Imposing Facts About Sidney Poitier, The Hollywood Trailblazer
We’ll be frank and say that Hollywood still throws up obstacles in the way of people of color, whether it’s for roles in front of the camera or behind them. But one man who represented a real change in the right direction was Sidney Poitier.
Whether it was through his groundbreaking work outside the cinema or through his various positive characters on screen, Poitier proved to have a highly admirable legacy as an actor. But was that all he did?
And what does his acting legacy truly entail? Keep reading to find out more about Poitier’s incredible life!
Facts About Sidney Poitier
1. Rocky Start
Poitier was born in Miami on February 20, 1927. His parents, Evelyn and Reginald Poitier, were from Cat Island in the Bahamas. They were only visiting Florida to sell produce in between Reginald’s job as a cab driver.
Poitier was actually born two months premature and was so frail that his parents stayed in Miami for three extra months to make sure that their baby would survive.
2. Welcome Back!
Poitier returned to Miami when he was 15 years old. A brother of his had moved there beforehand, raising a large family. Poitier stayed with them until he was 16 when he moved to New York City.
3. Two Broken Records!
In the late 1950s, Poitier became the first black man to be nominated for an acting Academy Award with his nomination for performing in The Defiant Ones. A few years later, he also became the first black man to win an Academy Award for acting. This was for his performance as Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field.
