All the Celebrities Who Died in 2022
Betty Davis, Traci Braxton, and Bob Saget Are Among the Stars Who've Died in 2022
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Sir Sidney Poitier, Hollywood's first Black movie star, died on 7 Jan. at age 94. The prime minister of the Bahamas, Hon. Philip Davis, confirmed his passing during a press conference. "It is with great sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of Sir Sidney Poitier. Our whole Bahamas grieves and extends our deepest condolences to his family," he began. "But even as we mourn, we celebrate the life of a great Bahamian: a cultural icon, an actor and film director, an entrepreneur, civil and human rights activist and, latterly, a diplomat. We admire the man, not just because of his colossal achievements, but also because of who he was: his strength of character; his willingness to stand up and be counted; and the way he plotted and navigated his life's journey."
The prolific Bahamian actor became the first Black man to win an Oscar for best actor and carved the way for future Black stars in Hollywood. Denzel Washington, Michael B. Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, and more wrote touching tributes to Poitier following his death.