Sidney Poitier, the renowned Hollywood actor, director and activist who paved the way for countless other black actors with
stirring performances in classics such as "in the heat of the night" and "guess who's coming to dinner" has died at the age of 94.
Poitier was born prematurely in Miami Florida United States in 20th February 1927 while his parents were visiting from the Bahamas.
He returned as a teenager to the United States where he enlisted in the U.S Army behind World War II and served a brief stint in a medical unit.
He applied to the American Negro Theatre (ANT) in New York City.
He was refused a place because of his accent, he practiced American enunciation while listening to the accents of radio voices and reapplied to ANY six months later.
This time he was accepted and began studying acting while appearing in a series of ANT productions.
On January 6 2022, Poitier died at his home in Los Angeles California at the age of 94.Upon his death many released statements honoring Poitier including President Joe Biden,
former president Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton. Many in the entertainment industry paid tribute to Poitier as well including Martin Scorsese, Denzel Washington
, Harry Belafonte, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, Lupita Nyong'o,Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey, Octavia Spencer and Giancarlo
.
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