Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier is the first Bahamian and African-American to ever win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Lilies of the Field. But before becoming an actor, a 16-year-old Sidney lied about his age and joined the U.S. Army. He served as a medical attendant at a mental hospital in N.Y.C. but eventually got sick of being bossed around, so ironically, he faked insanity. Probably would have been easier if he just said his age, don’t you think?