He made history when he became the first Black actor to win the Oscar for best actor for his performance in 1963's 'Lilies of the Field.' He played a handyman who encounters a group of nuns who believe he was sent to them by God to build them a new chapel. Poitier was a trailblazing actor who - along with a career filled with landmark acting, directing, and producing roles - was also a voice for civil rights in the 1960s and an ambassador for his beloved home country of the Bahamas.