How tall was Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier's Height

6ft 2 ¾ (189.9 cm)

American actor best remembered for roles in films such as The Defiant Ones, In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Blackboard Jungle, A Raisin in the Sun, Lilies of the Field, A Patch of Blue, Buck and the Preacher and To Sir, With Love. Described commonly as being 6ft 2, one biographer in 1969 mentioned "Rising six feet two and one-half inches tall, with shoulders that are heroically broad and muscular as if hewn out of rock, Poitier is long-hipped and long-legged, almost lanky".

How tall is Sidney Poitier
Photo by PR Photos
Sydney Poitier is so tall, and I'm only 5'5". So if I was going to be in the same shot that he was in, I had to stand on a box. I felt it was easier for me to stand on a box than for him to kneel
-- Katharine Houghton
My height is 6'2ΒΎ". My weight is 203 lbs.
-- 1983

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Add a Comment105 comments

Average Guess (42 Votes)
6ft 2.39in (188.9cm)
Arch Stanton said on 10/May/23
Looked near 1.5 inches taller than Michael Caine in the Wilby Conspiracy, really it blows the 6 ft 2 Caine listing to smithereens, clearly more than a half inch diff. I never thought he looked 6 ft 3 but maybe Poitier at 6'2.75 and Caine at 6'1.5 is possible.
Gerald S said on 26/Apr/23
Rob, why would Poitier specifically claim 6'2.75" if it wasn't true?

Poitier did generally have at least an inch on 6'2" listed guys: Martin Landau, Raul Julia and Michael Caine.
Editor Rob
On the balance of probabilities, it does seem likely he got measured 6ft 2.75 at his peak.
Sandy Cowell said on 10/Mar/23
Sidney was very tall, especially for his time.

6ft2.5. πŸ•―
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 5/Jan/23
Rob, is 6ft2ΒΎ debatable?
Editor Rob
It was a very specific claim, which maybe he did in fact measure in his prime.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 5/Jan/23
Disagree Arch, Sidney looked as tall as those guys on screen
berta said on 1/Jan/23
he was not shorter than morgan freeman 15 years back. both around atleast 188 then. He was 80 years old. He must have lost height by then. anything under 189 is impossbile. i think he have been measurted at both 189 and 190 cm as he claimed. very legit 189 around 189,5 on average in his 30s. Even at recent photo not long before his death there is a photo with morgan freeman, where he is 92-94 years old and just look at most 1 inch under morgan. i guess 2 cm. He was atleast 185 at the time of his death. only lost 4-5 cm at the age of 94. very good genetics.
Malcolm Oliver said on 29/Sep/22
He’s as tall as they claim he is.

6’2.5, rest in peace to Mr. Poitier.
OriginalAnon said on 27/Feb/22
Looked 189/190cm prime.
Arch Stanton said on 19/Jan/22
He never looked 6 ft 3 though, even in his earliest films. Somebody like Peck or Michael Redgrave on the other hand could pass for a legit 6'3 a lot of the time.
Hong said on 16/Jan/22
Click Here Here's Sydney with 6ft1.25 listed LL cool J he's looking a solid 6ft3 in comparison,maybe an upgrade is needed for Poitier?
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 15/Jan/22
He still looked at least 6ft2 20 years ago...probably had lost a bit toward the end but still looked tall
Vick said on 14/Jan/22
I think he was down to 6’1 minimum, and could still pass between 6’1 and 6’2 in 2021 before he passed. The photos with his daughter who I believe is 5’10 showed a noticeable distance still at his elderly age.
Jtm said on 11/Jan/22
Seems shorter than peck in the picture J.Blaze posted and not much taller than bill Cosby. I would give him 6’2 flat.
Canson said on 9/Jan/22
He retained his height well. Still looked a legit 6’2 In his 70s or 80s with Tyler Perry
Arch Stanton said on 8/Jan/22
RIP indeed, he had a great innings! I'll have to rewatch some of his films sometime. Didn't lose much height at all!
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 8/Jan/22
So sorry to hear that Sidney Poitier has passed on, aged 94. One of the first films my Mum recommended and let us stay up to watch was 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?'

What a feel-good movie that was!

6ft2.5.

