- An actor, director, and producer, he forever altered the racial perceptions long held by both motion picture audiences and executives, rising to superstar status in an industry forever dominated on both sides of the camera by whites while becoming the first African-American ever to take home an Oscar for Best Actor.
- Was the first black actor to win an Oscar for his leading role in LILIES OF THE FIELD.
- Starring Oscar winner Sidney Poitier, LILIES OF THE FIELD (1963) had several different working titles while the film was in production. Among them was THE AMEN MAN and PIETY IN THE SKY.
- He gave up his usual salary and agreed to play in LILIES OF THE FIELD (1963) for a smaller amount and a percentage of the profits. He won the Best Actor Oscar for his efforts.
- He had adamantly refused to take the role of Porgy when offerred it by Samuel Goldwyn because he felt it perpetuated stereotypes of blacks of a bygone era. However, he was convinced to accept the project by friends and colleagues because a refusal of a Sam Goldwyn offer would probably have ended his career in films.
- His singing voice in PORGY AND BESS (1959) was dubbed by opera singer Bobby McFerrin Sr. (father of pop singer, classical conductor, and composer Bobby McFerrin).
- In a fight with Tom Berenger in SHOOT TO KILL (1988), he says he has been up against the Mafia, the Ku Klux Klan and the KGB. He has: in LET'S DO IT AGAIN (1975), IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967) and LITTLE NIKITA (1988).
- Lied to director Mankiewicz and told him he was 27, when actually only 22 years old (NO WAY OUT).
- Richard Widmark was apparently very uncomfortable with some of the racist comments his character, Ray Biddle, made, especially given his friendship with Poitier in NO WAY OUT (1950). As a result, after some of the takes involving particularly venomous remarks, Widmark actually apologized to Poitier for the remarks his character had made.
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries at Screen Actors Guild Awards for MANDELA AND DE KLERK (1998)
- Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special at BAFTA Awards for MANDELA AND DE KLERK (1997)
- National Board of Review: Career Achievement Award (1994)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV at Golden Globe Awards for SEPARATE BUT EQUAL (1992)
- Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special at Emmy Awards for SEPARATE BUT EQUAL (1991)
- Nominated for Best Foreign Actor at BAFTA Awards for IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1968)
- Nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1968)
- Nominated for Best Foreign Actor at BAFTA Awards for A PATCH OF BLUE (1967)
- Nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for A PATCH OF BLUE (1966)
- Nominated for Best Foreign Actor at BAFTA Awards for LILIES OF THE FIELD (1965)
- Nominated for Best Foreign Actor at BAFTA Awards for A RAISIN IN THE SUN (1962)
- Nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for A RAISIN IN THE SUN (1962)
- Nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy at Golden Globe Awards for PORGY AND BESS (1960)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for THE DEFIANT ONES (1959)
- Nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama at Golden Globe Awards for THE DEFIANT ONES (1959)
- Nominated for Best Foreign Actor at BAFTA Awards for EDGE OF THE CITY (1958)
Quotes- 'Things have changed, certainly. If you came to the venue tonight and saw the array of African-American actors, you'd know things had changed. Enough becomes the key word. ''
- "We all suffer from the preoccupation that there exists... in the loved one, perfection."
- "If you apply reason and logic to this career of mine, you're not going to get very far. You simply won't. The journey has been incredible from its beginning. So much of life, it seems to me, is determined by pure randomness."
Awards- Academy Awards: Honorary Award (2002)
- Image Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie/Miniseries/Dramatic Special, THE SIMPLE LIFE OF NOAH DEARBORN (2000)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards: Life Achievement Award (2000)
- American Film Institute: Life Achievement Award (1992)
- Golden Globe Awards: Cecil B. DeMille Award (1982)
- Fotogramas de Plata: Best Foreign Performer (1969)
- Golden Globe Awards: World Film Favorite - Male (1969)
- San Sebastián International Film Festival: Best Actor, FOR LOVE OF IVY (1968)
- Golden Apple Awards: Golden Apple - Male Star of the Year (1967)
- Academy Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role, LILIES OF THE FIELD (1964)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama, LILIES OF THE FIELD (1964)
- Berlin International Film Festival: Silver Berlin Bear - Best Actor, LILIES OF THE FIELD (1963)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role-Drama, LILIES OF THE FIELD (1963)
- BAFTA Awards: Best Foreign Actor, THE DEFIANT ONES (1959)
- Berlin International Film Festival: Silver Berlin Bear - Best Actor, THE DEFIANT ONES (1958)
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