This win made him only the second Black actor to win a competitive Oscar, following Hattie McDaniel's Supporting Actress win in 1939. The Best Actor category would not see another Black winner until Denzel Washington for Training Day (2001). Sidney Poitier Academy Awards Acceptance Speech
He won against Paul Newman ( Hud ), Rex Harrison ( Cleopatra ), Richard Harris ( This Sporting Life ), and Albert Finney ( Tom Jones ). Sidney Poitier Wins Best Actor | 36th Oscars (1964)
The piece refers to the historic moment on April 13, 1964, when Sidney Poitier became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field . Acceptance Speech Transcript This win made him only the second Black