RIP Sidney Poitier πŸ•―οΈ XXX
20th February 1927 - 6th January 2022
J.Blaze said on 7/Jan/22
RIP. Here with fellow 6'2.5 listed Peck. Click Here
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 7/Jan/22
RIP...powerhouse on the silver screen


Height is on point
Canson said on 7/Jan/22
He just passed. RIP
Sinclair said on 17/Sep/21
Rob, who would you say was taller at peak, Sidney Poitier or Gregory Peck?

You only have to see Poitier next to Michael Caine in The Wilby Conspiracy, to realise Poitier was 6’2.5” minimum, he amazingly had at least an inch on Caine in that film. Perhaps, Caine only peaked at 6’1.5”. Poitier also made Martin Landau and Raul Julia both look 6’1” range, in the Mister Tibbs films. Poitier often gave a 6’3” impression, but was most probably 189-190cm at peak.
Editor Rob
I'd probably go with Gregory as having the best chance of a slightly taller measurement at peak.
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 20/Feb/21
πŸŽ‚πŸŽπŸŽŠπŸŽˆ Happy Birthday Sidney πŸŽˆπŸŽŠπŸŽπŸŽ‚

Many Happy Returns to Sidney Poitier on his 94th Birthday! This gentleman is the Dad to SIX daughters!

6ft2.5. πŸ˜πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ˜„πŸ‘Œ XXX

πŸŽ‚πŸŽπŸŽŠπŸŽˆπŸŽ‚πŸŽπŸŽŠπŸŽˆπŸŽ‚πŸŽπŸŽŠπŸŽˆπŸŽ‚πŸŽπŸŽŠπŸŽˆ
Almost 180cm guy said on 5/Dec/20
Recently, I found one short video of Sidney with Nelson Mandela from 1996: Click Here
For this one more photo: Click Here
Rob, how would you rate the height difference between them?
Editor Rob
there could be a bit less than 2 inches there.
Arch Stanton said on 11/Nov/20
Tall Sam said on 29/Oct/20
Hey Arch Stanton, how you doing man? Been a long time since we've campaigned to get auteurs pages and talked about the 1001 movies you need to see/old movies.

I've been trying to get Belafonte added for a while but Rob indeed doesn't seem to bite on getting him a page. I think you could argue Belafonte looked a little variable, I once thought he looked 6'0.5" but then at times can seem over 6'1" (not really 0.75 over though). I could see Harry at a happy medium as a 6'1" listing.

Ah cool, it is you! Very well thanks! That was a while ago!! I think I saw 997 or 998 in that book, only a couple I couldn't find! I have a few Agnes Varda films I've been meaning to watch. Le Bonheur and Cleo 5 to 7 are definitely in my top 50 films, brilliant.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 29/Oct/20
Belafonte was actually listed here at 6ft2...I vividly remember
Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 29/Oct/20
@Arch
If Rob added Poitier, then I don't see why Belafonte wouldn't be a good possibility.
Tall Sam said on 29/Oct/20
Hey Arch Stanton, how you doing man? Been a long time since we've campaigned to get auteurs pages and talked about the 1001 movies you need to see/old movies.

I've been trying to get Belafonte added for a while but Rob indeed doesn't seem to bite on getting him a page. I think you could argue Belafonte looked a little variable, I once thought he looked 6'0.5" but then at times can seem over 6'1" (not really 0.75 over though). I could see Harry at a happy medium as a 6'1" listing.
Arch Stanton said on 28/Oct/20
Belafonte I think looked close to 6 ft 1 peak, I would say something like 6'0.75 is more likely more than 6'1.5 though. I don't know if Rob would add him though.
Clas said on 27/Oct/20
Harry Belafonte was not 6'0 as young. He stood 6'1 3/4. 1,87 m. Sidney 1,89.
Sinclair said on 20/Aug/20
Poitier did often strike me as a strong 6’2” actor. Poitier made many actors of average height like Tony Curtis, Spencer Tracy, Rod Steiger and Paul Newman seem rather short. I strongly suspect Poitier was definitely taller than Harry Belafonte, when both of these men were at their peak heights. 6’2.5” is a very believable peak listing for Poitier, who these days is taller than Clint Eastwood.
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 20/Feb/20
πŸ’πŸŽ‚πŸŽŠ Happy Birthday Sidney! πŸŽŠπŸŽ‚πŸ’

A truly wonderful 9️⃣3️⃣rd Birthday is wished for the great living legend that is Sidney Poitier! My Mum allowed us to watch the classic film 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?' when we were really young. I was just 7 and my brother 9, and I still remember it.

