Legendary actor Sidney Poitier has passed away at 94. His breakthrough acting work in the 1950s and 1960s helped lay the groundwork for generations of Black cinema stars.
Statement from the Poitier family
There are no words to convey the deep sense of loss and sadness we are feeling
– Poitier Family
right now. We are so grateful he was able to spend his last day surrounded by his
family and friends. 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.
Actor Harry Belafonte shared this message about Sidney Portier:
“For over 80 years, Sidney and I laughed, cried and made as much mischief as we could. He was truly my brother and partner in trying to make this world a little better. He certainly made mine a whole lot better.”
– Harry Belafonte
Celebrities shared their reflections and condolences via Twitter:
Early Life
Poitier was of Bahamaian descent, and worked hard to ascend to the top of his profession at a time when significant opportunities for African-American performers were scarce. He made history when he received the Academy Award for his performance in the 1963 film “Lilies of the Field”.
Many of his most well-known films dealt with racial divisions at a time when Americans were coping with the societal upheavals brought about by the Civil Rights movement in the United States. His roles in “In the Heat of the Night” and “Guess Who highlighted racial discrimination.
The characters he played during the 1950s and 1960s helped African-American viewers see Black people on screen as more than servants, but as physicians, professors, and investigators.
In addition to acting, the Poitier was a diplomat. In 1997, he was appointed to the position of Bahamas ambassador to Japan. He held the title until his retirement in 2007.
Poitier was married twice, and had a high profile relationship with legendary actress and singer Diahann Carroll. Poitier tied the knot with Canadian actress Joanna Shimkus in 1976. She remained his partner until his passing.
In addition to his six children, he is survived by eight grandkids and three great-grandchildren.
Mr. Poitier will be missed beyond measure.
Loading…