Who is Joanna Shimkus Poitier? Meet Sidney Poitier’s wife of 46 years

Renowned actor Sidney Poitier has passed away at the age of 94. Poitier is most well known for being the first Black man to win an Oscar for his work in the film Lilies Of The Field in 1964.

Poitier separated from his first wife Juanita Hardy after 15 years of marriage in 1960. He met his second wife, Joanna Shimkus, in 1969 and they never looked back.

We introduce you to the late actor’s wife Joanna, with whom he had two children and shared over 50 years of his life.

Legendary actor passes away aged 94

For many, Sidney Poitier has become of the most influential actors of all time. He was the first Black man to win an Oscar, paving the way for many young Black actors to follow in his footsteps.

Bahamian-America actor Sidney Poitier’s death was confirmed by the Bahamian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell. At this time his cause of death is not yet known.

He was born in 1927 in Miami, Florida. However, he grew up on a tomato farm in the Bahamas, as both of his parents were in this line of work.

The young man moved to New York when he was 16, taking various jobs to pay the rent, while taking acting lessons.

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Poitier’s first breakout role came in 1955 in The Blackboard Jungle, and his role in The Defiant Ones got him his first Oscar nomination.

Many have credited Poitier with breaking down racial barriers in Hollywood. Actor Viola Davis commented:

“No words can describe how your work radically shifted my life. The dignity, normalcy, strength, excellence and sheer electricity you brought to your roles showed us that we, as Black folks, mattered!!!”

While former US president Barack Obama shared his tribute to the late actor online:

“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 actors.”

Who is Sidney Poitier’s wife Joanna Shimkus Poitier?

Joanna Shimkus was born on 30 October 1943 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her father is thought to be of Lithuanian-Jewish heritage, while her mother was Irish-Catholic.

Shimkus moved to the US in the 1960s to pursue her dreams of being an actor and model. She appeared in many films in the 1960s and 70s including The Virgin And The Gypsy, Zita and The Uninvited. After taking a near 40-year break from the industry, she returned in a TV movie The Force in 2018.

Reportedly the couple met while they were working on the film The Lost Man in 1969. They tied the knot on 23 Jan 1976 and have been together ever since.

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They have two children together, Anika and Sydney Tamiia. Shimkus said that what first attracted her to Poitier was:

“His integrity and his honesty [and] his loyalty to his family. He’s just an amazing human being. He’s just a good, good, good person”.

Poitier and Shimkus’ wedding was a star studded event, with actor Harry Belafonte acting as the best man, and two of Poitier’s children from his first marriage acting as flower girls.

Poitier’s first wife was Juanita Hardy, who he married in 1950 and divorced in 1965 after 15 years. The In The Heat Of The Night actor had four daughters with Hardy: Beverly, Pamela, Sherri and Gina.

During an interview with Oprah Poitier revealed that his first wife was “a very supportive person” but that she was a “different kind of person” to him.

Fans share their memories of the late-actor

After the news broke online of the death of Sidney Poitier, fans have taken to social media to share heartfelt tributes to the late, great actor.

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