Sidney Poitier was a native of Cat Island, Bahamas, although born, two months prematurely, in Miami during a visit by his parents, Evelyn (Outten) and Reginald James Poitier. He grew up in poverty as the son of farmers, with his father also driving a cab in Nassau. Sidney had little formal education and at the age of 15 was sent to Miami to live with his brother, in order to forestall a growing tendency toward delinquency. In the U.S., he experienced the racial chasm that divides the country, a great shock to a boy coming from a society with a majority of African descent.
At 18, he went to New York, did menial jobs and slept in a bus terminal toilet. A brief stint in the Army as a worker at a veterans' hospital was followed by more menial jobs in Harlem. An impulsive audition at the American Negro Theatre was rejected so forcefully that Poitier dedicated the next six months to overcoming his accent and improving his performing skills. On his second try, he was accepted. Spotted in rehearsal by a casting agent, he won a bit part in the Broadway production of "Lysistrata", for which he earned good reviews. By the end of , he was having to choose between leading ro
Sidney Poitier | Biography
Sidney Poitier was a trailblazing actor and director, known for breaking racial barriers in Hollywood and winning the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Who is Sidney Poitier?
Sidney Poitier was a pioneering Bahamian-American actor, director, and author, celebrated for breaking racial barriers in Hollywood and opening doors for future generations of actors. Born on February 20, , in Miami to Bahamian parents, he spent his early years in the Bahamas before moving to the United States at the age of With an early talent for acting, he honed his craft at the American Negro Theater in New York City, leading to a groundbreaking career that began in the s. Poitier's performances showcased his commitment to portraying dignified African American characters, making him an icon in a time when representation was limited.
Poitier's most significant achievements include being the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in for his role in "Lilies of the Field." He starred in seminal films such as "In the Heat of the Night," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," and "To Sir, with
Sidney Poitier Biography
Born: February 20,
Miami, Florida
African American actor
Actor Sidney Poitier&#x;s presence in film during the s and s opened up the possibility for bigger and better roles for African American performers.
Poor childhood
Born on February 20, , in Miami, Florida, but raised in the Bahamas, Sidney Poitier was the son of Reginald and Evelyn Poitier. His father was a tomato farmer, and the family was very poor. Still, Poitier later told Frank Spotnitz in American Film that his father &#x;had a wonderful sense of himself. Every time I took a part, from the first part, from the first day, I always said to myself, &#x;This must reflect well on his name.&#x;&#x; The family moved from the village of Cat Island to Nassau, the Bahamian capital, when Poitier was eleven years old, and it was there that he first experienced the magic of the movies. Poitier returned to Miami at age fifteen to live with his older brother Cyril.
Poitier left for New York City at age sixteen, serving briefly in the army. He then worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant. Seeing an ad for actors in a newspaper, he went to a tryout at the American Negro Theater. Th
Sidney Poitier
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Who Was Sidney Poitier?
After a delinquency-filled youth and a short stint in the U.S. Army, Sidney Poitier moved to New York to pursue an acting career. He joined the American Negro Theater and later began finding roles in Hollywood. Following his performance in the film Lilies of the Field, he became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. He also directed several films, including Buck and the Preacher and Stir Crazy. The acclaimed actor was knighted in and honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in
Early Years in Miami and the Bahamas
Sidney Poitier was born on February 20, , in Miami, Florida. He arrived two and a half months prematurely while his Bahamian parents were on vacation in Miami. As soon as he was strong enough, Poitier left the United States with his parents for the Bahamas. There, Poitier spent his early years on his father's tomato farm on Cat Island. After the farm failed, the family moved to Nassau, when Poitier was around the age of
In Nassau, Poitier seemed to have a knack for getting himself into trouble. As a result, his father decided to send the teenager to the United States for his o
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