Before Denzel, Viola, Chadwick and Halle, there was Sidney. His talent, his strength, his intelligence, his dignity, his decency and his humility were second to none, onscreen and off. Some of my favorite movies are his, such as "A Raisin in the Sun," "A Patch of Blue," "The Blackboard Jungle," "To Sir, With Love," "In the Heat of the Night" and "Lilies of the Field," for which he won his well-deserved Oscar. His direction of "Stir Crazy," one of the funniest movies of all time co-starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder-one of the best comedy duos of all time-is a testament to his talent.
His involvement in the Civil Rights movement proved his willingness to risk his career and reputation because of his commitment to fairness and equality for the Black community. His contributions to the movies and to the world will never be forgotten.
Rest In Power, Mister Poitier.