What was sidney poitier known for

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Expand the sub menu Digital. Expand the sub menu Theater. Expand the sub menu VIP. He joined the American Negro Theater and later began finding roles in Hollywood. He also directed several films, including Buck and the Preacher and Stir Crazy. The acclaimed actor was knighted in and honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Sidney Poitier was born on February 20, , in Miami, Florida.

He arrived two and a half months prematurely while his Bahamian parents were on vacation in Miami. As soon as he was strong enough, Poitier left the United States with his parents for the Bahamas.

There, Poitier spent his early years on his father's tomato farm on Cat Island. After the farm failed, the family moved to Nassau, when Poitier was around the age of In Nassau, Poitier seemed to have a knack for getting himself into trouble. As a result, his father decided to send the teenager to the United States for his own good and Poitier went to live with one of his brothers in Miami.

At age 16, Poitier left the South for New York City, where he worked menial jobs to support himself, until he found his life's passion. Poitier made a deal with the American Negro Theater in New York City to receive acting lessons in exchange for working as a janitor for the theater. Virgil Tibbs. Lilies of the Field Homer Smith. The Defiant Ones Noah Cullen. Show all Hide all Show by Hide Show Actor 55 credits. Jack Miller. Gypsy Smith. Thurgood Marshall. Matt Younger. Eddie Towler. Tommy Tyler.

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