Sidney Poitier & Joanna Shimkus Were 'Destined' to Be Together – Inside Their 45-Year Interracial Marriage with 2 Pretty Daughters

The iconic actor’s life story included two marriages and six daughters with two different women—his first marriage lasted more than a decade, and his second endured until his passing.

Sidney Poitier’s second wife, Joanna Shimkus, once remarked that they were “destined” to be together. Their remarkable, decades-long interracial marriage—marked by mutual love and respect—resulted in two daughters, showcasing a union that withstood life’s challenges.

Yet before sharing his enduring bond with Shimkus, Sidney experienced a different chapter. His initial marriage, along with a nearly ten-year affair, unfolded during the same era in which he left a groundbreaking impact on Hollywood.

Renowned for his guarded private life, Sidney offered rare insights into his first marriage to Juanita Hardy in the book “Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon.” He met Hardy at a time when he felt emotionally depleted—turning to parties, dating, and material comfort in search of fulfillment.

Initially uncertain she could provide stability, he found she was, in fact, the first woman to do so. Hardy had her own career in entertainment—modeling for Sepia and Ebony magazines, dancing, and studying at Columbia University.

Their paths first crossed in the early 1950s, and Sidney encountered her again at a nightclub soon after, bluntly telling her, “I’ll never marry a girl like you!” Perplexed by his comment, Hardy discovered he assumed she was “unstable” because of her beauty and the many different friends who surrounded her.

Within a week, Sidney asked her on a date, and only a month later, he was calling her his “future wife.” The pair wed in 1950. “I had faith in myself and faith in the future—enough of each to marry a beautiful young girl,” he once reflected.

Two years into their marriage, in 1952, their first daughter, Beverly Poitier, was born, while Sidney was still juggling acting and work at a barbecue restaurant. “Times were so tough that I used to take milk from the restaurant home for my kid,” he admitted.

Despite early financial constraints, their family expanded. Pamela Poitier arrived in 1954, followed by Sherri Poitier in 1956. Later, they welcomed their youngest daughter, Gina Poitier, who would sadly pass away years later.

By 1959, as his family grew, Sidney’s career soared. That year saw him earn his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for “The Defiant Ones.” Onstage, he starred in the Broadway production of “A Raisin in the Sun,” solidifying his influence in theater.

Around the same period, he joined a star-studded cast for the film adaptation of “Porgy and Bess.”

His Hollywood momentum continued, eventually leading to a historic moment: in 1964, Sidney became the first Black man to win the Best Actor Academy Award for his role in “Lilies of the Field,” playing Homer Smith, a traveling handyman who builds a chapel for a group of nuns.

Though his accomplishments solidified his place in Hollywood, success brought new temptations. As biographer Aram Goudsouzian explained, “Fame thrust all these opportunities upon him… Sexual temptations were a factor in Sidney and Juanita drifting apart.”

Their separation proved difficult. “That breakup was a long, painful, scarring period for all concerned,” Sidney admitted. “Juanita had no interest in dismantling the family. She knew there was great dissatisfaction on my part, but she was a good Catholic girl.”

Beyond their marital struggles, another reality loomed: Sidney was in love with someone else—Diahann Carroll. They met on the set of “Porgy and Bess,” both still married to other people. Though they agreed to leave their spouses, he hesitated, and their relationship continued for nearly ten years without marriage.

When his relationship with Carroll ended, Sidney and Hardy finalized their divorce in 1965. Three years later, he met Canadian actress Joanna Shimkus on the set of “The Lost Man.” Their connection was instantaneous and enduring.

Eventually, the couple welcomed two daughters—Anika Poitier, born in 1972, and their youngest, Sydney Poitier, in 1973.

They married in 1976, with Sidney crediting Joanna for teaching him to express his love openly. She called him the most honest and kind man she had ever encountered.

In the 1998 PBS documentary “Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light,” Joanna reflected on their interracial marriage, saying, “I guess we were just destined to be [together].” Her Canadian upbringing shaped her outlook, meaning she never saw race as a barrier.

“I grew up in Canada and I never really had any kind of prejudice — it’s unlike America,” Joanna explained. She added that race was not a defining element in their relationship.

“I never really did see him as a Black man… He was just a wonderful person. An amazing human being.”

She was drawn to his moral fortitude, honesty, and devotion to family. On top of that, she found him undeniably charming, recalling how handsome he was in his younger years and how that grace lingered into old age.

When Sidney received a lifetime achievement honor at the BAFTA Awards but was too unwell to travel, he accepted from his home in Los Angeles. He expressed deep gratitude to everyone who supported him:

“[…] My wife is with me here. My wife, my children and my friends have been keeping me on my feet. To my family, my life force, I am nothing without you. And all of you, thank you for your warm embrace and this extraordinary moment and memory I shall cherish.”

“[…] My wife is with me here. My wife, my children and my friends have been keeping me on my feet. To my family, my life force, I am nothing without you. And all of you, thank you for your warm embrace and this extraordinary moment and memory I shall cherish.”

Sidney frequently acknowledged how much his wife and children meant to him. As for Joanna, when asked about the secret behind their nearly five decades together, she credited it to the simple things—like cooking for him every evening and caring for him.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Sidney admitted that his children likely wouldn’t describe him as “easygoing” due to the discipline he upheld. Joanna called him a perfectionist who expected loyalty and fairness from the family, occasionally demanding a lot from his children.

Following Sidney’s death at 94 in January 2022, Joanna discovered a drawer of his speeches while organizing his office. Realizing they held invaluable insight into his spirit, she chose to compile them into a book titled “Sidney Poitier: The Great Speeches of an Icon Who Moved Us Forward.”

Following Sidney’s death at 94 in January 2022, Joanna discovered a drawer of his speeches while organizing his office. Realizing they held invaluable insight into his spirit, she chose to compile them into a book titled “Sidney Poitier: The Great Speeches of an Icon Who Moved Us Forward.”

His steady, measured voice never wavered, and Joanna never once heard his Bahamian accent return, even after all the time they spent in his native Bahamas. She also noted he never raised his voice at their children.

She described him as one of the most curious and insightful individuals she’d ever known—though he had minimal formal schooling, he was completely self-educated, deeply fascinated by astronomy and life’s broader questions. His commitment to learning extended to providing for his daughters’ education.

His steady, measured voice never wavered, and Joanna never once heard his Bahamian accent return, even after all the time they spent in his native Bahamas. She also noted he never raised his voice at their children.

Ultimately, Sidney Poitier left behind a legacy of wisdom, honor, and gentleness—qualities he maintained in both his illustrious career and his personal life. His family continues to cherish the values he instilled, carrying forward the lessons of a man deeply loved and revered.