Sidney Poitier Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

William Earl “Death of a Salesman” actor Wendell Pierce, “The Piano Lesson” director LaTanya Richardson Jackson and “Till” star John Douglas Thompson are among the honorees set for the inaugural Salute to Broadway presented by the African American Film Critics Association. The event is set for Oct. 17 at The Lambs Club in the heart of Midtown’s theater district. “It’s no secret that some of our greatest actors have come from the stage or have tested their chops on it,” said Gil Robertson, co-founder of AAFCA. “Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis are just a handful of our beloved icons for which this was true, with Tony winners Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Audra McDonald, Adrienne Warren and Myles Frost among those continuing that legacy. As a reliable pipeline for outstanding Black talent in front of the camera as well as behind it, Hollywood has benefited greatly from this esteemed training ground and AAFCA Salutes Broadway celebrates that rich heritage.”

Roy Trakin There’s a famous photograph by Henry Diltz of Joni Mitchell playing guitar in Mama Cass Elliot’s Laurel Canyon backyard, with David Crosby holding up a joint in back and Eric Clapton sitting cross-legged watching transfixed. There, in the foreground, is Cass’ nine-month-old daughter Owen, teething on a film canister. “I often wonder what I was thinking,” says the now-55-year-old mother of two kids in their 20s, who lives in Encino with her husband of 31 years. “Clearly, I was thinking about that film canister. It was all pretty surreal, pretty cool.” Owen Elliot-Kugell, the only child of Mama Cass of the Mamas & the Papas, the seminal co-ed group that came to define the sound of 1960s hippie culture, has for years spearheaded the campaign to get her mother a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The ceremony will finally take place on Monday, Oct. 3 on a stretch of Hollywood Blvd. between Sycamore and LaBrea alongside the stars of Sidney Poitier and Tyne Daly, with the likes of bandmate Michelle Phillips and good friend John Sebastian on hand to mark the occasion.

Manori Ravindran International Editor Malala Yousafzai — activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner and film and TV producer — is in production on her first project for Apple, Variety can reveal. Her production company Extracurricular has partnered with indie studio A24 for a still-untitled feature documentary on the legendary ‘haenyeo’ society of fisherwomen, who live on South Korea’s Jeju Island. The Apple Original Films title is directed by Peabody Award nominee Sue Kim (“The Speed Cubers”), and is the first project to go into production from Extracurricular’s Apple TV+ partnership, which was struck in March 2021.

Oprah Winfrey and Apple are winding down their content deal.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Oprah Winfrey and Apple TV+ have concluded their mega overall deal, first announced in 2018. Both sides have confirmed the evolution, but declined to comment. It’s understood that both sides have agreed to continue to work together, but on a project-by-project basis, now that their previous deal is ending. Winfrey and Apple TV+ are already currently collaborating on the documentary “Sidney,” about the life of iconic Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier. That project, directed by Reggie Hudlin, is through Apple Original Films and debuted this past Friday on Apple TV+. Winfrey and Apple also continue to collaborate on “Oprah’s Book Club,” which is available on both OprahDaily.com and Apple Books. 

momentous Emmy win, and this time she's getting the love in person. On Wednesday, the star had an emotional meeting with Oprah Winfrey after the latter sent her a bouquet of flowers in congratulations on her Emmy Award.The pair connected at the L.A.

Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic A pioneering movie star intensely aware of his place in film history, Sidney Poitier published no fewer than three autobiographies during his life, generously sharing what he’d lived and learned with those who’d appreciated his work in films such as “In the Heat of the Night” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” But words can only reach so far in an era dominated by the moving image, and as such, we’re fortunate that Poitier was open to repeating himself one last time for “Sidney” — director Reginald Hudlin’s definitive portrait for Apple TV+ — before his death this year at the age of 94. Few movie stars have been more inspirational than Poitier, who was more than just a star, but also a symbol to so many — be they aspiring Black performers or the public at large, who saw their own views on civil rights embodied in the characters he played. But what of those who were born too late to fully appreciate what this remarkable actor meant to audiences deprived of role models? Produced by Oprah Winfrey (who appears frequently throughout) with the participation of Poitier and his family, “Sidney” puts that legacy in context, retracing a career that changed the way that Hollywood — and the world — saw the Black experience.

