An act of kindness opened the door for this American film legend.

Sidney Poitier is considered to be one of the greatest performers of all time. With adversity at every turn, Poitier never gave up on his dream of becoming an actor. The iconic trailblazer, known for his integrity and strong character, passed away on January 6 at the age of 94. His compelling life story is a gift to the world and before his death, Poitier shared a pivotal moment that changed the trajectory of his life for good.

After moving to America from the Bahamas at age 16, Poitier set his sights on acting. His parents were poor but he recalled growing up in a loving home. With only 2 years of schooling under his belt, Poitier was unable to read and write and had a very thick Bohemian accent. He auditioned for the American Negro Theater in New York but was rejected after he couldn’t read the script.

Poitier crosses paths with a very special individual.

In a 2013 interview with CBS’s Lesley Stahl, Poitier shared the moment that changed his life forever. While working as a dishwasher in New York to make ends meet, he was approached by an elderly waiter who inquired about the newspaper Poitier was looking at. He asked him, “What’s new in the paper?” Poitier told Stahl that he looked up at the man and told him that he “didn’t have very much of an education” and couldn’t read in English. He told the man he couldn’t tell him what was in the papers.

The one question that changed his life.

Poitier recalled the waiter’s response to his honest admission. “He asked, ‘Would you like me to read with you?’ I said to him, ‘Yes, if you’d like to,'” Poitier told CBS Sunday Morning. As he told the story to Stahl, Poitier teared up remembering the kind man’s offer. With this support and guidance, Poitier’s life was about to change.

The kind waiter dedicated his time to helping Poitier.

Fighting back tears, Poitier explained how this random stranger taught him to read English after working his shift each day. The old man didn’t have to help Sidney but he did. Neither one of the men could know then that the ongoing lessons would open the door for Poitier to become an American film legend.

From dishwasher to film star.

After successfully learning to read and write in English, Poitier went back to the American Negro Theater where they accepted him with open arms. He would quickly become one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. Despite the racial injustices of the day, Poitier told Stahl that he refused to play roles that were immoral or that would paint African Americans in a bad light.

“I am the me I choose to be.” – Sidney Poitier

Poitier himself possessed a strong moral compass. He lived a life of courage and positivity and made sure to make the next day better than the day before.

An Academy Award winner who paved his own way.

Sidney Poitier was the first African American to win an Academy Award and would be the last till 2002 when Denzel Washington won for Training Day. The brilliant actor was in such memorable films as In the Heat of the Night and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. His popularity was beyond measure and his legacy will hopefully inspire next generations to be hopeful, resilient, and kind. You never know when a random act of kindness will change one person’s life and subsequently the world around them.

Now watch the video of Sidney Pointier sharing some of the most important moments in his life.

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Source: YouTube – CBS Sunday Morning, nbcnews.com, mypositiveoutlooks.com