Holding the distinction of being the first African-American actor to receive the coveted Academy Award for Best Actor, Poitier worked steadily in the show business industry for decades. His onscreen characters have inspired and galvanized movie fans around the globe. But underneath the critical praise and the box-office power lay a man who felt conflicted and frustrated with the scripts he was given and the type of character that the studios repeatedly expected him to portray. A look at the life and career of this Broadway and cinematic star.

A lifelong lover of cinema, Frank Mandosa hosts talks on a wide variety of film topics. A high school English and Film teacher, he also co-hosts Reel Life for Stoughton Media Access Center (SMAC). Twitter: @filmbuff1974 / Facebook film page: “Silver Screeners” / Instagram: frankmandosa1974 / www.frankmandosa.weebly.com