Sidney Poitier is an iconic actor, director, and diplomat who has been in the film industry for over six decades. He is best known for his roles in films such as 'Lilies of the Field' (1963), 'In the Heat of the Night' (1967), and 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' (1967). He was the first African-American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, and he was also the first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director. He has also received numerous other awards and honors throughout his career, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.