“Abbott Elementary’ star Sheryl Lee Ralph reflected on having Sidney Poitier as a director for her film debut “A Piece of the Action” at the premiere Wednesday of the documentary film “Sidney.”“When I met him, he did not let me down,” Sheryl Lee Ralph told TheWrap at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures premiere, noting that at the time she was a “newbie” to the industry. “A lot of people you meet, they let you down.

who passed away at 94 in January — was already at death’s door.“I was not expected to live,” says Poitier in the new documentary “Sidney,” which premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday. “I was born two months premature.”The film traces Poitier’s remarkable journey from his father tucking him into a shoebox as a sickly infant to growing into a screen icon and the first black man to win the Best Actor Oscar, with “Lilies of the Field” in 1964.“I remember thinking, ‘If he could do that, I wonder what I can do,’ ” says Oprah Winfrey, who produced the documentary, about how Poitier’s groundbreaking career inspired her.“It was the first time I’d seen a black man assert his power,” says Halle Berry — who became the first African-American woman to win the Best Actress Oscar in 2002 — of Poitier’s impact on her.

Oprah Winfrey and Sidney Poitier: two icons, one powerful story.

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Oprah Winfrey is mourning Queen Elizabeth II's death. ET's Rachel Smith spoke with the 68-year-old TV personality at the premiere of during the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, and Winfrey shared where she was at the time that the U.K.'s longest-serving monarch died.«I was hiking in Maui when I heard that she passed,» Winfrey said.

Olivia Newton-John fans were not pleased  after she was left out of the «In Memoriam» segment at the 2022 Emmys on Monday night. Following the tribute -- which honored other actors who died this year, including Betty White, Bob Saget, Paul Sorvino, James Caan, Ray Liotta, Robert Morse, Louie Anderson, Sidney Poitier, and many more -- Twitter was flooded with disappointed viewers who called out the awards show for not honoring the late star who died in August at age 73.While Newton-John is listed on the «In Memoriam» page on the Emmys website, she was no where to be seen during the telecasted tribute which was played for the audience on a screenbehind John Legend, who performed his song, «Pieces.» The actress had a famed film and music career, but she also graced the small screen, with credits in dozens of TV shows, including S, ,  and and more.«She’s been on over fifty TV shows and specials.

Olivia Newton-John fans weren’t impressed on Monday after the 2022 Emmys left the actress out of its In Memoriam segment.

The Emmys' In Memoriam segment honours actors, directors, producers and other individuals in the entertainment industry who have passed away since last year’s ceremony – but one star was missing from last night's tribute. This year's segment honoured a number of stars including Betty White, Sidney Poitier, and Nichelle Nichols. But fans watching awards ceremony noticed that one star, the late Olivia Newton-John, who died on 8 August 2022 after a long battle with breast cancer, had been left out of the tributes.

John Legend took the stage at the 2022 Emmy Awards to honor all the stars that are now gone. The In Memoriam segment was one of the highlights of the night with the EGOT winner performing his new song “Pieces.”

Anne Heche, who died last month, was one of several late beloved stars honored during the In Memoriam tribute at the 2022 Emmy Awards on Monday, September 12.

Oprah Winfrey is hopeful Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex can make peace with the British royal family. In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced that they were stepping back from their role as senior members of the royal family, and two months later, discussed the decision in detail during a special with the TV host.

The phrase “bombshell interview” is often used to describe that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Oprah Winfrey chat, but the latter insisted that wasn’t what she set out to achieve.

Oprah Winfrey noted Queen Elizabeth II's death could be an "opportunity for peacemaking" among the royal family. Winfrey spoke briefly during a conversation at the Toronto Film Festival about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's "bombshell" interview and the possibility that the two could reconcile with Prince William and the rest of the royal family.

Oprah Winfrey is back on the red carpet at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival!

Oprah Winfrey is dazzling the red carpet!

Sidney Poitier wasn’t solely a pioneer or merely among his generation’s best actors; he was a complicated, flawed human, prone to mistakes and foibles. But you wouldn’t know the depth of those flaws or how lasting his mistakes were by watching the Apple TV+ documentary “Sidney.” This documentary should be better, richer, and more comprehensive.

The great acting legend Sidney Poitier died in January at age 94. He did not live to see the thrilling new documentary on his life and career, Sidney, which had its World Premiere Saturday night at the Toronto International Film Festival. However it had its blessing, and that of his family, for the film which has been percolating and in development and then production for five years. And although Poitier himself didn’t get to see the finished work, everyone else will beginning on Friday September 23 when it begins streaming on Apple TV+ and playing in selected theatres.

William Earl Jennifer Lawrence brought serious starpower to the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, appearing at the world premiere of her new film “Causeway.” But despite the big, Hollywood name “Causeway” was a quieter character study. Lawrence stars in and produces the film, in which she plays a soldier returning to civilian life in New Orleans. The film also stars Brian Tyree Henry, Linda Emond, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Russell Harvard. “Causeway” is the feature directorial debut of theater veteran Lila Neugebauer, with a script written by Elizabeth Sanders, Luke Goebel and Ottessa Moshfegh.

