Sidney Poitier, the first Black and Bahamian Oscar-winning actor died on the 6th Jan Thursday. He was 94. His estimated net worth is $20 million at the time of his death.
Fred Mitchell, Bahamian minister of foreign affairs announced this tragic news. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister, and Clint Watson, the press secretary for the Bahamas’ Prime Minister, paid tributes to the legendary 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.”
Sidney Poitier. What a landmark actor. One of a kind. What a beautiful, gracious, warm, genuinely regal man. RIP, Sir. With love.
(📷Sam Falk/NYT) pic.twitter.com/5ZaKxxPdxw
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) January 7, 2022
Let us today discuss the net worth of Sidney Poitier along with other details related to his life and career!
Sidney Poitier Net Worth and other Details
American-born Bahamian actor, film director, author, and diplomat Sidney Poitier is estimated to have a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death. His contributions to the Hollywood industry are priceless.
Early life
Sidney Poitier was born in the year 1927 in Miami, Florida. He was the youngest of his six siblings. Poitier relocated to New York City when he was 16 in search of a better future. He did many odd jobs as a dishwasher, waiter, etc before he enlisted in the Army during the second world war.
Career and Rise to Stardom
He left the army in the year 1944 and led the life of a civilian. After some time he appeared in many auditions and eventually got selected for a role in an American Negro Theater production. However, he was rejected by the audience. He refined his acting skills and in his second attempt, he was offered a big role in the Broadway production of Lysistrata.
Poitier started gaining recognition and he began booking roles in movies. He starred alongside Tony Curtis in the movie “The Defiant Ones” released in the year 1958. He was nominated for Academy Award for his role in this film.
He was again nominated for Academy Award for his performance in “Lilies of the Field” in 1964 and he won it. In the next few decades, he acted in several films and also started directing comedy films like “Stir Crazy.”
Contribution in Politics
Poitier served for ten years as Bahamian ambassador to Japan from 1997 to 2007. Simultaneously he was also the ambassador of the Bahamas to UNESCO for five years from 2002 to 2007.
Achievements and Accolades
Poitier has won numerous accolades in his career spanning more than 40 years. He won prestigious awards like Oscar, Grammys, Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTAs, the Kennedy Center Honor, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He was also nominated for Golden Globes, Primetime Emmy Awards, and Academy awards among others.
Personal Life
In 1950, Poitier married Juanita Hardy and got separated in 1965. The couple had four daughters. In 1976, he married Joanna Shimkus and has two daughters.
Real Estate Investment
Sidney Poiter owned property in Stuyvesant, New York. He relocated to California after his divorce. Poitier’s house in Beverly Hills, California is estimated to be worth $7-10 million as of 2022. He lived in this house until his death.
Recent Development
At the recent 74th annual Academy Awards held on 24th March 2022, Denzel Washington introduced Sidney Poitier with a short speech saying,
“From time to time the Academy bestows an honorary award on a member of the film industry. Sometimes for a body of work, sometimes for work done to better the industry. Sometimes for the influence created for other filmmakers around the world.”
“This year they honor a man who qualifies in all three areas. And who is also unique in the history of film. They call him Sidney Poitier”, Denzel added.
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