94 Years Of Grace: A Look At The Life Of Sidney Poitier

Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images By Keyaira Boone ·Updated January 7, 2022

Sidney Poitier used every instrument available to him to tell stories of Black excellence in his 94 years on this earth. The actor, director, philanthropist and father died on January 7 and left behind a legacy that changed the trajectory for Black actors coming up behind him forever.

He was dashing, commanding, and graceful at a time when Black men were not expected or permitted to be. On the screen, behind the camera and in the media he worked to elevate and expand the idea of Blackness in the minds of the public.

As a stern but em href="https://ift.tt/3q3hVJm" target="_blank">stereotypical roles at a time when work was scarce for Black performers.

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Poitier was vulnerable about the pressure he felt to represent his race, admitting that when he arrived as the sole Black person on a set he felt the invisible tug of millions of others. He was also compassionate about other causes and donated his time to the fight against climate change and the eradication of childhood diabetes.

See select images from the inspirational life of Sidney Poitier below.

011955Poitier starred in ‘Blackboard Jungle’ in 1955.

Photo by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images 021957Poitier’s co-stars inThe Mark of the Hawk included Eartha Kitt and a dashing tuxedo.

Photo by John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 031961Poitier portrayed a hopeful husband and father in a masterful adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘A Raisin In The Sun.’

Getty Images 041964He became the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Actor opening the door for Denzel Washington to follow in his footsteps in 2002.

Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images 051965Poitier was a part of a class of elite performers including Leslie Uggams.

Getty Images 061967Poitier was a part of a class of elite performers including Leslie Uggams.

071967His impact is etched in stone on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Meinzahn iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus 081972The masterful actor was skilled behind the camera as well. The first film he directed was ‘The Buck And The Preacher.’

Photo by John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images 091975He made an appearance at a celebrity tennis tournament in 1975.

Photo by PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty Images 101982He directed Hanky Panky in 1982.

Photo by Ira Wyman/Sygma via Getty Images 111983Poitier honored his fellow entertainers including Harry Belafonte who he celebrated at the 1st Annual Film Fund’s tribute.

Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 121997Poitier supported many political and enviormental causes including the Rainforest Foundation. He attended their benefit in 1997.

Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 132000Poitier is survived by his wife Joanna Shimkus and his loving daughters and grandchildren.

Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 142001He and Belafonte shared an enduring friendship, they attended theUniversity of the West Indies “The Legacy Continues” Benefit Gala together, alongside Lynn Whitfield years after they blazed trails for other performers.

Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 152002He and Halle Berry were each staunch supporters of the fight against childhood diabetes. He regularly attended the annual Carousel of Hope Ball.

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images 162004He regularly attended the annual Carousel of Hope Ball for the cause alongside other supporters including Beyoncé.

(Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) 172004He made time to have some court side fun as well.

Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images 182005He was world famous but still showed up for the NAACP Image Awards to embrace his own people.

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images 192009Poitier earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images 202017He attended the California premiere for “Born For This” in 2017.

Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images 212017Many of Poitier’s films frequently air on Turner Classic Movies. He attended their film festival in 2017.