Sidney Poitier's cause of death has been determined as heart failure.
The legendary actor passed away on Jan. 6 from a combination of heart failure, prostate cancer, and Alzheimer's dementia, according to a death certificate obtained by E! News. He was 94 years old.
While he had suffered from dementia and cancer for years, he experienced heart failure hours before his passing.
Poitier was the first Black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "Lilies of the Field" in 1963.
He told Newsweek in 1988,
"I made films when the only other Black on the lot was the shoeshine boy. I was kind of the lone guy in town."
In a statement issued by the White House following Poitier's passing, President Joe Biden described the late star as a
"Once-in-a-generation actor and advocate whose work carried so much dignity, power, and grace that it changed the world on and off the big screen."
"Sidney was more than just one of the finest actors in our history," Biden said. "With unflinching grandeur and poise—his singular warmth, depth, and stature on-screen—Sidney helped open the hearts of millions and changed the way America saw itself."
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama, who awarded Poitier the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, tweeted:
"Epitomized dignity and grace, revealing the power of movies to bring us closer together. He also opened doors for a generation of actors," he added. "Michelle and I send our love to his family and legion of fans."
