News Trailblazing star Sidney Poitier, first Black man to win best actor Oscar, dies at 94 January 7, 2022 Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY Comments Off on Trailblazing star Sidney Poitier, first Black man to win best actor Oscar, dies at 94 Sidney Poitier, a trailblazer for Hollywood diversity and a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, has died at 94.