biography
pronunciation:
[pwatyay]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1924– )
|
| biography:
| Actor and director, born in Miami, Florida, USA. A student at the American Negro Theater in New York City, he appeared on stage and in films before making his Hollywood debut in 1950. Cast mainly in supporting roles, he won an Oscar for Lilies of the Field (1963), and became the cinema's first African-American superstar. Handsome and unassuming, he brought dignity to the portrayal of noble and intelligent characters in such films as In the Heat of the Night (1967) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967). During the 1970s he also began to direct, producing a number of lowbrow comedies such as Stir Crazy (1980) and Ghost Dad (1990). He returned to acting after a 10-year absence, appearing in Shoot to Kill (1988), Little Nikita (1988), Sneakers (1992), and One Man, One Vote (1997). In 2002 he received and an honorary Oscar. |
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