Tyler Perry, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, and More Stars Pay Tribute to the Legendary Sidney Poitier

"Around this time last year Cicely Tyson was releasing her book and promoting it. I had no idea she would pass away shortly thereafter. Now, to wake up this morning to a call that Sidney Poitier has passed away . . . all I can tell you is that my heart broke in another place," Tyler captioned an Instagram post, alongside a series of photos with Sidney. "The grace and class that this man has shown throughout his entire life, the example he set for me, not only as a Black man but as a human being will never be forgotten. There is no man in this business who has been more of a North Star for me than Sidney Poitier. I'll never forget inviting him and Cicely to fly to South Africa with me. Selfishly, I wanted to hold them both captive for the hours long trip as I literally sat at their feet and listened to their wisdom and experiences. It was life changing. All I can say is thank you for your life, thank you for your example, and thank you for your incredible gift. But most of all, thank you for being willing to share YOU to make us all better."

"This is a big one. No words can describe how your work radically shifted my life," Viola captioned an Instagram post featuring a photo of her posed alongside Sidney. "The dignity, normalcy, strength, excellence and sheer electricity you brought to your roles showed us that we, as Black folks, mattered!!! It was an honour for my husband and I to share lunch with you at Spagos. You told us,'If your dreams do not scare you, they're not big enough'! I put this quote on my daughter's wall. Rest well Mr. Poitier. Thank you! Thank you for leaving a legacy. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

"Sidney Poitier. What a landmark actor," Jeffrey remarked in a tweet with a photo of the late actor. "One of a kind. What a beautiful, gracious, warm, genuinely regal man. RIP, Sir. With love."

"If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters that would soar a thousand feet high.. ," Whoopi wrote in a tweet. "To Sir… with Love. Sir Sidney Poitier R.I.P. He showed us how to reach for the stars."

"Rest easy King 👑 #sidneypoitier," Taraji wrote in an Instagram post. "Thank you for kicking down the doors. Thank you will never be enough for your blood sweat tears and determination. REST IN HEAVENLY PEACE!!! We will tell the generations to come about your legacy!!!"

"Sir Sidney, your brilliant light will never dim," Lenny wrote in an Instagram caption, alongside a photo of him, Sidney, and Denzel Washington. "The doors you opened and paths you created will continue to make way for those with a dream. You showed the world that with vision and grace, all is possible. Your excellence will always be the benchmark. Rest in divine peace, Bahamian King. My love and condolences go out to your beautiful family."

"What a thrill it was to meet the legendary actor Sidney Poitier," she tweeted with a photo of her and Sidney, right next to a picture of him holding his Oscar. "He made us all feel proud and was an inspiration to us in an industry that at times could not be welcoming.. thank you Mr. Poitier rest well."

"Mr Poitier thank you for your Legacy!!" Garcelle wrote in an Instagram post with a selfie of her and Sidney. "You showed us what it means to be great! Rest in Power."

"Sidney Poitier, the first Black man to win an Oscar, has died at the age of 94," George wrote in a tweet. "The star of Guess Who's Coming To Dinner and Lilies of the Field, for which he won Best Actor, was a trailblazer who will be mourned by so many for whom he opened the very doors of Hollywood."