Sidney Poitier, who broke through racial barriers as the first Black winner of the best actor Oscar in 1964 for his role in Lilies of the Field, and inspired a generation during the U.S. civil rights movement, has died at age 94, an official from the Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

Eugene Torchon-Newry, acting director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Poitier died on Thursday in the Bahamas.

Poitier’s memorable screen roles include The Defiant Ones, In the Heat of the Night, A Patch of Blue and Guess Who’s coming to Dinner.

More to come