Sidney gets 6ft2.5. He's maintained himself very well indeed. πŸ˜„πŸ‘

πŸ’πŸŽ‚πŸŽˆπŸŽŠπŸ’πŸŽ‚πŸŽˆπŸŽŠπŸ’πŸŽ‚πŸŽˆπŸŽŠπŸ’πŸŽ‚πŸŽˆπŸŽŠ
Tall Sam said on 4/Sep/19
Poitier, although retired, has kept great posture and shown very little disc damage, I'd bet he'd look comfortably taller than Clint Eastwood nowadays despite having been arguably about an inch shorter at peak. Yeah, with Paul Newman, Sidney could roughly 6 inches taller at times, although you could argue that Newman was closer to 5'9" than 5'9.5".
179cm guy said on 1/Sep/19
Rob, at 92 what do you estimate Poitier's current height at?
Editor Rob
I am not sure currently as last couple of years he's not been seen much, but 5 years ago was still over 6ft comfortably I think.
Duffer 5ft 11 said on 30/Jun/19
Looked around 3 to 3.5 inches taller than an allegedly 5'11" (probably 178-179 cm) Glenn Ford in the very excellent Blackboard Jungle (1955) - I could buy 188-189 cm for Mr. Poitier in his prime, may still be 'round 186 even stretching to 187 in the AM now that he's in his early 90s. The man has aged well.!
Rick Coffing said on 24/Aug/18
I recently viewed the movie "Paris Blues" from 1961 when both Poitier & Paul Newman where still relatively young in their 30's. In the final scene they both walk off together side by side and Poitier "towers" over Newman who's been listed at 5'9" at that age. Either Poitier is taller or Newman shorter than posted heights.
Canson said on 25/Apr/18
Not sure about 6’2 1/2 but I could buy a solid 6’2” at a low in his prime
berta said on 1/Apr/18
he is like morgan freeman. lost only 1 inch at 91.
Al said on 10/Aug/17
One of The greatest actors of all time whether he's 5 feet or 10 feet
Sam said on 16/Jun/17
Yeah, he looked taller than Quentin Tarantino still in 2007. I can't think of any other tall older actor who lost so little height in old age.
Josh Jeffords said on 19/Nov/16
Excellent actor tall but rarely seemed imposing had a nice manner.
His peak height is tough I'd guess as listed maybe 6 3 still edges out most.
Gotta say his career was better than most and enduring.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 14/Sep/16
Still looked this in 2008

Click Here
Click Here
Click Here

I'm beginning to think he might have been 6ft3 peak
Mimzy said on 14/Mar/16
Gorgeous! Didn't realize he was so majestically tall.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 28/Feb/16
He looked near 6ft3 in the 60's. 189cm minimum peak.
movieguy said on 18/Aug/15
Rutger Hauer mentions in his autobiography about making a film in the 70s with Poitier and being surprised by his size. Hauer was a big man either 6'1'' or 6'2'' and he said Poitier was a lot taller than he was.
Arch Stanton said on 27/Jun/15
All good choices Sam and what I've have asked for :-)
Arch Stanton said on 27/Jun/15
Rob can you add a photo? Also tweak the film name to Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
Sam said on 14/Apr/15
Yeah, I'd say he's lost a little with age but I believe he is basically retired. Could you fix the typo where it says Buck twice?
Jake: 1.84 m- 1.85 m said on 28/Feb/15
Looked very tall in 'the Organization' - a fine sequel to the classic In the Heat of the Night. I'd say close to 190 cm
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 17/Feb/15
He's lost very little height
Sam said on 19/Dec/14
Could you add to his credits, Rob the following?: Blackboard Jungle, A Raisin in the Sun, Lilies of the Field, A Patch of Blue, Buck and the Preacher and To Sir, With Love.

