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Legendary actor Sidney Poitier honoured by President Obama

Monday, 17 August 2009

Legendary actor Sidney Poitier honoured by President Obama

Legendary veteran actor Sidney Poitier has received America's highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was presented to the star by President Barack Obama.

The 82-year-old Oscar-winning actor had the blue-ribboned medal hung around his neck by the American president.

Poitier had been the first black film star to win an Oscar for a main role, and he was honoured with this achievement for his role in Lilies of the Field back in 1963.

Poitier, who has been in over 40 films in his career since 1949 made his name in The Blackboard Jungle, and also starred in In The Heat Of The Night and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

Poitier was born in Miami, Florida in 1927, and served the US Army in World War II as a medical assistant before he became a famous film star.

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