial success to push for integrated film crews. He went on to star in notable films such as In the Heat of the Night (1967), To Sir with Love (1967), and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967). He also directed several films, including Buck and the Preacher (1972), Let's Do It Again (1975), and Stir Crazy (1980). In 1997 he was appointed The Bahamian ambassador to Japan.

Poitier, Sidney (1924– ) movie actor; born in Miami, Fla. Raised in the Bahamas, he joined the American Negro Theater and appeared on Broadway in 1946. He helped to break the race barrier in Hollywood, beginning with No Way Out (1950), and became the number one African-American actor in movies such as In the Heat of the Night (1967) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967); he was the first African-American to win an Academy Award, as best actor in Lilies of the Field (1963). He later directed a number of movies.