Addie Morfoot Contributor In 2018, Network Entertainment founder Derik Murray met with Sidney Poitier to discuss making a documentary about the star’s life and career. Over the next two years, Murray established a foundation of trust with Poitier and his family, who all eventually agreed to the film. The result is “Sidney,” an Apple TV+ doc that examines the legacy of Poitier, who died earlier this year at 94. Directed by Reginald Hudlin (“The Black Godfather”), the doc was produced by Oprah Winfrey. One of the most acclaimed and recognizable movie stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and the first Black man to receive the best actor award, Poitier was also a director and an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. The film includes interviews with Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand and Spike Lee as well as an audio-recorded interview with Poitier’s longtime friend and colleague Harry Belafonte.

Brent Lang Executive Editor “Causeway,” a new drama starring Jennifer Lawrence as a soldier adjusting to life after returning home to New Orleans, will premiere on Apple TV+ on Nov. 4. The streaming service also announced that “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues,” a documentary about one of the founding fathers of jazz, will hit Apple TV+ on Oct. 28. Both films are world premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, where the company is screening five features, the largest number of Apple Originals to debut at a single film festival. The Canada-bound Apple lineup also includes “Sidney,” a documentary about Oscar-winning actor and barrier-breaking star Sidney Poitier that is produced by Oprah Winfrey and directed by Reginald Hudlin; “Raymond & Ray,” which features Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke as half-brothers; and “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” with Zac Efron and Russel Crowe in a new dramedy from “Green Book” director Peter Farrelly.

Lily Moayeri About six weeks ago, locals and visitors to the famed intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street saw one of the bare walls in the area begin to show some shapes and colors. Over on Instagram, posing at the same spot, Los Angeles urban pop artist Tristan Eaton wrote on July 17, “My dream wall is finally happening!” On Aug. 25, the six-story mural, which adorns the south-facing side of the Aster club and hotel, had its official reveal in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The mural was created with spray paint and executed in Eaton’s signature collage style, which mixes pop art and traditional techniques. It’s a salute to Hollywood groundbreakers such as Judy Garland and Sidney Poitier, whose likenesses are the largest figurative elements of the work. Garland’s daughter, Lorna Luft, and granddaughter, Vanessa Richards, were among the guests who attended the ribbon-cutting.

Apple TV+ will be releasing a variety of television shows and feature-length movies over the coming weeks. From animated comedy to romantic drama, the latest batch of stories offers a bit of everything to keep everyone entertained.

People in 2018 about their secret to longevity. 'What pops into my head: security, food, a beautiful home. The difference between a house and a home, it's a big difference.

Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971 is not to be missed. Not only does the exhibition celebrate Black representation in film, it serves as an important reminder and lesson about the contributions of Black filmmakers and stars to the world of cinema.Opening Aug. 21, seven galleries make up the exhibit exploring Oscar Micheaux’s low-budget dramas in the silent-film era to the works of Melvin Van Peebles.The exhibition also introduces audiences to stars largely unknown to mainstream moviegoers — Ralph Cooper, Clarence Brooks and Francine Everett — alongside iconic screen legends Paul Robeson, Josephine Baker, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier and Lena Horne.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorA24 dropped the first trailer for its upcoming psychological thriller “God’s Creatures” on Tuesday. The film from directing duo Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer stars Paul Mescal, Aisling Franciosi and Emily Watson.Set in a quiet Irish fishing village, “God’s Creatures” follows the strained relationship between Brian O’Hara (Mescal) and his mother, Aileen (Watson). When Brian suddenly returns home to his family after living abroad in Australia for seven years, he is accused of a horrible crime.

A Hollywood legend is getting his due.

Tis the season to fete legends of cinema. First, Ethan Hawke celebrates the life of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in his excellent six-part doc series, “The Last Movie Stars,” and now acclaimed veteran director and producer Reginald Hudlin, known for producing “Django Unchained” and directing “House Party,” is all set to honor the life and legendary career of the great Sidney Poitier, a trailblazing actor who broke down so many barriers for Black actors in the United States.

Well excuuuuse me! A documentary on legendary comedian, actor and banjo aficionado Steve Martin is coming to Apple TV+ from Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (“20 Feet From Stardom,” “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”).Apple Original Films landed the untitled, two-part documentary film that hails from A24 and Tremolo Productions. The film will explore Martin’s life and career, though no other information was provided about the film.

A two-part documentary film exploring the life and career of the legendary Steve Martin has landed at Apple Original Films.