On this day, Sidney Poitier became the first African American man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role as Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field (1963). The award was presented at the 36th Academy Awards held on April 13, 1964.
His performance as a traveling handyman who helps a group of East German nuns build a chapel was widely acclaimed, and the win marked a significant milestone in Hollywood history.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
