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Sidney Poitier, who was Hollywood’s first Black matinee idol and who helped open the door for Black actors in the film industry, died last week. He was 94.
For Wesley Morris, a Times culture critic, it is Mr. Poitier — not John Wayne, Cary Grant or Marilyn Monroe — who is the greatest American movie star.
“I can’t think of another person who had to mean more, to do more, just to be taken seriously in a movie in the first place,” Wesley told us on today’s episode.
We chart Mr. Poitier’s life and career, from his childhood in the Bahamas to his rise to prominence, and explore the kinds of roles he took and the legacy he left behind.
“His legacy is so much wider and deeper than the art itself,” Wesley said. “This man has managed to affect what we see, how we relate to people, who we think we are, who we should aspire to be. And if that’s not a sign of greatness, I don’t know what is.”
On today’s episode
Wesley Morris, a critic at large for The New York Times.
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“The greatest American movie star is Sidney Poitier. You mean the greatest Black movie star? I don’t. Am I being controversial? Confrontational? Contrarian? No. I’m simply telling the truth.” Read Wesley’s tribute to Mr. Poitier.
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Sidney Poitier, who paved the way for Black actors in film, died last week at 94.
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Wesley Morris contributed reporting.
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