Sidney Poitier American film actor Date of Birth: 20.02.1927 Country: USA

Biography of Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier, an American film actor, was the first African-American actor to be named "Best" by the Academy in 1964 for his role in the film "Lilies of the Field." He is one of the oldest American actors and has been honored with a lifetime achievement award in cinema. Poitier (77) grew up in the Bahamas in a family of tomato farmers. As a premature baby, he weighed only 1.5 kilograms, but miraculously survived. The youngest of eight children, Sidney dropped out of school at the age of 13. Three years later, he went to New York in search of a better life. With nowhere to live and nothing to live on, he enlisted in the army. After his service, he returned to New York, worked as a dishwasher, and decided to pursue a career in acting. His first performance at the American Negro Theater was simply ridiculed. But Sidney did not give up. In the 1950s and 1960s, he was the most prominent African-American actor. In our country, Poitier is known for films such as "A Raisin in the Sun," "In the Heat of the Night," and "To Sir, with Love." His characters are intelligent and honorable individuals, much like the actor himself. Although Poitier's work is visible to all, his personal life remains closed to journalists. It is only known that he has six daughters from two marriages.