Also, could you add a picture if you can get one?
Lebensdorf said on 8/Nov/14
6'2.5 at his peak, and he could have passed for 6'3 easily. He had a perfect shape. Long legs, broad shoulders. Strong yet graceful. He was one of the most elegant of Hollywood's leading men.
Judd said on 18/Oct/14
Click Here (with a current 6'1.5-75" Morgan Freeman)
Click Here
Click Here (with 6'1" Obama)
Click Here

today he does look not full 6'2". i would say 6'1.5-75" as current height.
Realist said on 5/Oct/14
Yeah taller than Barrack Obama. Very tall in the 1950's-60's. Very handsome guy in my opinion. Quintessential representation for a gentleman. I would give him weak 6'3 peak and today strong 6'2. The last of the three in AFI 50 stars.
Arch Stanton said on 20/Apr/14
He really looks near 6 inches taller than Tony Curtis in the Defiant Ones and gives more a weak 6'3" impression than 6'2". He was about 30 at the time I think.
Sam said on 10/Mar/14
Yeah, he amazingly seemed to have lost almost no height for a long time although next to Angelina Jolie at the Oscars last week he seems to have finally shrunk a bit. Still close to six foot in his late 80s. Arch, fairly recently, he was around the same height as Morgan Freeman although is 10 years older.
Click Here
Arch Stanton said on 2/Jan/14
Rob those are his daughters on the end Click Here Her mother Joanna Shimkus is in the middle. Both look very tall range don't they even if wearing heels.
Editor Rob
yeah they got decent height from their Pops
Arch Stanton said on 2/Jan/14
With 6'3" Will Smith, Click Here :-]
Arch Stanton said on 2/Jan/14
Poitier was a leggy dude with a smallish torso in his prime, he had the legs of a 6'4"-6'5" guy I think. I do find it hard to believe he was taller than Morgan Freeman but seeing him with Obama in his early 80s when taken Click Here you could easily imagine him being over 6'2 in his prime. He looked nearer a flat 6'2" next to Steiger and Tracy though I thought.
Arch Stanton said on 29/Dec/13
189 is fine peak, I never thought he looked 190 or more next to Spencer Tracy or Rod Steiger Jake.
Arch Stanton said on 29/Dec/13
He never looked 6 ft 3 though Rampage. Looks 6'2" in Lilies of the Field.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 23/Dec/13
I don't rule out 6ft3 peak as he still looks 6ft2 even now.
I saw The Defiant Ones and he has a very striking resemblance to Denzel Washington.
Arch Stanton said on 10/Nov/13
Steiger looks virtually the same height as Omar Sharif in Dr Zhivago who was 5'11 seeing him next to Peter o Toole. Poitier still looks near 6'2" today and still a handsome guy.
Mr. Kaplan said on 24/Oct/13
Steiger was 5'9" tops. He wasn't any taller than Brando in "On the Waterfront".
Arch Stanton said on 16/Sep/13
He looks 6'2"ish next to 5'10 Rod Steiger in In the Heat of the Night
Sam said on 6/Jun/13
Here's a nice comparison shot where you can see him tower over other screen legends, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and Barbra Streisand. Back in the movie Paris Blues, Newman and Poitier have a lot of screens together but none are good for height comparison until the very last shot where they walk together and you can see Poitier's almost a head taller.
Click Here
Art said on 16/Nov/12
i just saw a scene from The Jackal (1997) with Sidney Poitier and Richard Gere and Sidney looked so much taller. I read on another wed site, that Richard Gere was, maybe, 5'11". He looked so much shorter than Sidney.
Jim said on 13/Aug/12
I was on an elevator with Sidney Portier a few years ago and we chatted briefly. We were both participating in a meeting. I am 6-5 and we were pretty much eye-to-eye. My general impression was that he was close to my height.
avi said on 27/Jan/12
6'2 flat never over. now barely so
jake, 1.82 m/ 1.83 m said on 17/Jan/12
Peak height: 6" 2.75 (190 cm)
Current height: 6" 1.25 (186 cm)
Sam said on 16/Jan/12
At 84, Mr. Poitier still stood around the same height as Morgan Freeman when he presented Freeman an honorary award last night at the Golden Globes.
BocaBee said on 9/Oct/11
Again, I had the privilege to meet Mr. Poitier. He is no way 6'2 This man was at least 6'5 ! He was georgeous, and stunning to look at.
thebad7 said on 2/Aug/11
I think most of the posters on Sidney Poitier's page are correct: this guy was easily 6'3" in his younger days. I saw recent pictures of him with Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. Sidney and Morgan look to be in the 6'2" range now, and Clint looks just a hair shorter at 6'1" - 6'1 1/2". I think today that Poitier is standing his tallest at 6'2".

