When did Sidney Poitier, an African American actor, win his Academy Award for Best Actor?
Sidney Poitier won the 1963 Academy Award for Best Actor. It was the first time an African American male won a competitive Oscar. He won the Oscar for his role in "Lilies of the Field".
The significance of his 1963 achievement was bolstered in 1967, when he starred in three successful films, all of which dealt with issues involving race and race relations. The specific films were: To Sir, with Love; In the Heat of the Night; and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, making him the top box office star for the year 1967.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
50 Comments
Tim Higgins
Lillies of the Field was released in 1963 and of course he won at the next Academy Awards presentation held in 1964.
Eric Gardos
He won in 1964.
Bank-Robber
close enough for me1963!!!
Maia
Sidney Poitier was very classy in many ways.
Joanne Serin
Great movie! "Amen"
Kim
Lillies of the Field was just on TCM Channel a few hours ago! Wonderful movie, outstanding and very handsome actor!
whitewaterrapids
Even your reference said it was 1964
David Coe
Why add "an African-American actor" ?
If people didn't know him, the photo was clear enough.
Marilou Moser Aubertin
Yes this one is wrong. The movie was opened in 1963, and he won the Academy Award 1964
dsneed
Back in my youth. Ah yeah, the truly good old days. Yay me.
schnides
erik hughes, it still means he won in 1964
Jim Adams
Unlike most “Black Actors” of today, Sidney really earned that award!
erik hughes
He won it in 1964, for the 1963 released film.
Marianne Frederick Halterman
He should have won it for "A Patch of Blue" in 1965!!! The plot was a blind white teenager (Elizabeth Hartman), sheltered by her sleazy mother (Shelley Winters), falls in love with a kind young black man who she meets in the park.
miraclemagic
The Academy Awards were in 1964. The move Lilies of The Fields was 1964.
Pat Paszkiet
It was actually April of 1964 for the 1963 movie
Kitty White
I agree with all of you who said he received it in 1964. The question should have asked what year the movie came out.