Sidney Poitier celebrates his 92nd birthday on February 20, 2019. The Oscar-winning star broke down barriers for actors of color, becoming a Hollywood leading man at a time before black Americans were even granted full civil rights. He also opened doors for black directors after stepping behind the camera for nine features. In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look back at 20 of his greatest films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1927, Poitier made his big screen debut in “No Way Out” (1950), playing a doctor treating a racist white bigot (Richard Widmark). Just eight years later he was competing at the Oscars as Best Actor for “The Defiant Ones” (1958), which centers on two runaway fugitives chained together — one black, the other white (Tony Curtis). His bid made him the first black male performer to contend in an acting category at the Academy.
SEEOscar Best Actor Gallery: Every Winner in Academy...
Born in 1927, Poitier made his big screen debut in “No Way Out” (1950), playing a doctor treating a racist white bigot (Richard Widmark). Just eight years later he was competing at the Oscars as Best Actor for “The Defiant Ones” (1958), which centers on two runaway fugitives chained together — one black, the other white (Tony Curtis). His bid made him the first black male performer to contend in an acting category at the Academy.
SEEOscar Best Actor Gallery: Every Winner in Academy...
- 2/20/2019
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Similar News
Giancarlo Esposito Shows Spike Lee ‘La Dolce Vita’ in New Fiat Commercial
- 5/5/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Spike Lee and Giancarlo Esposito Reunite for Fiat Campaign, Talk Denzel Washington, ‘Megalopolis’ and AI
- 5/5/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“One of them lil kids might be Dave Free’s”: Drake May Have Opened Up Pandora’s Box with His Scathing Paternity Claims About Kendrick Lamar’s Kids
- 5/4/2024
- by Rahul Thokchom
- FandomWire
“Al Pacino can play a bad guy… I can’t play a bad guy?”: Ethan Hawke Revealed Denzel Washington Wanted to Break One Stereotype about Him With Training Day
- 4/30/2024
- by Mahin Sultan
- FandomWire
Ethan Hawke reveals what Denzel Washington said to him the night Hawke lost his ‘Training Day’ Oscar
- 4/30/2024
- by Jordan Hoffman
- Gold Derby
Ethan Hawke Lost the Oscar for ‘Training Day’ and Denzel Washington Whispered in His Ear That Losing Was Better: ‘You Don’t Want an Award to Improve Your Status’
- 4/29/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
Wes Anderson and Montblanc Brought the Snow to L.A. to Celebrate 100 Years of the Meisterstück Pen
- 5/2/2024
- by Danielle Directo-Meston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Idris Elba Movies and Shows To Watch On Netflix Right Now
- 5/2/2024
- by Anne Cohen
- Tudum - Netflix
“It wasn’t a bullsh*t fight”: Don’t Let His Sexiest Man Alive Title Fool You, Idris Elba’s Kickboxing is No Joke
- 4/30/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
Box Office: ‘The Fall Guy’ Lands with $28.5M, ‘Phantom Menace’ Tops ‘Challengers’ for No. 2
- 5/5/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Box Office: ‘Garfield’ Scratches Up $22 Million Overseas Ahead of Domestic Debut
- 5/5/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Bernard Hill, ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Titanic’ Actor, Dies at 79
- 5/5/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Box Office: ‘The Fall Guy’ Headed Toward $28M Debut
- 5/4/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Gen V’ Won’t Recast Chance Perdomo’s Role After Actor’s Death, Sets Production for May
- 5/5/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Willow Smith Used Meditation and Workouts to Fuel the Creativity on "Empathogen"
- 5/2/2024
- by Lena Felton
- Popsugar.com
Nicki Nicole Says Rap Music Helped Her Get Out of Her Shell
- 4/29/2024
- by Brenda Barrientos
- Popsugar.com
Revisiting Jennifer Lopez’s 2011 Album “Love?” and What It Signifies Today
- 4/29/2024
- by Kimmy Dole
- Popsugar.com
Thalia's "A Mucha Honra" Album Is a Love Letter to Música Mexicana
- 4/26/2024
- by Lucas Villa
- Popsugar.com
Julio Torres's "Problemista" Shows the US Immigration System Is a Relentless Maze
- 4/24/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
‘Baby Reindeer’ Review: A Conventional Stalking Thriller Transforms Into A Devastating & Complex Confessional About Abuse & Trauma
- 5/5/2024
- by Brian Farvour
- The Playlist
Giancarlo Esposito Shows Spike Lee ‘La Dolce Vita’ in New Fiat Commercial
- 5/5/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
‘The Fall Guy’ Box Office Disappointment Hurts More Than Opening Weekend
- 5/5/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Dua Lipa Says She Bumped Into Parents ‘at the Club’ in ‘SNL’ Monologue: ‘They Love to Party’
- 5/5/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Bernard Hill, British Actor Featured in ‘Titanic’ and ‘Lord of The Rings,’ Dead at 79
- 5/5/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Box Office: ‘The Fall Guy’ Lands with $28.5M, ‘Phantom Menace’ Tops ‘Challengers’ for No. 2
- 5/5/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Box Office: ‘Garfield’ Scratches Up $22 Million Overseas Ahead of Domestic Debut
- 5/5/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Bernard Hill, ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Titanic’ Actor, Dies at 79
- 5/5/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Box Office: ‘The Fall Guy’ Headed Toward $28M Debut
- 5/4/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Martin Scorsese Has A Favorite Movie From His Career, But He Can't Watch It
- 5/5/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The Fall Guy: Every Way the Movie Pays Homage to the 1980s TV Series
- 5/5/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
SNL S49 E18: Who Got the Most (and Least) Screen Time?
- 5/5/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- LateNighter
‘Gen V’ Won’t Recast Chance Perdomo’s Role After Actor’s Death, Sets Production for May
- 5/5/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
Gen V Producers Say the Late Chance Perdomo’s Role Will Not Be Recast for Season 2 — Read Statement
- 5/5/2024
- by Claire Franken
- TVLine.com
‘Gen V’ Will Not Recast Chance Perdomo’s Role After Star’s Death
- 5/5/2024
- TV Insider