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Overview

Date of Birth:

20 February 1927, Miami, Florida, USA more

Contact:

View agent and company contact info on IMDbPro.

Mini Biography:

A native of Cat Island, The Bahamas, (though born in Miami during a mainland... more

Trivia:

Was named #22 greatest actor on the 50 Greatest Screen Legends by the... more

STARmeter:

Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 22 wins & 24 nominations more

NewsDesk:
(79 articles)

AFI's 100 Years ...100 Movie Quotes
(From Extra. 4 November 2009, 4:45 AM, PST)
A flirt at 3!
(From t5m.com. 3 November 2009, 9:58 AM, PST)

Alternate Names:

Sir Sidney Poitier

Filmography

Jump to filmography as: Actor, Director, Soundtrack, Producer, Writer, Self, Archive Footage

			Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
1.	The Last Brickmaker in America (2001) (TV)	Henry Cobb	2001	-	6.9 (173)

2.	The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn (1999) (TV)	Noah Dearborn	1999	-	6.7 (445)

3.	Free of Eden (1999) (TV)	Will Cleamons	1999	-	5.2 (163)

4.	David and Lisa (1998) (TV)	Dr. Jack Miller	1998	-	6.8 (325)
	AKAs: Oprah Winfrey Presents: David and Lisa (USA: complete title)
5.	The Jackal (1997)	FBI Deputy Director Carter Preston	1997	$159M	5.9 (32,299)
	AKAs: Der Schakal (Germany) Le chacal (France: dubbed version)
6.	Mandela and de Klerk (1997) (TV)	Nelson Mandela	1997	-	7.2 (246)

7.	To Sir, with Love II (1996) (TV)	Mark Thackeray	1996	-	5.6 (337)

8.	Children of the Dust (1995) (TV)	Gypsy Smith	1995	-	6.8 (217)
	AKAs: A Good Day to Die (USA: video title)
9.	Sneakers (1992)	Donald Crease	1992	-	7.0 (22,705)

10.	Separate But Equal (1991) (TV)	Thurgood Marshall	1991	-	7.4 (282)

11.	Little Nikita (1988)	Roy Parmenter	1988	-	6.1 (2,119)
	AKAs: The Sleepers
12.	Shoot to Kill (1988)	Warren Stantin	1988	-	6.6 (3,799)
	AKAs: Deadly Pursuit (UK)
13.	A Piece of the Action (1977)	Manny Durrell	1977	-	5.9 (321)

14.	Let's Do It Again (1975)	Clyde Williams	1975	-	6.1 (548)

15.	The Wilby Conspiracy (1975)	Shack Twala	1975	-	6.3 (503)

16.	Uptown Saturday Night (1974)	Steve Jackson	1974	-	6.2 (682)

17.	A Warm December (1973)	Matt Younger	1973	-	4.8 (115)

18.	Buck and the Preacher (1972)	Buck	1972	-	6.2 (371)

19.	The Organization (1971)	Virgil Tibbs	1971	-	6.0 (409)

20.	Brother John (1971)	John Kane	1971	-	6.5 (180)

21.	They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! (1970)	Virgil Tibbs	1970	-	5.9 (993)

22.	The Lost Man (1969)	Jason Higgs	1969	-	6.2 (46)

23.	For Love of Ivy (1968)	Jack Parks	1968	-	5.9 (284)

24.	Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)	Dr. John Wade Prentice	1967	-	7.7 (10,520)

25.	In the Heat of the Night (1967)	Virgil Tibbs	1967	-	8.1 (20,814)

26.	To Sir, with Love (1967)	Mark Thackeray	1967	-	7.5 (5,054)

27.	Duel at Diablo (1966)	Toller (contract horse dealer)	1966	-	6.5 (877)
	AKAs: Ralph Nelson's Duel at Diablo (USA: complete title)
28.	The Slender Thread (1965)	Alan Newell	1965	-	7.2 (524)

29.	A Patch of Blue (1965)	Gordon Ralfe	1965	-	7.9 (2,618)

30.	The Bedford Incident (1965)	Ben Munceford	1965	-	7.5 (1,687)

31.	The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)	Simon of Cyrene	1965	-	6.3 (3,049)
	AKAs: George Stevens Presents The Greatest Story Ever Told (USA: complete title)
32.	The Long Ships (1964)	Aly Mansuh	1964	-	5.9 (843)
	AKAs: Dugi brodovi (Yugoslavia: Serbian title)
33.	Lilies of the Field (1963)	Homer Smith	1963	-	7.6 (3,182)

