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The one name that stands out above all others amongst African-American actors, both for his immense talents and his pioneering legacy, is none other than Sidney Poitier. The list of his accomplishments are many, but none more so than the integrity and humanity he projected in his defining roles that broke down the colour barrier that had existed prior to his enormous success.

And there is no doubt that Mr. Poitier is one of the most successful actors ever, in no small part thanks to the year 1967, which saw him star in leading roles for 3 landmark movies; To Sir With Love, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, and In The Heat Of The Night. All three of these pictures dealt with various racial issues of the day, but with a unique and daring twist as they dealt with interracial relationships and attraction, and also a black character that was very strong, determined, and more intelligent than most of the whites around him (Heat).

Fortunately today, the idea of an attractive and intelligent African-American lead role is not rare or surprising...thanks to Sidney Poitier. Mega-stars such as Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby, Wesley Snipes, Will Smith, or even Halle Berry, can all thank Sidney Poitier for opening doors of opportunity for all African-Americans, and not just actors.

Poitier directed the 1980 release Stir Crazy, which stood as the top grossing movie ever directed by an African-American for twenty years, and which starred one of the top comics of the time, Richard Pryor. Pryor was another personality whose appeal transcended all colours, and he starred in a number of top movies during his often tumultuous but highly successful career that included stand-up comedy, acting, and writing.

While Pryor's brand of humour was very raunchy and profanity laced, another black comedian with a sanitized, yet politically daring, comedic edge was making a name for himself on the stand-up circuit and late night shows. Bill Cosby was a frequent guest, and sometimes host, of the Tonight Show, which was ground-breaking for the time. This was followed in the '70's with a couple of television series, including the legendary Fat Albert cartoon series, and then in the '80's with his biggest success, The Cosby Show. This series was one of the biggest in television history, and opened the doors for a number of African-American TV shows to follow.

One of the biggest box office draws in recent times has been actor Denzel Washington. His career got off the ground

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