Today in history, April 13th, 1964… Sidney Poitier became the first black performer in a leading role to win an Oscar for his role in "Lilies Of The Field."
He also holds the record for the youngest black actor (male) to win the Best Actor Oscar, at age 37.
This would be Poitier’s second nomination for the award; the first being for his performance in "The Defiant Ones," 5 years earlier.
It would take another very long 38 years before another black actor would win the Best Actor Oscar – Denzel Washington, in 2002, for his performance in "Training Day." And coincidentally, that win made Denzel the oldest black actor to win the Best Actor Oscar, at…
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