Beloved actor Sidney Poitier died from a combination of heart failure, Alzheimer’s dementia and prostate cancer … according to his death certificate.
According to the document, obtained by TMZ, the 94-year-old Hollywood icon died at home in Beverly Hills. The certificate lists his occupation as an actor with an astonishing 76 years of experience in the field.
As you know by now … Poitier was the first Black man in Hollywood to take home an Oscar for best actor — opening the door for progress as far as how Black people are portrayed on the big screen.
He had many groundbreaking roles in the ’60s, including 3 legendary films all released in 1967 — “To Sir, With Love,” “In the Heat of the Night” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”
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While his death prompted hundreds of tributes from Hollywood celebs, one of the most touching came from his daughter, Sydney Poitier, who wrote … “My grief is because I lost my dad, but it is also because the world lost so much goodness.”
Scottish singer Lulu — who co-starred with Sidney and sang the theme song for “To Sir, With Love” — also reflected on working with the icon.
Lulu told TMZ … Sidney was “my friend, my teacher, my inspiration”… she says he empowered those around him and led by example.