Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier Facts
| Sign | Pisces |
| Born |
Feb 20, 1927 Miami, FL |
| Died |
Jan 6, 2022 Los Angeles, CA |
| Age | Died at 94 |
| Total Facts | 42 |
Stanley Kramer approached him about co-starring in The Defiant Ones (1958), which made him a bigger star, but admitted that if he did not take the role of "Porgy" in Porgy and Bess (1959) for Samuel Goldwyn it might kill his chances to get the role in The Defiant Ones (1958) as Goldwyn had that much clout in Hollywood.
Along with Gary Cooper, is the most represented actor on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time, with five of his films on the list. They are: A Raisin in the Sun (1961) at #65, The Defiant Ones (1958) at #55, Lilies of the Field (1963) at #46, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) at #35, and In the Heat of the Night (1967) at #21.
Along with his name uttered in the lyrics, a photograph of Poitier is held by Busta Rhymes in the 1998 rap video "Gimme Some More".
Appointed an Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1974. Although this is often mistaken to have been an honorary knighthood, it is actually a substantive knighthood, as Poitier is a citizen of The Bahamas, a Commonwealth realm which at the time of his appointment recognized the British Honours System. He is thus entitled to be known as Sir Sidney Poitier, but does not himself use this title.
Children: Beverly Poitier-Henderson, Pamela Poitier, Sherri Poitier, Gina Poitier (with Juanita Hardy); Anika Poitier, Sydney Tamiia Poitier (with Joanna Shimkus).
Considered for the male lead for The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), opposite Diana Sands, who had played the part of "Doris" on Broadway.
During the early 1980s a man named David Hampton conned his way into the homes of several wealthy and prominent New Yorkers (including a dean at Columbia University) by falsely claiming to be Poitier's son. Playwright John Guare, fascinated by the way the story illustrated the magic that the mere mention of Poiter's name held for people of his generation (especially white people), based his play "Six Degrees of Separation" on Hampton's story. The play was adapted into the movie Six Degrees of Separation (1993) in 1993, with Will Smith as the character based upon Hampton.
First black actor to place autograph, hand, and footprints in the cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre (June 23, 1967).
Fluent in Russian.
Former brother-in-law of light-heavyweight champion Archie Moore.
From 1998 to 2003 Sidney Poitier served as a Member of the Board of Directors of The Walt Disney Company.
Future wife Joanna Shimkus encouraged him to direct his first film, Buck and the Preacher (1972), after he and the original director could not agree creatively.
Has an honorary doctorate degree from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Has four grandchildren and two great-granddaughters [2008].
His Stir Crazy (1980) was the highest grossing film directed by a black filmmaker until Scary Movie (2000), directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans almost 20 years later.
His performance as Detective Virgil Tibbs in In the Heat of the Night (1967) is ranked #19 on the American Film Institute's 100 Heroes & Villains.
His performance as Virgil Tibbs in In the Heat of the Night (1967) is ranked #20 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
His performance as Virgil Tibbs in In the Heat of the Night (1967) is ranked #55 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
His role in The Bedford Incident (1965) marked the first time he would play a role in which his character's race was not an issue.
In 1963 he became the first black man to win an Academy Award, for his role as Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field (1963).
In 1963, Sidney Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field.
In 1967 Sidney Poitier starred in three well-received films -To Sir, with Love; In the Heat of the Night; and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner - making him the top box office star of that year.
In 2002, Sidney Poitier was chosen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to receive an Honorary Award, designated "To Sidney Poitier in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments as an artist and as a human being."
In the 1960s, for many of his films, he was paid in a way known as "dollar one participation" which basically means he begins collecting a cut of the film's gross from the first ticket sold.
Is a long time friend of singer, fellow actor and activist Harry Belafonte. They were born 9 days apart. They met in New York at age 20 before either was in show business.
Of Haitian ancestry from his father's side.
On August 12, 2009, Sidney Poitier was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States of America's highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama.
Poitier received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2009.
Poitier was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1974. He is thus entitled to be known as Sir Sidney Poitier, but does not himself use this title.
Poitier was the first black actor to place autograph, hand, and footprints in the cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre (June 23, 1967).
Premiere Magazine ranked him as #20 on a list of the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).
Prostate cancer survivor.
Received the Screen Actors Guild's Life Achievement Award.
Sidney Poitier has written three autobiographical books, This Life (1980), The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (2000) and Life Beyond Measure - letters to my Great-Granddaughter (2008, an Oprah's Book Club selection).
Sidney Poitier's Salary for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) was $200,000 and % of the gross profits; In the Heat of the Night (1967) $200,000 + 20% of the gross profits
Since 1997 Sidney Poitier has been the Bahamian ambassador to Japan.
Sits on USC School of Cinema-Television's Board of Councilors.
Was named #22 greatest actor on the 50 Greatest Screen Legends by the American Film Institute
Was nominated for Broadway's 1960 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "A Raisin in the Sun," a role that he recreated in the film version of the same same, A Raisin in the Sun (1961).
When he came to New York from the Caribbean to become an actor, he was so impoverished at first that he slept in the bus station. To get his first major role in No Way Out (1950), he lied to director Joseph L. Mankiewicz and told him he was 27, when actually only 22 years old.
While trying to sing with some fellow actors in Off-Broadway theatre he found he was tone deaf.
Younger brother of Cyril Poitier.