Sidney Poitier (1927–2022)

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Sidney Poitier was a native of Cat Island, Bahamas, although born, two months prematurely, in Miami during a visit by his parents, Evelyn (Outten) and Reginald James Poitier. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers, with his father also driving a cab in Nassau. Sidney had little formal education and at the age of 15 was sent to Miami to live ... See full bio »

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Remembering Sidney Poitier (1927-2022)

From Lillies of the Field to The Sir, with Love, we take a look back at Sidney Poitier's life and career in photos.

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 27 wins & 41 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

601 photos | 39 videos »

Known For

Lilies of the Field
Lilies of the Field Homer Smith
(1963)
In the Heat of the Night
In the Heat of the Night Det. Virgil Tibbs
(1967)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner John Prentice
(1967)
The Defiant Ones
The Defiant Ones Noah Cullen
(1958)
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Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Actor (55 credits)
 2001 The Last Brickmaker in America (TV Movie)
Henry Cobb
 1999 The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn (TV Movie)
Noah Dearborn
 1998 David and Lisa (TV Movie)
Dr. Jack Miller
 1998 Free of Eden (TV Movie)
Will Cleamons
 1997 The Jackal
Preston
 1997 Mandela and de Klerk (TV Movie)
Nelson Mandela
 1996 To Sir, with Love II (TV Movie)
Mark Thackeray
 1995 Children of the Dust (TV Mini Series)
Gypsy Smith
- Episode #1.2 (1995) ... Gypsy Smith
- Episode #1.1 (1995) ... Gypsy Smith
 1992 Sneakers
Crease
 1991 Separate But Equal (TV Mini Series)
Thurgood Marshall
- Separate But Equal: Part Two (1991) ... Thurgood Marshall
- Separate But Equal: Part One (1991) ... Thurgood Marshall
 1988 Little Nikita
Roy Parmenter
 1988 Shoot to Kill
Warren Stantin
 1977 A Piece of the Action
Manny Durrell
 1975 Let's Do It Again
Clyde Williams
 1975 The Wilby Conspiracy
Shack Twala
 1974 Uptown Saturday Night
Steve Jackson
 1973 A Warm December
Dr. Matt Younger
 1972 Buck and the Preacher
Buck
 1971 The Organization
Virgil Tibbs
 1971 Brother John
John Kane
 1970 They Call Me Mister Tibbs!
Virgil Tibbs
 1969 The Lost Man
Jason Higgs
 1968 For Love of Ivy
Jack Parks
 1967 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
John Prentice
 1967 In the Heat of the Night
Det. Virgil Tibbs
 1967 To Sir, with Love
Mark Thackeray
 1966 Duel at Diablo
Toller
 1965 A Patch of Blue
Gordon Ralfe
 1965 The Slender Thread
Alan Newell
 1965 The Bedford Incident
Ben Munceford
 1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told
Simon of Cyrene
 1964 The Long Ships
Aly Mansuh
 1963 Lilies of the Field
Homer Smith
 1962 Pressure Point
Doctor
 1961 Paris Blues
Eddie Cook
 1961 A Raisin in the Sun
Walter Lee Younger
 1960 All the Young Men
Sgt. Eddie Towler
 1959 Porgy and Bess
Porgy
 1958 Our Virgin Island
Marcus
 1958 The Defiant Ones
Noah Cullen
 1957 The Mark of the Hawk
Obam
 1957 Band of Angels
Rau-Ru
 1957 Something of Value
Kimani Wa Karanja
 1957 Edge of the City
Tommy Tyler
 1956 Good-bye, My Lady
Gates Watson
 1952-1955 The Philco Television Playhouse (TV Series)
Tommy Tyler
- A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (1955) ... Tommy Tyler
- Parole Chief (1952)
 1955 Ponds Theater (TV Series)
- The Fascinating Stranger (1955)
 1955 Blackboard Jungle
Gregory W. Miller
 1954 Go Man Go
Inman Jackson
 1952 Omnibus (TV Series) (segment "The Bad Men")
- The Trial of Anne Boleyn (1952) ... (segment "The Bad Men")
 1952 Red Ball Express
Cpl. Andrew Robertson
 1952 CBS Television Workshop (TV Series)
- Careless Love (1952)
 1951 Cry, the Beloved Country
Reverend Msimangu
 1950 No Way Out
Dr. Luther Brooks
 1947 Sepia Cinderella
Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Show Show Director (9 credits)
Show Show Producer (4 credits)
Show Show Soundtrack (5 credits)
Show Show Writer (1 credit)
Show Show Thanks (6 credits)
Show Show Self (129 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (71 credits)

Related Videos

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Personal Details

Other Works:

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

Publicity Listings:

1 Biographical Movie | 5 Print Biographies | 1 Portrayal | 2 Interviews | 17 Articles | 2 Pictorials | 20 Magazine Cover Photos | See more »

Alternate Names:

Sir Sidney Poitier

Height:

6' 2½" (1.89 m)

Spouse:

Joanna Shimkus  (his death)  (2 children) | See more »

Children:

Pamela Poitier | See more »

Parents:

Evelyn Poitier | Reginald James Poitier

Relatives:

Cyril Poitier (sibling) | See more »
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I decided in my life that I would do nothing that did not reflect positively on my father's life. See more »

Trivia:

He was awarded an honorary knighthood of the Order of the British Empire in 1974. As an honorary knight, he is not entitled to call himself or to be known as "Sir Sidney Poitier" but he may use the postnomials (KBE or K.B.E.) if he so chooses. See more »
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