Sidney Poitier, who was a Hollywood star, also known as the first black man to win an Oscar for best actor, has passed away at the age of 94 on January 6th. It started back in 1958 when he became the first African American who was nominated for best actor in the film, “The Defiant Ones.” Just 6 short years later, he became the first African American to win the Academy Award, this time for the film “Lilies of the Field.”

Poitier has received many honors and tributes throughout his time alive, some of his greatest honors were: The American Film Institute included him on its 1999 list of greatest male Hollywood stars,  Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 1974 and President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. President Obama along with many actors speak out on twitter regarding the passing of Poitier:

Sidney has touched the hearts of many people and will forever be known as one of the greatest. In the past week we have lost Betty White & now Sidney Poitier, R.I.P to some of the worlds finest.

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