Sir Sidney Poitier was an actor, director, and diplomat, best known for being the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. He won this award for his portrayal of Homer Smith, an African-American worker in the film, Lilies of the Field. This was a very significant achievement in the 1960s when racism was rampant in the United States. Born to poor Bahamian farmer parents, he received little formal education. As a teenager, he was turning towards street crime when his father sent him to the United States to start life anew. He received a huge cultural shock in New York where he witnessed widespread racism and chasm between the classes. After struggling to make ends meet as a dishwasher, he joined the American Negro Theater. Through his determination and hard work he soon became a much sought-after theatre artist and started receiving film offers. In his debut film, No Way Out, he played a doctor who treats a white bigot. This role got him noticed and he received several offers. After establishing himself as a successful actor, he branched into direction as well. He was named one of the Greatest Male Stars of All Time by the American Film Institute in 1999.