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He was the first black comedian to have won the Oscar for best actor, in 1964. Sydney Poitier died, Thursday, January 6, at the age of 94. He was a legend of American cinema, an icon for several generations of actors from the black minority.
Sidney Poitier entered the history of cinema in 1964, becoming at the age of 37 the first black man to win the Oscar for best actor. This is the movie The lily of the fields which earned him this honor. An optimistic comedy as he liked them, where he plays the role of an adventurer who helps Catholic sisters to build churches. A committed actor, Sidney Poitier has never ceased to defend the cause of blacks and civil rights.
His films often deal with racial tensions in the United States. He played for example the role of a policeman harassed by a racist sheriff. It breaks down stereotypes, pushes back prejudices. In one of his best films, he plays the role of a doctor who wishes to marry a white family girl. In 2009, the first black president of the United States, Barack Obama, presented him with the prestigious Medal of Freedom. Sidney Poitier congratulated himself on having opened the doors of Hollywood (United States) to African-American actors.
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