34.	Pressure Point (1962)	Doctor (Chief Psychiatrist)	1962	-	7.1 (382)

35.	Paris Blues (1961)	Eddie Cook	1961	-	6.6 (604)

36.	A Raisin in the Sun (1961)	Walter Lee Younger	1961	-	8.1 (2,283)

37.	All the Young Men (1960)	Sgt. Eddie Towler	1960	-	6.1 (135)

38.	Porgy and Bess (1959)	Porgy	1959	-	7.7 (566)

39.	The Defiant Ones (1958)	Noah Cullen	1958	-	7.7 (3,813)

40.	Virgin Island (1958)	Marcus	1958	-	6.3 (34)
	AKAs: Our Virgin Island (USA)
41.	The Mark of the Hawk (1957)	Obam	1957	-	4.8 (78)
	AKAs: Accused
42.	Band of Angels (1957)	Rau-Ru	1957	-	6.4 (569)

43.	Something of Value (1957)	Kimani Wa Karanja	1957	-	6.5 (318)
	AKAs: Africa Ablaze (USA: reissue title)
44.	Edge of the City (1957)	Tommy Tyler	1957	-	7.0 (810)
	AKAs: A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (UK)
45.	Good-bye, My Lady (1956)	Gates	1956	-	7.0 (165)
	AKAs: Good Bye My Lady (USA: poster title) Goodbye, My Lady (USA: cable TV title)
46.	"The Philco Television Playhouse" (1948)	Tommy Tyler (2 episodes, 1952-1955)	1955	-	8.0 (19)
	AKAs: Arena Theatre (USA: new title) Repertory Theatre (USA: new title) The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (USA: new title) 2 TV episodes: "The Philco Television Playhouse: A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (#8.3)" Tommy Tyler "The Philco Television Playhouse: Parole Chief (#5.5)"
47.	"Kraft Television Theatre" (1953)	(1 episode, 1955)	1955	-	-
	AKAs: Ponds Theater (USA: new title) 1 TV episode: "Kraft Television Theatre: The Fascinating Stranger (#2.39)"
48.	Blackboard Jungle (1955)	Gregory W. Miller	1955	-	7.4 (3,262)
	AKAs: The Blackboard Jungle (USA: review title)
49.	Go, Man, Go! (1954)	Inman Jackson	1954	-	6.3 (47)

50.	Red Ball Express (1952)	Cpl. Andrew Robertson	1952	-	6.3 (167)

51.	Cry, the Beloved Country (1952)	Reverend Msimangu	1952	-	6.9 (197)
	AKAs: African Fury
52.	No Way Out (1950)	Dr. Luther Brooks	1950	-	7.5 (1,020)

53.	Sepia Cinderella (1947)	(uncredited) Night Club Extra	1947	-	5.4 (11)

		Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
1.	Ghost Dad (1990)	1990	-	3.8 (3,031)

2.	Fast Forward (1985)	1985	-	4.2 (260)

3.	Hanky Panky (1982)	1982	-	5.3 (765)

4.	Stir Crazy (1980)	1980	-	6.6 (6,190)

5.	A Piece of the Action (1977)	1977	-	5.9 (321)

6.	Let's Do It Again (1975)	1975	-	6.1 (548)

7.	Uptown Saturday Night (1974)	1974	-	6.2 (682)

8.	A Warm December (1973)	1973	-	4.8 (115)

9.	Buck and the Preacher (1972)	1972	-	6.2 (371)

			Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
1.	The 41st Annual Academy Awards (1969) (TV)	(performer: "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang")	1969	-	6.3 (39)

2.	Lilies of the Field (1963)	(performer: "Amen" (uncredited))	1963	-	7.6 (3,182)

3.	Porgy and Bess (1959)	(performer: "They Pass By Singin'", "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'", "Bess, You Is My Woman Now", "O Bess, O Where's My Bess", "Finale: O Lawd, I'm On My Way") ("I Loves You Porgy")	1959	-	7.7 (566)

