The actor, whose groundbreaking work in the 1950s and 60s paved the way for generations of black film stars, has died aged 94.
![Sidney Poitiers most memorable roles, from To Sir, with Love to In the Heat of the Night – video](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/72a71e888892ffd79639557ac2cc754e51382529/0_267_2946_1768/master/2946.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=ad6359d53abe46585273b199cdb88f2d)
Poitier,
who was born in Miami but raised in the Bahamas, was the first black
winner of the best
Actor Oscar, for his role in Lilies of the Field. He
was a pioneering black presence in mainstream
Hollywood cinema.
His death was announced on Friday by Fred Mitchell, the minister of foreign affairs of the BahamasSidney Poitier, Black acting pioneer, dies aged 94