Sidney Poitier dead: Actor who made Hollywood history was 94

At the height of the civil rights movement as the nation heaved with racial tension, Poitier arose as one of the top box-office draws of the 1960s.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Entertainment January 8, 2022 Sidney Poitier, trailblazing star who helped break down Hollywood color barriers, dies at 94 Sidney Poitier, who made history as the first Black man to win an Oscar for lead actor and who starred in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," has died. SHARE       READ MORE ADVERTISEMENT How 79-year-old Beach Boy Bruce Johnston wound up on the new Weeknd album Fittingly, it had something to with surfing. And somehow Skrillex was involved. SHARE       READ MORE Friends Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte "made as much mischief as they could" Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte met through the American Negro Theater when they were both in their 20s. After that, the fast friends spent a lifetime as fans of the other. SHARE       READ MORE ADVERTISEMENT Detectives still seek Alec Baldwin's cellphone in 'Rust' shooting investigation New Mexico and New York investigators team up to retrieve Baldwin's phone in a search for evidence in "Rust" shooting investigation. SHARE       READ MORE Hollywood celebrates Sidney Poitier and how he 'epitomized dignity and grace' Morgan Freeman, Viola Davis and former President Obama are among the many saluting the legacy of pioneering actor Sidney Poitier, who has died at 94. SHARE       READ MORE Omicron is surging. But for the L.A. Phil and Center Theatre Group, the shows must go on Many local arts groups are taking a more moderate approach to this moment of peak COVID, allowing safeguards such as boosters to ramp up weeks after shows open. SHARE       READ MORE 10 books to add to your reading list this month Bethanne Patricks' January picks cover train wrecks, political drama, enraging inequality, the complications of polyamory and the joy of the ampersand. SHARE       READ MORE ADVERTISEMENT Thank you for reading the Los Angeles Times Entertainment newsletter. Invite your friends, relatives, coworkers to sign up here. Not a subscriber? Get unlimited digital access to latimes.com. Subscribe here. Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times 2300 E. Imperial Highway, El Segundo, California, 90245 1-800-LA-TIMES | latimes.com *Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in placing an ad or classified, get in touch here. We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please send your thoughts and suggestions here. You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from The Los Angeles Times. Manage marketing email preferences · Unsubscribe from this newsletter · Terms of service · Privacy policy · Do Not Sell My Personal Information · CA Notice of Collection FOLLOW US