The world is saddened by the news of the death of Sidney Poitier [1]. The late actor died at age 94 on Jan. 6. Upon learning of his death, tributes immediately poured in [2] from fans and celebrities alike. The film director, activist, philanthropist, diplomat, and author was the definition of a true trailblazer. His excellence, grace, and sheer passion for the arts is enough to cement his legacy as an iconic film star. But for Black actors specifically, Sidney's body of work changed the face of Hollywood forever, and it's his accomplishments that we have to thank for breaking down so many doors for today's stars.
Just looking back at his many standout roles — including A Raisin in the Sun, The Defiant Ones, No Way Out, Lilies of the Field, and To Sir, With Love, to name a few — Sidney's multidecade pioneering career gave many actors a path to aspire to in their own endeavors. Beyond the silver screen, Sidney dedicated his life to humanitarianism, specifically from his native Bahamas. He served as a Bahamian ambassador to Japan [3] from 1997 to 2007, as well as a vocal civil rights advocate for Black actors throughout his life. Not enough can be said to highlight all of Sidney's countless, tremendous contributions, but you can read about some of his best moments ahead.
When He Became the First Black Man to Win an Oscar For Best Actor
Sidney picked up his first best actor Oscar nomination in 1959 for his performance in The Defiant Ones, starring opposite Tony Curtis. Five years later, his best actor nomination turned into a win [5] for his role in Lilies of the Field — making him the first Black man in Hollywood [6] to achieve such a feat.
When Denzel Washington Gave Him an Honorary Oscar at the 74th Academy Awards
Decades after winning his historical Oscar, Sidney was graced with another Oscar for his groundbreaking legacy as a film star. At the 2002 Oscars, Denzel Washington [8] — who regards Sidney as his dear friend — presented the legendary actor [9] with an honorary Oscar to celebrate his "remarkable accomplishments as an artist and as a human being."
When He Reflected on His Rich Legacy at the 2002 Oscars
Sidney's legacy has always been celebrated throughout his life, but the actor himself had a chance to look back on everything he accomplished in his career when he received that honorary Oscar in 2002.
"I arrived in Hollywood at the age of 22 in a time different than today's," he said in his speech [10]. "A time in which the odds against my standing here tonight 53 years later would not have fallen in my favor. Back then, no route had been established for where I was hoping to go, no pathway left in evidence for me to trace, no custom for me to follow. Yet, here I am this evening at the end of a journey that in 1949 would have been considered almost impossible and in fact might never have been set in motion were there not an untold number of courageous, unselfish choices made by a handful of visionary American filmmakers, directors, writers and producers."
When Barack Obama Presented Him With the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Former President Barack Obama awarded Sidney with the Presidential Medal of Freedom [11] during his first term at The White House in 2009. Sidney's medal was the highest civilian honor, celebrating him for his artistic and humanitarian achievements, through which he broke barriers both on and off the silver screen.
When He Shared How He Overcame Racial Dogma Before Becoming a Film Star
Sidney appeared on The Oprah Winfrey [12] Show when the daytime talk show was still on the air. During his appearance, he explained to Oprah how he overcame the racial prejudices of the South and came to understand who he was as a Black man and a human being, despite his circumstances. "Before I got to Florida, I had the opportunity, through my mother and my dad, to have set some kind of foundation as to who I was," he said in his interview [13]. "And I was not what I was required to be in Florida . . . I was taught that I had basic rights as a human being. I was taught that I was someone."