Producer View by NEW				Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
	1.	Free of Eden (1999) (TV)	(executive producer)	1999	-	5.2 (163)

Writer View by NEW				Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
	1.	For Love of Ivy (1968)	(story)	1968	-	5.9 (284)

			Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
1.	Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (in production) (2010)	Himself	2010	-	-

2.	"Entertainment Tonight" (1981)	Himself (1 episode, 2009)	2009	-	3.7 (658)
	AKAs: E.T. (USA: informal title) ET Weekend (Australia: weekend title) Entertainment This Week (weekend title) This Week in Entertainment (USA: weekend title) 1 TV episode: "Entertainment Tonight: (2009-04-21)" Himself
3.	Stand Up to Cancer (2008) (TV)	Himself	2008	-	8.4 (50)

4.	"Tavis Smiley" (2004)	Himself (2 episodes, 2008)	2008	-	5.6 (86)
	2 TV episodes: "Tavis Smiley: (2008-06-10)" Himself "Tavis Smiley: (2008-06-09)" Himself
5.	"Larry King Live" (1985)	Himself (1 episode, 2008)	2008	-	5.8 (388)
	1 TV episode: "Larry King Live: Sidney Poitier" Himself
6.	The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (TV)	Himself	2008	-	6.7 (807)

7.	39th NAACP Image Awards (2008) (TV)	Himself	2008	-	-

8.	Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007)	Himself	2007	-	7.7 (347)

9.	"The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986)	Himself (4 episodes, 2000-2007)	2007	-	7.4 (10)
	AKAs: Oprah (USA: short title) 4 TV episodes: "The Oprah Winfrey Show: (2007-03-28)" Himself "The Oprah Winfrey Show: (2005-11-14)" Himself "The Oprah Winfrey Show: Oprah's 50th Birthday Bash!" Himself "The Oprah Winfrey Show: (2000-04-07)" Himself
10.	Building a Dream: The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy (2007) (TV)	Himself	2007	-	6.6 (31)

11.	The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special (2007) (TV)	Himself	2007	-	6.9 (22)

12.	The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2006) (TV)	Himself	2006	-	6.8 (46)

13.	Ali Rap (2006) (TV)	Himself	2006	-	5.4 (20)

14.	2006 BAFTA/LA Cunard Britannia Awards (2006) (TV)	Himself	2006	-	-

15.	AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers (2006) (TV)	Himself	2006	-	6.6 (86)

16.	Legends Ball (2006) (TV)	Himself	2006	-	5.4 (76)

17.	The Lew Rudin Way (2006)	Himself	2006	-	-

18.	The Black Movie Awards (2005) (TV)	Himself	2005	-	2.6 (11)

19.	36th NAACP Image Awards (2005) (TV)	Himself - Presenter	2005	-	3.5 (29)

20.	Tell Them Who You Are (2004)	Himself	2004	-	6.8 (330)

21.	Hollywood Legenden (2004) (TV)	Himself	2004	-	6.6 (33)
	AKAs: Hollywood Legends (USA: literal English title)
22.	The Making of 'Sneakers' (2003) (V)	Himself	2003	-	6.7 (23)

23.	The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2002) (TV)	Himself	2002	-	7.2 (40)

24.	The Making of 'Changing Lanes' (2002) (V)	Himself	2002	-	5.7 (59)
	AKAs: Behind the Scenes of 'Changing Lanes' (Australia)
25.	The 74th Annual Academy Awards (2002) (TV)	Himself - Honorary Award Recipient	2002	-	5.5 (822)

26.	2002 Trumpet Awards (2002) (TV)	Himself	2002	-	-

27.	"Exclusif" (1999)	Himself (1 episode, 2002)	2002	-	3.6 (12)
	1 TV episode: "Exclusif: (2002-01-30)" Himself
28.	Muhammad Ali's All-Star 60th Birthday Celebration! (2002) (TV)	Himself	2002	-	4.5 (44)

29.	"American Masters" (1983)	Himself (2 episodes, 2000-2001)	2001	-	8.3 (66)
	2 TV episodes: "American Masters: Quincy Jones: In the Pocket" "American Masters: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light" Himself
30.	32nd NAACP Image Awards (2001) (TV)	Himself	2001	-	1.8 (42)

31.	Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey (2001)	Narrator	2001	-	8.5 (12)

