Sidney Poitier is a Hollywood legend who became an emblem of inclusiveness in Hollywood when he became the first Black movie star.
In 1964, he was also the first African American male actor to win an Academy Award, winning Best Actor for his role in “Lilies of the Field.”
Throughout his trailblazing career, Poitier did not only fight for accolades for his talents but better depictions of African Americans in film.
His first role acting Dr. Brooks in “No Way Out,” was a contrast to stereotypical images of Black Americans often depicted in cinema at that time (via Britannica).
As an award winning actor, a loving father, and Hollywood icon, Sidney Poitier has six daughters.
Beverly, Pamela, Sherri, Gina, Sydney and Anika have talked about their childhood.
They said that they would wear barrettes in his hair and make him order room service while wearing pink barrettes and lipstick on.
Meet Beverly Poitier-Henderson, Sidney Poitier’s Daughter
Sidney Poitier is an actor and director who has six children with Beverly Poitier-Henderson, Janita Marie Henderson.
He married Juanita Marie Hardy in 1950, but they divorced 15 years later.
Sidney and Juanita had four daughters: Pamela, Beverly, Sherri, and Gina (who died). Sidney remarried and he had two more girls: Anika and Sydney with wife Joanna Shimkus.
Although not interested in becoming like her acclaimed father, Beverly Dafoe began writing in 2001 with a novel titled “Nana,” published on the website Vidette Online.
The life experiences she had and the people she met fueled Beverly’s original idea to write a book.
“The idea came from many places – from an old lady I knew at church, members of my family, and things like that,” Beverly explained.
Sidney encourages his daughter’s career just as much as she does.
Beverly creates custom jewelry from rocks, gems, metals, and clays available on her site Kazuri West named after two men in her life: Sidney Poitier and her husband who inspired her creation of a custom line of jewelry called “Jane-Patterson”.
Meet Beverly Poitier-Henderson, Sidney Poitier’s Daughter
Sidney Poitier’s career is draped in history. Considered a legend in Hollywood, Poitier is credited with being the first Black actor to win an Oscar for his role in Lilies of the Field.
By 1963 he was a star and had achieved success, one of the only actors of color at that time in Hollywood, according to Variety.
But it was his decision to accept a role in the film “The Lost Man” that changed the actor’s life forever.
It was on the film set where the Oscar-winning actor met his future wife, Joanna Shimkus, who was drawn to Poitier while filming this movie, Closer Weekly reports.
Poitier met his second wife Barbara Shimkus in 1976. They have been married for more than 40 years and counting, a kind of longevity for Hollywood standards.
Joanna Shimkus was the woman behind the iconic actor Sidney Poitier.
What made Joanna Shimkus, Sidney Poitier’s daughter, a superstar
Joanna Shimkus is a legendary actress of the film industry.
She began her career in 1964 with an appearance in “All About Loving.”
By 1968, she appeared in Zita and Boomer as well as A Time for Loving. Shortly after this, she disappeared from the screen scene until 2010 when she appeared in a short called “Yard Sale” and then finally, in 2018 with the film The Force.