Sidney Poitier Wins Oscar: Breaking Hollywood's Color Barrier
Sidney Poitier shattered Hollywood's racial ceiling by becoming the first African-American man to win the Best Actor Oscar for *Lilies of the Field*. This victory forced studios to reconsider casting practices and opened doors for Black actors who previously faced systemic exclusion from leading roles.
April 13, 1964
62 years ago
Key Figures & Places
African-American
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Academy Awards
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Sidney Poitier
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Best Actor
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36th Academy Awards
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Sidney Poitier
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African American
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Academy Award for Best Actor
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Lilies of the Field (1963 film)
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Ralph Nelson
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12 avril
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1927
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Plutarco Elías Calles
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Academy Awards
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Moacyr Deriquém
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