Hollywood legend Sidney Poitier gained wide popularity after starring in No Way Out. And more than ten years later he won the title of the first black actor to win an Oscar for his participation in the movie “Wildflowers”.
Despite the fact that Poitier made history of the prestigious film award for this film, a much bigger role for the actor played a series of “Lost Man”. The film abruptly changed Poitier’s life, all because it was then that he met his future wife Joanne Shimkus.
The wedding of Poitier and Shimkus took place in 1976. At that point, it had been more than a decade since the actor divorced his first wife Juanita Hardy in 1965. The couple managed to pass the test of time, staying together for more than forty years and they are still happily married.
Joanna Shimkus is originally from Canada. The beginning of her career dates back to 1964, when she starred in All About Love. This was followed by new projects until 1972. But then the actress decided on a long break and stopped acting in films. The name of the actress did not appear in any projects until 2010. That year, Shimkus took part in the filming of the series “Yard Sale,” and in 2018 she starred in the series “The Force.” After a while, it became clear that the break in Shimkus’ acting career was taken so that she could devote all her time to her family.
In 1972, Joanna and Sidney had their firstborn daughter Anika, and a year later was born the second daughter Sydney. Both heiresses continued the creative path of their parents.
Anika directed the film “Black Irishman,” in which Joanna Shimkus was an executive producer. And the younger Sydney played in the TV series “Veronica Mars” and in Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof.”
As Shimkus once admitted, she never expected to find her calling in acting. Before Joanna met Poitier, she had found the film industry simply an attractive business, more appealing than working in an office. As a result, filmmaking became her favorite thing to do. For Shimkus, however, it was not a necessity to provide for herself. Especially considering the fact that the children have long since grown up and are successfully building their careers.
In 2001, the actor received an honorary “Oscar” award for his contribution to American cinema.
Contrary to rumors of Poitier cheating on his first wife, the actor is happy with his current wife Joanne to this day. When asked about the secret of their long relationship, Sidney Poitier said:
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“My wife helped me realize one very important thing, it’s important to express love for each other every day.”
Sidney Poitier’s walk of life
Sidney Poitier is a famous actor, director and producer. In addition to being the first African American to win an Oscar, he holds the title of the first black movie star.
Poitier was born on February 20, 1927, in the Bahamas. Poitier’s mother went into premature labor just as she and her husband were vacationing in the islands. The actor’s childhood was spent on Cat Island, from where he returned to the United States as a teenager. On his return to America, Sidney joined the army, it was the years of World War II.
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For some time he was in the medical unit, after which he expressed a desire to enter the American Negro Theater, located in New York. However, the future Oscar-winner was not accepted in the theater. The reason for rejection was the accent of Poitier’s. But he did not give up, half a year Sidney worked on the pronunciation and again tried to join the theater. As a result, he was accepted, and it was the starting point in building a long and successful career as an artist.
In 2001, the actor was awarded a golden Oscar statuette for his contribution to the entertainment industry. From 1997 to 2007 Sidney Poitier represented the Bahamas in Japan.
In 2009, the actor received the Presidential Medal of Freedom of the United States, as well as the history of such books as This Life, The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography and Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter.
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Today, Sidney Poitier spends most of his time with his family. They all get together, and then Sidney Poitier is the center of a large family. He is surrounded by his spouse, ex-spouse, 27 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and godchildren.
At the venerable age of 94, Poitier is hardly ever in the public eye anymore. On the contrary, he enjoys the solitude of his family and tries to make the most of the days allotted to him.
