Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier, an African-American actor, film director, and ambassador, is known to be one of the greatest in Hollywood. His role in the 1963 film Lillies of the Field allowed him to be the first African-American to receive an Oscar, for which he won the Best Actor award. He is also now the oldest living and earliest surviving Best Actor Academy Award winner.

Before his acting career, he worked as a dishwasher after leaving the Army until he landed a spot with the American Negro Theater, something that would help him earn more in investments than just washing dishes. He was tone-deaf and couldn’t sing, which made him different from black actors at the time, but this didn’t halt his career as he was very determined. Determined to refine his acting skills and rid himself of his noticeable Bahamian accent, he spent the next six months dedicating himself to achieving theatrical success.In the end, it was all worth it as he is now one of the best.