Sidney Poitier was born on Feb. 20, 1927, in Miami, Florida. After a delinquency-filled youth and a short stint in the U.S. Army, Poitier moved to New York to pursue an acting career. He joined the American Negro Theater and later began finding roles in Hollywood. In 1964, he became the first black actor to win an Academy Award. He also directed several films, including Stir Crazy and Ghost Dad.