The renowned actor was married twice and fathered six daughters with two women. His first union lasted over ten years, and his second lasted till his death. Sidney Poitier’s second wife, Joanna Shimkus, once stated that they were “destined” to be together. Their incredible 45-year interracial marriage, filled with love and mutual respect, produced two lovely girls, providing a glimpse into a bond that has endured the test of time.
Their love story was one of long-term dedication, but before his marriage to Shimkus, Sidney had another chapter in his life. His first marriage, as well as a nearly decade-long affair outside of it, coincided with his breakthrough contributions to Hollywood. In “Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon,” the public figure, famed for keeping his personal life private, revealed rare details about his first marriage to Juanita Hardy. He met her during a period of emotional emptiness in which he sought fulfillment through partying, dating, and material excess.
Sidney originally doubted her capacity to provide him with stability, but she became the first woman to do so. Hardy had a career in entertainment, including modeling for Sepia and Ebony publications, dancing, and studying at Columbia University. The two first met in the early 1950s, and Sidney saw her again later at a nightclub, where he brazenly declared, “I’ll never marry a girl like you!” Perplexed by his statements, Hardy subsequently discovered that he felt she was “unstable” because of her beauty and constantly changing companions.
Within a week, he asked her out on a date, and a month later, he referred to her as his “future wife.” The couple finally married in 1950. “I had faith in myself and faith in the future — enough of each to marry a beautiful young girl,” Sidney once said in an interview. Their first daughter, Beverly Poitier, was born two years later, in 1952, while Sidney was still working as an actor and a barbecue restaurant employee. “Times were so tough that I used to take milk from the restaurant home for my kid,” he told us.
Despite his early financial difficulties, Sidney and Hardy continued to expand their family. Their daughter Pamela Poitier was born in 1954, followed by Sherri Poitier in 1956. Years later, they welcomed their youngest child, Gina Poitier, who tragically died a few years later. Sidney’s personal life evolved alongside his work, reaching new heights in 1959. That year, he received his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for “The Defiant Ones.” His breakthrough continued on stage, when he appeared in the Broadway version of “A Raisin in the Sun,” cementing his status as a tremendous force in theater.
Around the same time, the seasoned actor joined an all-star cast in the film adaptation of Gershwin’s musical “Porgy and Bess.” His success in Hollywood only rose, preparing the scene for a historic occasion. Years later, in 1964, Sidney became the first Black man to receive an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal in “Lilies of the Field,” in which he plays Homer Smith, a wandering handyman who assists a group of nuns in the construction of a desert chapel.
His historic Oscar triumph cemented his place in Hollywood, but the demands of stardom took a toll on his personal life. “Fame thrust all these opportunities upon him,” remarked Aram Goudsouzian, author of “Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, and Icon.” “Sexual temptations were a factor in Sidney and Juanita drifting apart.” Their split was a difficult stage. “That breakup was a long, painful, and scarring period for all concerned,” Sidney said. “Juanita was not interested in dismantling the family. She knew I was dissatisfied, but she was a decent Catholic girl.”
Beyond their troubles, there was another fact he couldn’t deny: “I was in love with another woman” – Diahann Carroll. Sidney and Carroll met while filming “Porgy and Bess,” and were drawn to one other despite their previous marriages. They agreed to leave their marriages, but he was hesitant, and their tumultuous relationship lasted over a decade. Although he and Carroll never married, his relationship with Hardy ended in 1965. Three years later, he met Canadian actress Joanna Shimkus on the set of “The Lost Man,” and their relationship lasted.
Their friendship grew swiftly, and they eventually started their own family. The marriage has two daughters, Anika Poitier, born in 1972, and Sidney Poitier, born in 1973. They married in 1976, and Sidney credits Shimkus for teaching him the value of expressing love every day. Meanwhile, she described him as the most honest and nice man she’d ever met.