NPR

94, not a bad innings

#33 on the list

https://www.notplanetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?t=1842

ASMO wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 3:57 pm 94, not a bad innings

Mr Tibbs gone!!! RIP

I watched "Guess who is coming to dinner" over the Xmas holidays with my family - I had to explain to the kids that at the time of filming it was still illegal for in 17 states in the US for interracial marriage, this was 1967.

According to Wiki - Poitier frequently found himself star struck, and as a result, a bit tongue-tied in the presence of Hepburn and Tracy, whom he considered to be "giants" as far as acting is concerned. However, Poitier reportedly found a way to overcome his nerves. "When I went to play a scene with Tracy and Hepburn, I couldn't remember a word. Finally, Stanley Kramer said to me, 'What are we going to do?' I said, 'Stanley, send those two people home. I will play the scene against two empty chairs. I don't want them here because I can't handle that kind of company.' He sent them home. I played the scene in close-up against two empty chairs as the dialogue coach read Mr. Tracy's and Miss Hepburn's lines from off camera."

At 16, he moved to New York City and held a string of jobs as a dishwasher. A waiter sat with him every night for several weeks helping him learn to read the newspaper

A real Trailblazer , and a damn fine actor

RIP, Sid. Definitely one of the best!

The Defiant Ones, To Sir With Love, Lillies of the Field are some others worth watching. I think he was also the tough high school kid (though looked in his 20s) in The Blackboard Jungle (which also features a young Jameel Farah - aka Jamie Farr, Klinger from MASH).

Niegs wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:30 pm RIP, Sid. Definitely one of the best!

The Defiant Ones, To Sir With Love, Lillies of the Field are some others worth watching. I think he was also the tough high school kid (though looked in his 20s) in The Blackboard Jungle (which also features a young Jameel Farah - aka Jamie Farr, Klinger from MASH).

............who is still going strong at 87!!!

Niegs wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:30 pm RIP, Sid. Definitely one of the best!

The Defiant Ones, To Sir With Love, Lillies of the Field are some others worth watching. I think he was also the tough high school kid (though looked in his 20s) in The Blackboard Jungle (which also features a young Jameel Farah - aka Jamie Farr, Klinger from MASH).

In the Heat of the Night with Rod Steiger is also well worth watching. In one of its most famous scenes, he and Rod Steiger are questioning a wealthy white man. The suspect is infuriated at being questioned by a black man and slaps Poitier, who slaps him right back, only harder. To see a black man striking a wealthy white man was shocking at the time. The scene doesn't feature in the novel on which the film was based, but was inserted into the film at Poitier's insistence as he wanted to show that his character wouldn't back down, or stand for that kind of treatment.

I guess he's not coming to dinner now...

The guy oozed charisma. Remember seeing In the Heat of the Night and thinking this is what being a movie star is all about.

If all he had ever done was To Sir with Love, Guess Who's Coming for DInner, and In The Heat of the Night, he would be on of the all-time greats.

RIP and thanks for the memories.

SaintK wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 4:14 pm

ASMO wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 3:57 pm 94, not a bad innings

Mr Tibbs gone!!! RIP

Ohhhh yeaahhhhh.....

Lobby wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:47 pm

Niegs wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:30 pm RIP, Sid. Definitely one of the best!

The Defiant Ones, To Sir With Love, Lillies of the Field are some others worth watching. I think he was also the tough high school kid (though looked in his 20s) in The Blackboard Jungle (which also features a young Jameel Farah - aka Jamie Farr, Klinger from MASH).

In the Heat of the Night with Rod Steiger is also well worth watching. In one of its most famous scenes, he and Rod Steiger are questioning a wealthy white man. The suspect is infuriated at being questioned by a black man and slaps Poitier, who slaps him right back, only harder. To see a black man striking a wealthy white man was shocking at the time. The scene doesn't feature in the novel on which the film was based, but was inserted into the film at Poitier's insistence as he wanted to show that his character wouldn't back down, or stand for that kind of treatment.

An outrageously good film. I've lost count of how many times I've watched it. Plus Quentin Dean (I think that's her name)