Trailblazing actor Sidney Poitier died from a combination of heart failure, Alzheimer’s dementia and prostate cancer, a death certificate obtained by TMZ revealed.
According to the official documents, Poitier died at his home in Beverly Hills on Jan. 6 at the age of 94. The Academy Award-winning actor’s death was reported to the coroner’s office, however a biopsy and autopsy were not performed, the record stated.
The Hollywood icon, who had an impressive 76 years of experience in the industry, was the first Black man to take home an Oscar for Best Actor for his work in the 1963 film Lilies of the Field. He also broke boundaries with his roles in films such as To Sir, With Love, In the Heat of the Night and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
Beyond the big screen, Poitier was also a civil rights advocate who help organize the March on Washington and plan Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorial after his assassination.
After his passing, Poitier’s family told PEOPLE, “There are no words to convey the deep sense of loss and sadness we are feeling right now. We are so grateful he was able to spend his last day surrounded by his family and friends. To us Sidney Poitier was not only a brilliant actor, activist, and a man of incredible grace and moral fortitude, he was also a devoted and loving husband, a supportive and adoring father, and a man who always put family first.”
Poitier was survived by his wife of 46 years Joanna Shimkus Poitier. Poitier shares daughters Anika, 49, and Sydney, 48, with Shimkus.
