Sidney Poitier’s onscreen legacy lives on.
The celebrated actordied Thursday evening at the age of 94, leaving behinda loving family, a legion of fans and a legendary film catalog that is available for streaming on a variety of services.
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Sidney Poitier inIn The Heat of the Night(1967).United Artists/Getty
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With a staggering list of accolades, including anAcademy Award, a Presidential Medal of Freedom and a knighthood, Poitier — the first Black man to win a Best Actor Oscar — leaves behind an indelible legacy that extends far beyond his commanding screen presence.
Having amassed awards ranging from a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1974 to an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992, a Kennedy Center Honors in 1995and an honorary Oscar in 2002, Poitier also turned toward other artistic achievements including publishing three autobiographies and a novel,Montaro Caine(2013).
Sidney Poitier.SGranitz/WireImage
Poitier received the lifetime achievement award at the 2016BAFTA Awardsbut was unable to travel to London to accept the award due to health concerns. Instead of crossing the pond,Jamie Foxxand one of Poitier’s daughters,Sydney Poitier, presented the actor his award at his Los Angeles home.
“Today my cup runneth over because I am here with my daughter and the future filmmakers of the world in celebration of this wonderful art form,” Poitier told the BAFTA audience via video. “I have been very lucky. I have tried to be a good human being, a good actor, a good director, a good filmmaker. My wife is with me here. My wife, my children and my friends have been keeping me on my feet. To my family, my life force, I am nothing without you. And all of you, thank you for your warm embrace and this extraordinary moment and memory I shall cherish.”
RELATED VIDEO: Sidney Poitier, First Black Man to Win Best Actor Oscar and a Titan of Cinema, Dead at 94
Clint Watson, press secretary for the Prime Minister of the Bahamas,confirmed Poitier’s death to PEOPLEon Friday. That same day, publicist Mara Buxbaum issued a statement to PEOPLE on behalf of the Poitier family.
“Although he is no longer here with us in this realm, his beautiful soul will continue to guide and inspire us. He will live on in us, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren — in every belly laugh, every curious inquiry, every act of compassion and kindness,” the statement says. “Hislegacy will live on in the world, continuing to inspire not only with his incredible body of work, but even more so with his humanity.
On Saturday,Deadlinereported that Apple Original Films isproducing a feature on Poitier.Oprah Winfreyis said to be signed on as an executive producer through Harpo Productions and Network Entertainment.
source: people.com
