Sidney Poitier was the first Black Oscar winner. He influenced numerous Black actors with his 60-year career.
Many praised him when he died at 94 on January 6. Former President Barack Obama called Sidney a great gift with grace.
Denzel Washington, another actor, considered knowing Sidney an honor. He described him as friendly and helpful, opening doors for them after a long time.
Sidney Poitier at the 39th Academy Awards in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, April 10, 1967. Best Supporting Actress award presented by him. Photo by Archive/Getty Images)
Sidney Poitier appeared in 55 films and TV shows after his 1955 debut in Blackboard Jungle. He famously broke Hollywood racial barriers.
They say, “Behind every successful man is a woman.” True for Sidney Poitier. In 1976, he married Canadian actress Joanna Shimkus. Before her, he was married, had four kids, and had an affair.
The youngest of seven children was Sidney Poitier. He spent his first ten years on Cat Island, Bahamas, where his parents farmed. Miami was where the family sold items. Three months prematurely, Poitier was born there. That earned him U.S. citizenship.
After migrating to Nassau, Bahamas, Sidney Poitier emigrated to America at 15. He lied about his age and joined WWII as a teen.
He was a dishwasher after the service. In Harlem, he auditioned for the American Negro Theatre. His second try. The first time, at 18, they suggested his accent prevented him from acting.
Sidney persisted. He bought a radio to imitate accents, read newspapers and magazines, and learned reading and language from an old Jewish waiter.
Sidney Poitier auditioned again at the production firm a year and a half later. He joined the program this time, starting his career. He earned numerous awards professionally.
Over 10 years later, he became the first Black Oscar winner for “Lilies of the Field.” His most notable role may have been in “The Lost Man,” when he met Joanna Shimkus, his future wife. Four years after divorcing Juanita Hardy, he married again in 1969.
The year after he concluded his nine-year affair with Diahann Carroll.Juanita Hardy was Sidney’s wife from 1950 to 1965. He had two kids with Joanna Shimkus after a long marriage.
“We were meant to be together,” Joanna stated 1998.
Joanna abandoned acting to raise their daughters Anika and Sidney from 1972 to 2010. Both daughters emulated their parents.
Anika directed “Black Irish,” with Joanna as executive producer. Sidney appeared in “Veronica Mars” and “Death Proof.”Sidney Poitier told Closer how he and his wife make their relationship work. “Over the years, my wife taught me something important: saying ‘I love you’ every day.”
“My wife and kids mean everything to me,” Sidney told People in 2016. Joanna Shimkus added, “We’ve been together for 49 years, and I’m a good cook. I prepare and care for him every night.”
Despite getting an honorary Academy Award and medals from the U.S. President and Queen, Sidney always put family first.
The famous actor often saw his wife, ex-wife, six daughters, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Many interracial marriages have struggled throughout history.
Joanna said she and her husband didn’t mind.
Joanna Shimkus discussed her friendship with Sidney Poitier in the documentary “Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light.” She said, “I never felt prejudice in Canada like in America.” We’ve never had any issues, possibly because we’re quiet. I regarded him as a lovely human, not a Black man.”
Sidney Poitier, rest easy. Your brilliance, grace, and strength in difficult times will be remembered worldwide.
