His death on Thursday, January 6th, was the passing of the first black and Bahamian actor to receive an Academy Award. He had reached the age of 94. At the time of his death, his estimated net worth was $20 million.
The Bahamian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell, broke the news of this terrible tragedy. The Bahamas’ Deputy Prime Minister, Chester Cooper, and Prime Minister Clint Watson’s press secretary, Clint Watson, paid homage to the iconic actor.
Actor Jeffrey Wright tweeted, “Sidney Poitier. What a landmark actor. One of a kind. What a beautiful, gracious, warm, genuinely regal man. RIP, Sir. With love.”
Today, we’ll take a look at Sidney Poitier’s estimated net worth and other interesting facts about his life and work.
His estimated net worth was $20 million at the time of his death. He was an American-born Bahamian film director, author, and diplomat. His impact on the entertainment business cannot be overstated.
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Early life
Poitier was born in Miami, Florida in 1927. When he was born, he was the sixth of six children. When he was 16, Poitier moved to New York City in pursuit of a better life. Before he entered the Army during World War II, he worked as a dishwasher, waiter, and other odd occupations.
Career
In 1944, he was discharged from the military and returned to private life. A few auditions later, he was picked for a role in an American Negro Theater play after showing up to many of them. However, the audience didn’t like him. He improved his acting talents and was awarded a major part in the Broadway play of Lysistrata on his second attempt.
As Poitier’s fame grew, so did his availability for film assignments. In the 1958 film “The Defiant Ones,” he co-starred with Tony Curtis. For his performance in this picture, he was nominated for an Academy Award.
In 1964, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal in “Lilies of the Field,” and he was awarded it for the second time. In the following decades, he appeared in a number of films and began directing comedic pictures like “Stir Crazy,” which he co-wrote and directed.
He served as the Bahamas’ ambassador to Japan for 10 years, from 1997 to 2007. He served as the Bahamas’ ambassador to UNESCO from 2002 to 2007 at the same time.
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Achievements
Over the course of his 40-year career, Poitier has received countless awards and honors. Oscars, Grammys, SAG Awards, BAFTAs, the Kennedy Center Honor, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are just some of the honors he has received throughout the years.
In addition to the Golden Globes and Primetime Emmy Awards, he was also nominated for an Academy Award.
Relationship Status
Poitier married Juanita Hardy in 1950, but the couple divorced two years later, in 1965. Four daughters were born to the couple. He married Joanna Shimkus in 1976 and they had two children.
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