Poitier was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Gina, who died in 2018. Poitier is survived by his wife, Joanna Shimkus, five daughters, eight grand children and a handful of great-grandchildren. 'This world and certainly the world of cinema could never repay the debt that is owned to Sidney Poitier.' 'He was to Hollywood as Jackie Robinson was to baseball,' said Reverend Al Sharpton to MSNCB. Later, Poitier dedicated his life to humanitarian work and diplomacy as Bahamian Ambassador to Japan and UNESCO. That same year, he became a powerful voice in the civil rights movement, where he stood alongside Harry Belafonte, Charlton Heston and Burt Lancaster in MLK's March on Washington. Poitier's commanding onscreen presence and searing good looks would make him the first black man to win an Oscar for Best Actor in 1963, for his indelible performance in Lilies of the Field. 'I'll always be following your in your footsteps,' said Denzel Washington during his 2001 Academy Award acceptance speech. He shattered stereotypes and took on roles that broke barriers, paving the way for minority actors in generations to come. Poitier's cool, dignified eloquence, silky voice and natural charisma made him an instant star in Hollywood. He leaves behind an outsized legacy on the silver screen, in addition to a seven-decade-long career dedicated to advancing racial equality and human dignity. Sydney Poitier, the trailblazing Hollywood icon and towering civil rights activist, has died at the age of 94. ![]() Sydney Poitier, the legendary actor who became the first black man to win the Best Actor Oscar, has died at the age of 94 ![]()
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