32.	AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Barbra Streisand (2001) (TV)	Himself	2001	-	7.7 (102)
	AKAs: 29th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award: A Salute to Barbra Streisand (USA: complete title)
33.	"Bravo Profiles" (1994)	Himself (1 episode, 2001)	2001	-	7.7 (5)
	1 TV episode: "Bravo Profiles: Rod Steiger" Himself
34.	The BBC and the BAFTA Tribute to Michael Caine (2000) (TV)	Himself	2000	-	5.6 (26)

35.	"Biography" (1987)	Himself (1 episode, 2000)	2000	-	8.0 (266)
	1 TV episode: "Biography: Richard Widmark: Strength of Characters" Himself
36.	6th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2000) (TV)		2000	-	4.4 (84)

37.	ABC 2000: The Millennium (1999) (TV)		1999	-	5.8 (34)

38.	"The Howard Stern Radio Show" (1998)	Himself (1 episode, 1999)	1999	-	5.2 (176)
	1 TV episode: "The Howard Stern Radio Show: (1999-05-08)" Himself
39.	"The Directors" (1999)	Himself (1 episode, 1999)	1999	-	7.6 (81)
	1 TV episode: "The Directors: The Films of Norman Jewison" Himself
40.	The Making of 'The Jackal' (1998) (V)	Himself	1998	-	4.5 (20)

41.	League of Legends (1998) (TV)	Himself	1998	-	-

42.	The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) (TV)	(uncredited) Himself - Past Winner	1998	-	6.2 (481)

43.	The 68th Annual Academy Awards (1996) (TV)	Himself - Presenter: Best Picture	1996	-	5.4 (243)

44.	The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1995) (TV)	Himself (Honoree)	1995	-	6.4 (29)

45.	Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick (1995)	Himself	1995	-	7.5 (108)

46.	A Century of Cinema (1994)	Himself	1994	-	5.6 (231)

47.	The American Film Institute Salute to Elizabeth Taylor (1993) (TV)	Himself	1993	-	8.1 (73)

48.	The American Film Institute Salute to Sidney Poitier (1992) (TV)	Himself - Guest of Honor	1992	-	6.0 (56)

49.	The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1991) (TV)	(uncredited) Presenter	1991	-	4.0 (27)

50.	Sinatra 75: The Best Is Yet to Come (1990) (TV)	Himself	1990	-	5.7 (35)

51.	22nd NAACP Image Awards (1990) (TV)	Himself	1990	-	2.9 (21)

52.	The American Film Institute Salute to Gregory Peck (1989) (TV)	Himself	1989	-	7.7 (52)

53.	The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1989) (TV)	Himself	1989	-	6.7 (25)

54.	"Cinema tres" (1984)	Himself (1 episode, 1988)	1988	-	6.0 (27)
	AKAs: Informatiu cinema (Spain: Catalan title) 1 TV episode: "Cinema tres: (1988-07-27)" Himself
55.	The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn (1986) (TV)	Himself	1986	-	8.1 (95)
	AKAs: The Spencer Tracy Legacy (USA: alternative title)
56.	Bopha! (1986) (TV)	(voice) Narrator	1986	-	5.4 (9)

57.	Black Hollywood (1984) (TV)	Himself	1984	-	-

58.	The Third Annual Black Achievement Awards (1980) (TV)	Himself	1980	-	-

59.	Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (1979)	(voice) Narrator	1979	-	8.1 (59)
	AKAs: Paul Robeson: A Film Tribute (USA: closing credits title)
60.	The American Film Institute's 10th Anniversary Special (1977) (TV)	Himself	1977	-	-

61.	"ABC's Wide World of Entertainment" (1973)	Himself (1 episode, 1975)	1975	-	6.8 (15)
	AKAs: ABC Late Night (USA: new title) 1 TV episode: "ABC's Wide World of Entertainment: The Columbia Pictures 50th Anniversary Special" Himself
62.	"The New Bill Cosby Show" (1972)	Himself (1 episode, 1972)	1972	-	4.6 (21)
	1 TV episode: "The New Bill Cosby Show: (1972-09-11)" Himself
63.	"The Dick Cavett Show" (1968)	Himself (1 episode, 1972)	1972	-	7.9 (114)
	1 TV episode: "The Dick Cavett Show: (1972-05-01)" Himself
64.	"Film Night" (1970)	Himself (1 episode, 1972)	1972	-	7.0 (6)
	1 TV episode: "Film Night: (1972-04-15)" Himself
65.	King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970)	Himself	1970	-	7.1 (88)

