The handsome, distinguished, Academy Award-winning Sidney Poitier didn’t seem destined for greatness at an early age.

In fact, the young Poitier was a juvenile delinquent, sent to live with his brother in Florida after a series of run-ins in the Bahamas.

Born Feb. 20, 1927, Poitier was born prematurely in Miami when his parents were visiting the mainland. He grew up in the Bahamas until he was sent to live with his brother. Once in the U.S., he has said, he began to have firsthand experiences with racism, American style. Those experiences led to his decision to work to improve the lot of poor black people and to take on roles that were not demeaning to black people.

After a short stint in the U.S. Army, Poitier moved to New York to pursue an acting career and became a student at the American Negro Theater, developing a career on the stage before turning to film in 1950.

Early on, Poitier was cast principally in supporting roles, but became an instant superstar after winning a Best Actor Oscar for his leading role in the 1963 film "Lilies of the Field," becoming the first black actor to do so. He also was the first black actor to place his autograph, hand and footprints in the cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Developing a reputation as an actor who deliberately defied racial stereotyping, he created notable roles in "In the Heat of the Night," "The Defiant Ones" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" and as Porgy in the film version of "Porgy and Bess."

During the 1970s, Poitier began directing and producing films, including the wildly successful "Stir Crazy," starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, which was the highest-grossing film directed by a black filmmaker until "Scary Movie," which was directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans.

In 2001, Poitier received a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for his autobiographical book, "The Measure of a Man." In 2002, he received an honorary Oscar.

In 1974, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

Poitier’s first marriage to Juanita Hardy ended in divorce. The couple had four children. He later married actress Joanna Shimkus and had two children.

The actor, who has an honorary doctorate and is fluent in Russian, also has served as a non-resident Bahamian ambassador to Japan and to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

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