Poitier was able to break through the racial barriers of the time by winning the golden statuette, the agency said. She added that he had made dozens of films in his more than 70-year career and was an inspiration to many activists fighting to end racial segregation in the United States in the 1960s.
In 1958, he received his first Oscar nomination for the film Escape in chains.
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The agency also recalled the year 1967, when the American-Bahamian actor created three of his famous roles. In the movie Guess who’s coming to dinner played black man with white fiancee and in the slide In the heat of the night then portrayed a police officer who faced racism during a murder investigation. In the same year, Poitier also played teachers in a film from a harsh school environment Mr. teacher with love.
Actor, director and ambassador
Poitier’s parents were farmers in the Bahamas, their son was born before the expected date of birth in 1927, when they were visiting Florida, so he automatically acquired American citizenship.
But he grew up on the Caribbean island and moved to the United States at the age of fifteen. In 1955, he got his first major role in a film Jungle in front of a blackboard.
He chose his roles to overcome the notions of the Hollywood environment at the time that black actors could only play certain roles, such as shoe cleaners, train drivers, or servants.
He has also worked as a director since the 1970s, making nine films.
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