Sidney Poitier, a well-known author, has passed away recently. In his nineties, he was the oldest person alive.
For his role in Lilies of the Field, the actor from Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner was the first Black recipient of the Best Actor Oscar.
According to Eyewitness News Bahamas, Fred Mitchell, the Bahamas’ minister of international affairs, said, “We’ve lost a wonderful Bahamian and I’ve lost a personal friend.”
The cause of death has yet to be determined.
Poitier grew reared in the Bahamas before being granted citizenship in the United States after being born in Miami while his parents were traveling. When he was 15, he moved to the United States, where he landed his first film part in the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle.
In 1958, he was nominated for an Oscar for The Defiant Ones, and six years later, he won, making history.
Denzel Washington paid tribute to Poitier as he became the second Black actor to win the award for Training Day in 2001.
“I’ll always be pursuing you, Sidney,” Washington said during his acceptance speech. I’ll always be a follower of yours. Sir, there’s nothing I’d rather do.”
Washngton also expressed regret earlier this week that he had never created a film with the retiring To Sir, with Love actor.
“God bless him — he’s still alive,” he continued, “but yeah, I missed the chance.”
Poitier is survived by six children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was married to Juanita Hardy from 1960 to 1965 and Joanna Shimkus from 1976 to his death.
He was unveiled as the subject of a new Broadway drama last month.
