Sidney Poitier
Stars mourn their deceased role model
Sidney Poitier became the first black actor to receive an Oscar for “Best Actor”.
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Whether as an icon, pioneer, hero or legend: The stars agree that the late Sidney Poitier changed their life.
With Sidney Poitier (1927-2022) not only a gifted Hollywood actor died. He also set a shining example to countless people. As the first African American to win an Oscar for “Best Actor” in 1964, Poitier is still considered one of the most important pioneers in the ongoing fight for equality in the eaves factory. In view of the news of Poitier’s death at the age of 94, stars such as Oprah Winfrey (67), Jeffrey Wright (56), Mia Farrow (76) and Whoopi Goldberg (66) pay tribute to him on social networks.
Goldberg wrote on Twitterthat she would prefer to write “Sir Sidney Poitier, rest in peace” in letters a thousand meters high in the sky, because: “He showed us how to reach for the stars.”
“James Bond” actor Jeffrey Wright wrote about an old photograph of Poitier: “Sidney Poitier. What a milestone actor. One of a kind. What a handsome, kind, warm-hearted, genuinely majestic man. Rest in peace, sir.”
“The best of the best”
Actress Mia Farrow published a picture from 2009 of Poitieron which Barack Obama (60) just hangs the “Medal of Freedom” around his neck. She also wrote that Poitier was “the best of the best”.
Oscar winner Viola Davis (56) dedicated Poitier a long farewell text on Instagram. Among other things, it says: “No words can describe how radically your work has changed my life.” When she and her husband met Poitier at an event, he said to them: “If your dreams don’t frighten you, then they are not big enough!” She is eternally grateful to him for this: “Thank you for leaving a legacy.”
“Frozen” star Josh Gad (40) added: “Icon. Iconoclast. Barrier breaker. Pioneer. Hero. Legend. (…) Goodbye to one of the most important and extraordinary actors in the history of our industry.”
Talk show legend Oprah Winfrey also found touching words. She wrote about a picture they shared: “For me the biggest of all the big trees fell: Sidney Poitier. It was my honor to be able to love him as a mentor. As a friend. As a brother. As a confidante. As a teacher. (…) I adored him. He had a gigantic soul that I will cherish forever. “