Sidney Poitier, born February 20, 1927, was a Bahamian American actor,
director, and producer. Poitier was the first African American to
win an Academy Award for best actor in the film Lilies of the Field in
1964. Poitier received an honory Academy Award for “his remarkable
accomplishments as an artist and as a human being.” He redefined roles for
African Americans by rejecting parts that were based on racial stereotypes
and is widely recoginized as a pioneer for breaking the glass ceiling for
African American actors.
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