66.	The 41st Annual Academy Awards (1969) (TV)	Himself - Performer & Co-Presenter: Best Picture	1969	-	6.3 (39)

67.	The 40th Annual Academy Awards (1968) (TV)	Himself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role	1968	-	5.1 (46)

68.	The 39th Annual Academy Awards (1967) (TV)	Himself - Presenter: Best Actress in a	1967	-	6.3 (58)

69.	"ABC Stage 67" (1966)	Himself - Host (1 episode, 1967)	1967	-	7.5 (15)
	1 TV episode: "ABC Stage 67: A Time for Laughter: A Look at Negro Humor in America (#1.23)" Himself - Host
70.	The Strolling '20s (1966) (TV)	Himself	1966	-	-

71.	The 37th Annual Academy Awards (1965) (TV)	Himself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role	1965	-	6.4 (40)

72.	A Cinderella Named Elizabeth (1965)	Himself	1965	-	5.4 (8)

73.	The 36th Annual Academy Awards (1964) (TV)	Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a Leading Role & Presenter: Best Film Editing	1964	-	4.1 (37)

74.	"Cinépanorama" (1956)	Himself (1 episode, 1962)	1962	-	6.2 (13)
	1 TV episode: "Cinépanorama: (1962-03-03)" Himself
75.	"Sunday Showcase" (1959)	Himself (1 episode, 1959)	1959	-	6.0 (15)
	AKAs: Breck Sunday Showcase (USA: promotional title) NBC Sunday Showcase (USA: complete title) 1 TV episode: "Sunday Showcase: A Tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt on Her Diamond Jubilee (#1.4)" Himself
76.	From Whence Cometh My Help (1949)		1949	-	-


1.	Sidney Poitier, un outsider à Hollywood (2008) (TV)	Himself

2.	"The O'Reilly Factor"
	1 TV episode: Episode dated 14 March 2008 (2008) Det. Virgil Tibbs (scene from 'In the Heat of the Night')
3.	Cámara negra. Teatro Victoria Eugenia (2007) (TV)	Himself

4.	Bicentennial Nigger (2006)	Aly Mansuh

5.	Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005) (TV)	Cpl. Andrew Robertson

6.	TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) (V)

7.	Century of Black Cinema (2003) (V)	Himself

8.	"American Dreams"
	1 TV episode: The One (2003) Himself
9.	Playboy: Inside the Playboy Mansion (2002) (TV)	Himself

10.	"Omnibus"
	1 TV episode: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light (2000) Himself
11.	Playboy: The Party Continues (2000) (TV)	Himself

12.	Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood (1998) (TV)	Himself

13.	Classified X (1998) (TV)	Himself

14.	Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist (1998)	Reverend Msimangu

15.	America at the Movies (1976)	Walter Lee Younger

16.	"Film Night"
	1 TV episode: The Black Man in the Cinema (1971) Himself
17.	Black History: Lost Stolen, or Strayed (1968) (TV)	(uncredited) Himself/Dr. John Wade Prentice

Additional Details

Other Works:

Stage: Appeared on Broadway in "A Raisin in the Sun", for which he was nominated for a Tony award, 1960. more

Publicity Listings:

Genres:

Drama | Documentary | Comedy | Family more

Plot Keywords:

African American | Character Name In Title | TV Special | Awards Show more

Message Boards

Discuss this person with other users on IMDb message board for Sidney Poitier

Recent Posts (updated daily)	User
Served this Legendary Man....	strvngactor29
Great in 'No Way Out' as Doctor Brooks	g3pro
Mr. Poitier...please answer me this:	alexkalognomos
An Inspiration	lmg_86
Age??	lutherpons
1967	gominator92

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Sidney Poitier More at IMDbPro »

Overview

Date of Birth:

Contact:

Mini Biography:

Trivia:

STARmeter:

Awards:

NewsDesk: (79 articles)

Alternate Names:

Filmography

Actor

Director

Soundtrack

Producer

Writer

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