Legendary movie star Sidney Poitier, pumanaw na
Bumuhos ang pakikiramay mula sa iba’t-ibang sektor, sanhi ng pagpanaw ng unang major Black movie star at unang Black man na nanalo ng best actor sa Oscar na si Sidney Poitier.
Si Sidney ay 94 na taong gulang na.
Pinangunahan ng mga showbiz personality gaya ni Denzel Washington at dati at kasalukuyang US Presidents na sina Joe Biden at Barack Obama, ang emotional tributes nang pumutok ang balita kahapon, Biyernes tungkol sa pagpanaw ni Poitier.
Ayon sa two-timed Oscar winner na si Washington . . . “He was a gentle man and opened doors for all of us that has been closed for years. It was a privilege to call Sidney Poitier my friend. God bless him and his family.”
Sa tweet naman ni Whoopi Goldberg nakasaad . . . “To Sir…with Love. Sir Sidney Poitier R.I.P. He showed us how to reach for the stars.”
Kinumpirmni Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis ang pagkamatay ng dual US-Bahamian citizen na si Poitier sa pagsasabing “with great sadness that I learned this morning of the passing of Sidney Poitier.”
Ang legendary movie star ay namatay sa kanilang tahanan sa Los Angeles noong Huwebes, ayon sa director of communications ni Davis na si Latrae Rahming. Hindi naman ito agad na tumugon sa mga katanungan tungkol sa sanhi ng pagkamatay ng aktor.
Unang male Black star na na-nominate para sa isang Academy Award sa pamamagitan ng “The Defiant Ones” noong 1958, napanalunan ni Poitier ang kaniyang groundbreaking Oscar anim na taon ang lumipas para sa papel na kaniyang ginampanan sa pelikulang “Lilies of the Field.”
Si Poitier ay tinawag ni Biden na “once-in-a-generation actor and advocate whose work carried so much dignity, power, and grace that it changed the world on and off the big screen.”
Si Poitier ay pinagkalooban ng isang honorary Oscar noong 2002 para sa kaniyang “extraordinary performances” sa silver screen at sa kaniyang “dignity, style and intelligence.”
Sa telebisyon, binigyang buhay niya ang mga “icon of history” gaya ng unang black president ng South Africa na si Nelson Mandela at unang Black justice sa US Supreme Court na si Thurgood Marshall.
At noong 1997, ay binigyan sya ng ceremonial post bilang Bahamian Ambassador to Japan.
Noong 2009 ay pinarangalan din siya ni Obama ng US Presidential Medal of Freedom, ang highest civilian honor sa America.
Ayon kay Obama. . . “Through his groundbreaking roles and singular talent, Sidney Poitier epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together. He also opened doors for a generation of actos. Michelle and I send our love to his family and legions of fans.”
Sinabi naman ni Prime Minister Davis . . . “Our whole Bahamas grieves and extends our deepest condolences to his family. We admire the man not just because of his colossal achievements, but also because of who he was. His strengh of character, his willingness to stand up and be counted and the way he plotted and navigated his life’s journey.”
Bumuhos din ang mensahe mula sa labas ng Hollywood, gaya ng Bollywood star na si Anil Kapoor na nagsabing “my childhood idol, Mr. Poitier is my lifelong inspiration & star of some of my favorite films.”
Sa tweet ng basketball legend na si Magic Johnson ay nakasaad . . . “A great friend, I learned a lot from watching Sidney and how he carried himself with such grace and class.”
