Sir Sidney Poitier, February 20, 1927. Bahamian/American actor, film director, author and diplomat. He performed in films and plays showcasing racial stereotypes and giving credibility to black actors. In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in, Lilies of the Field. Later in 1967, he starred in three films: To Sir, with Love; In the Heat of the Night and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
Poitier directed a number of popular movies such as: Uptown Saturday Night, Let's Do It Again (with friend Bill Cosby), and Stir Crazy (starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.
In 2002, 38 years after receiving the Best Actor Award, 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 accomplishments.
Since 1997 he has been the Bahamian ambassador to Japan. 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.
Fun Fact: Fluent in Russian.
My top 5 Sidney Poitier movies:
Cry The Beloved Country (1951)
A Raisin in the Sun (1961) (pictured above)
To Sir With Love (1966)
Guess who is coming to Dinner (1967)
They call me Mr. Tibbs (1970)
Good picks on your top 5 Sidney films. I would have to add In The Heat Of The Night. His teamwork with Rod Steiger was awesome. And Lilies of the Field..I love that movie.
ReplyDeleteHey Monty, Good to hear from you. I do not think I have seen Heat of the night. I agree Lilies of the field ,is also a good movie.
ReplyDeleteI like his films with Richard Widmark. The Bedford Incident is my favorite.
ReplyDeletePaul, I have never heard of the Bedford Incident. I will look it up.
ReplyDeleteDawn, It's the 3rd of the Columbia "Doomsday Films" with Fail Safe & Dr, Strangelove. I think it's the best of the 3. TCM is running it on the 27th at 11.15 Pacific Time. Set the DVR now.
ReplyDeletePaul, I do not have a DVR. But, I will try and catch it.
ReplyDeleteI will spotlight it.:)
Dawn ,Thank you for posting the tralier for "Bedford". When you watch the film, look for a young Donald Suttherland in the "Sick Bay" as one of the techs, and watch Wally Cox. He's amazing. Did you know that he sold Brando his first motorcycle, and taught him to ride it?
ReplyDeletePaul, No, I did not know that Wally Cox sold Brando his first motoercycle. That is awesome fun fact.
ReplyDeleteWally Cox, I have not heard that name in years..