Sidney Poitier was born on February 20, 1927 in Miami, Florida. After a delinquincy-filled youth and a short stint in the U.S. Army, Poitier moved to New York to pursue an acting career. He joined the American Negro Theater and later began finding roles in Hollywood.  In 1963, he because the first black actor to win an Academy Award for his performance in Lilies of the Field. He also directed several films, including Stir Crazy and Ghost Dad.