Sidney Poitier American Actor (1927–2022)
Sidney Poitier · film actor and film director · American
Known for
Biography
Born on 20 February 1927 in Miami, Sidney Poitier was an American actor. Sidney Poitier died on 6 January 2022 at the age of 94. Audiences know him from A Century of Cinema (1994) and B.B. King: The Life of Riley (2013).
His first listed screen credit dates to 1950, with No Way Out. The list below counts 53 films and one TV series from 1950 to 2016. He is credited as Dr. Swinford in David and Lisa (1998), Virgil Tibbs in The Organization (1971) and Aly Mansuh in The Long Ships (1964). The last title released in his lifetime is I Am Not Your Negro, from 2016. Sidney Poitier also worked as director on 9 titles, including Ghost Dad.
Sidney Poitier is also credited on one album, Poitier Meets Plato (1964).
Sidney Poitier won 27 awards and received 24 nominations on record. His first award on record is Silver Bear for Best Actor in 1958 for The Defiant Ones. BAFTA Fellowship in 2016 is the latest win listed.
Filmography
54 credits| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | I Am Not Your Negro | Film | |
| 2013 | B.B. King: The Life of Riley | Film | |
| 1999 | The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn | Film | |
| 1998 | David and Lisa | Dr. Swinford | Film |
| 1997 | Mandela and de Klerk | Film | |
| 1997 | The Jackal | Film | |
| 1996 | To Sir, with Love II | Film | |
| 1995– | Children of the Dust | TV series | |
| 1994 | A Century of Cinema | Film | |
| 1992 | Sneakers | Film | |
| 1990 | Ghost Dad | Director | Film |
| 1988 | Little Nikita | Film | |
| 1988 | Shoot to Kill | Film | |
| 1985 | Fast Forward | Director | Film |
| 1982 | Hanky Panky | Director | Film |
Show all 54 credits
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Stir Crazy | Director | Film |
| 1977 | A Piece of the Action | Director | Film |
| 1975 | Let's Do It Again | Director | Film |
| 1975 | The Wilby Conspiracy | Film | |
| 1974 | Uptown Saturday Night | Director | Film |
| 1973 | A Warm December | Director | Film |
| 1972 | Buck and the Preacher | Director | Film |
| 1971 | Brother John | Film | |
| 1971 | The Organization | Virgil Tibbs | Film |
| 1970 | King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis | Film | |
| 1970 | They Call Me Mister Tibbs! | Virgil Tibbs | Film |
| 1969 | The Lost Man | Film | |
| 1968 | For Love of Ivy | Film | |
| 1967 | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner | Film | |
| 1967 | In the Heat of the Night | Virgil Tibbs | Film |
| 1967 | To Sir, with Love | Film | |
| 1966 | Duel at Diablo | Film | |
| 1965 | A Patch of Blue | Film | |
| 1965 | The Bedford Incident | Film | |
| 1965 | The Greatest Story Ever Told | Film | |
| 1965 | The Slender Thread | Film | |
| 1964 | The Long Ships | Aly Mansuh | Film |
| 1963 | Lilies of the Field | Film | |
| 1962 | Pressure Point | Film | |
| 1961 | A Raisin in the Sun | Film | |
| 1961 | Paris Blues | Film | |
| 1960 | All the Young Men | Film | |
| 1959 | Our Virgin Island | Film | |
| 1959 | Porgy and Bess | Film | |
| 1958 | The Defiant Ones | Film | |
| 1957 | Band of Angels | Film | |
| 1957 | Edge of the City | Film | |
| 1957 | Something of Value | Film | |
| 1957 | The Mark of the Hawk | Film | |
| 1956 | Good-bye, My Lady | Film | |
| 1955 | Blackboard Jungle | Film | |
| 1952 | Red Ball Express | Film | |
| 1951 | Cry, the Beloved Country | Reverend Msimangu | Film |
| 1950 | No Way Out | Film |
Awards and nominations
27 won, 24 nominated| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | BAFTA Fellowship | Won | |
| 2015 | Spingarn Medal | Won | |
| 2009 | Presidential Medal of Freedom | Won | |
| 2008 | Paul Robeson Award | Won | |
| 2006 | Marian Anderson Award | Won | |
| 2002 | Academy Honorary Award | Won | |
| 2001 | Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording | The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography | Won |
| 2001 | NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award | Won | |
| 2000 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn | Won |
| 2000 | SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award | Won | |
| 1995 | Kennedy Center Honors | Won | |
| 1994 | star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won | |
| 1992 | AFI Life Achievement Award | Won | |
| 1986 | honorary doctor of the University of Miami | Won | |
| 1981 | Coretta Scott King Award | Won |
Show all 51 entries
| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award | Won | |
| 1978 | Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame | Won | |
| 1974 | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | |
| 1968 | Henrietta Award | Won | |
| 1968 | Silver Shell for Best Actor | Won | |
| 1964 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Lilies of the Field | Won |
| 1963 | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Lilies of the Field | Won |
| 1963 | Silver Bear | Lilies of the Field | Won |
| 1958 | Silver Bear for Best Actor | The Defiant Ones | Won |
| Audie Award for Narration by the Author or Authors | Won | ||
| Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres | Won | ||
| Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | Won | ||
| 2008 | Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording | Nominated | |
| 2000 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn | Nominated |
| 1998 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Mandela and de Klerk | Nominated |
| 1998 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie | Mandela and de Klerk | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Mandela and de Klerk | Nominated |
| 1996 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Children of the Dust | Nominated |
| 1994 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Sneakers | Nominated |
| 1992 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Separate But Equal | Nominated |
| 1991 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Separate But Equal | Nominated |
| 1988 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Shoot to Kill | Nominated |
| 1981 | Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award | Nominated | |
| 1970 | Henrietta Award | Nominated | |
| 1969 | Henrietta Award | Nominated | |
| 1968 | Henrietta Award | Nominated | |
| 1967 | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | In the Heat of the Night | Nominated |
| 1965 | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | A Patch of Blue | Nominated |
| 1964 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Lilies of the Field | Nominated |
| 1963 | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Lilies of the Field | Nominated |
| 1961 | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | A Raisin in the Sun | Nominated |
| 1960 | Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play | Nominated | |
| 1959 | Academy Award for Best Actor | The Defiant Ones | Nominated |
| 1959 | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Porgy and Bess | Nominated |
| 1958 | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | The Defiant Ones | Nominated |
Discography
1 release| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Poitier Meets Plato | Album |
Personal life
He married Joanna Shimkus in 1976. Earlier marriages on record are to Juanita Hardy (1950 to 1965, divorced). He was the father of Sydney Tamiia Poitier.
Sidney Poitier Photos
Frequently asked questions
How old was Sidney Poitier at the time of death?
Sidney Poitier died on 6 January 2022 at the age of 94. He was born on 20 February 1927.
What is Sidney Poitier known for?
Sidney Poitier was known for A Century of Cinema (1994) and B.B. King: The Life of Riley (2013).
What is Sidney Poitier’s nationality?
Sidney Poitier was American, born in Miami.
How tall was Sidney Poitier?
Sidney Poitier was 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) tall.
Who was Sidney Poitier married to?
Sidney Poitier’s marriages on record are to Joanna Shimkus (1976) and Juanita Hardy (1950 to 1965).
Has Sidney Poitier won any awards?
Yes. 27 awards are on record, including BAFTA Fellowship (2016).
Sources
- Wikidata (Q104049), accessed October 2026
- Photo: Unknown photographer · Public domain
Last checked by the Wiki of Celebs editorial team
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