Sidney Poitier (1927-2022) considered one of the greatest actors of our time
Film legend Sir Sidney Poitier, famous early in his acting career for film hits “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “Lilies of the Field,” is also famous for being the first Black actor to win an Oscar for his performance in “Lillies…” Later in his career, he also became a noted director of hit films like “Stir Crazy” and “Uptown Saturday Night.” Born on February 20, 1927, in Miami, Florida, the Bahamian-American actor died on January 6 at the age of 94 surrounded by his family.
“There are no words to convey the deep sense of loss and sadness we are feeling right now,” the family said in a statement shared by US news outlets.
“We are so grateful he was able to spend his last day surrounded by his family and friends. ~ ITV
Statement from the Poitier family:
“To us Sidney Poitier was not only a brilliant actor, activist, and a man of incredible grace and moral fortitude, he was also a devoted and loving husband, a supportive and adoring father, and a man who always put family first. He is our guiding light who lit up our lives with infinite love and wonder. His smile was healing, his hugs the warmest refuge, and his laughter was infectious.
“We could always turn to him for wisdom and solace and his absence feels like a giant hole in our family and our hearts. Although he is no longer here with us in this realm, his beautiful soul will continue to guide and inspire us. He will live on in us, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren—in every belly laugh, every curious inquiry, every act of compassion and kindness. His legacy will live on in the world, continuing to inspire not only with his incredible body of work, but even more so with his humanity.
“We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to every single one of you for the outpouring of love from around the world. So many have been touched by our dad’s extraordinary life, his unwavering sense of decency and respect for his fellow man. His faith in humanity never faltered, so know that for all the love you’ve shown him, he loved you back.”
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Below are only a handful of his more famous films as provided by Ultimate Movie Rankings. Do you recognize any of the titles?
| 1958 | The Defiant Ones (1958) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Nom |
| 1959 | Porgy and Bess (1959) |
| 1960 | All the Young Men (1960) |
| 1961 | A Raisin in the Sun (1961) |
| 1961 | Paris Blues (1961) |
| 1963 | Lilies of the Field (1963) AA Best Picture Nom AA Best Actor Win |
| 1965 | A Patch of Blue (1965) |
| 1965 | The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) |
| 1965 | The Bedford Incident (1965) |
| 1965 | The Slender Thread (1965) |
| 1967 | In the Heat of the Night (1967) AA Best Picture Win |
| 1967 | Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) AA Best Picture Nom |
| 1967 | To Sir, with Love (1967) |
| 1968 | For Love of Ivy (1968) |
| 1970 | They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) |
| 1972 | Buck and the Preacher (1972) |
| 1974 | Uptown Saturday Night (1974) |
| 1974 | Uptown Saturday Night (1974) |
| 1977 | A Piece of the Action (1977) |
| 1980 | Stir Crazy (1980) |
| 1988 | Shoot to Kill (1988) |
| 1988 | Little Nikita (1988) |
| 1990 | Ghost Dad (1990) |
| 1992 | Sneakers (1992) |
In the turbulent 1960s, Poitier and friend Harry Belafonte joined in the front lines of the civil rights movement. He was knighted in 1974 and also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on August 12, 2009.
“It’s been an enormous responsibility. And I accepted it, and I lived in a way that showed how I respected that responsibility. I had to. In order for others to come behind me, there were certain things I had to do.” — Sidney Poitier in a 2000 interview with Oprah Winfrey
Tributes
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Below, see one of this writer’s more memorable Sidney Poitier scenes, the final scene in “Lillies of the Field,” where Homer Smith, played by Poitier, leaves Mother Maria, played by Lilia Skala after building a group of nuns a chapel. “Amen.”
Rest in Peace Sidney Poitier
(Full obituary: The New York Times)
(Source: Legacy.com)
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