tb7
Johan Cruyff said on 2/May/11
Sidney Poitier's heights are:

---PEAK---
Morning (out of bed)= 6'2.75" (1.90 m)
After 1,5-3 hrs= 6'2.4" (1.89 m)
After 5-10 hrs= 6'2" (1.88 m)

At present day he's between 6'1-1.5" (1.85-1.87 m)!
J-Dog said on 30/Mar/11
Is Sidney in for a Peak Height upgrade? I would agree as well.
jake said on 20/Feb/11
Had to be 6' 3" peak, nowadays 6' 2" max.
Jimbo said on 30/Dec/10
Mr Sidney Poitier looked 6'3 in his prime always seemed to have 2 inches on guys who were 6'1 in his films, James Garner and Michael Caine to name two.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 3/Dec/10
6"2.5-6"2.75 range in his prime...

6"1.75-6"2 today
Mr. Kaplan said on 17/Nov/10
One of few actors listed shorter than they should be. He was 6'3" peak.
-_-_-(Hugh)-_-_-/ said on 16/Feb/09
My father had the rare pleasure of meeting this great man in New York in the year 1980. My dad was 6ft4 at that time and he said that Poiter was about one inch shorter than him. 6ft3 peak isn't out of the question.
Hugh said on 12/Oct/08
He still looks a little over 6ft2. 188-189cm.
Frank2 said on 9/Aug/08
He was at least two inches taller than James Garner back in the 1970s when I saw them together at Universal. Sidney's more like 6'3". One of the nicest people in showbiz. I last saw him when he pulled up next to me in his car which was several years ago. I looked over, he looked over and he smiled and waved. I had earlier worked with him on the film BUCK AND THE PREACHER. He never seemed to forget a face.
Kurt said on 8/Aug/08
He towers over 5'9.5'' Richard Gere in the Jackal.

Thought he was 6'4''ish, but now I know how short Gere is, 6'2'' sounds right.
CC-Tron said on 4/Jun/08
I'm back. Here's yet another pic of 6'0 Harry Belafonte next to Sidney Poitier back in the 1960's in their primes.

Click Here

They are about the same height. No way does Poitier have a two inch height advantage on Belafonte. I'd give him 6'1 at best but that's being generous. I'll continue looking for even more pics. I think 6'2 is too much knowing that Belafonte is 6'0. It's safe to say 6'3 and above for Poitier should even be considered.
CC-Tron said on 9/Apr/08
Sidney Poitier was never 6'3 or 6'4. He has always been around 6'1.5 during his acting career. I've never seen him look taller than that in any film or picture. He's clearly shorter than 6'2 Lon Chaney Jr. in the 'Defiant Ones'.

Here's Poitier and 6'0 Harry Belafonte way back in 1963 during there primes. I'd give Poitier an inch at best. I'm looking for more pictures of them together.

Click Here

Poitier is clearly taller but not by much. Poitier is 6'1.5 (6'2 just maybe). No way is Poitier 6'4 (I've seen that height given to him and it's rediculous) . He'd be towering over Belafonte(who's leaning a bit)in that pic. Heston was 6'3 and taller than Poitier but he's standing much closer to the camera to use for comparison.
dmeyer said on 6/Jan/08
6'2.5 to 6'3 peak 6'2 to 6'2.5 now
George H. said on 20/Nov/07
When Beatty and Poitier are standing on level ground, there's about 1 inch between them, at best. Click Here Click Here
Click Here Beatty is still a solid 6'2", easy.
glenn said on 12/Nov/07
i totally agree beatty is 6ft nowadays.except sidney was 6-3 peak or more.
Ian said on 11/Nov/07
I say that was right 6ft2. He's certainly taller than Warren Beatty who you have as 6ft2. I think Warren is about 6ft nowadays.
Click Here

Click Here
lucy said on 22/May/07
saw him at LAX today and he was very tall! hard to figure out how tall. i guessed between 6'2-6'4 and he was wearing very flat shoes. he towered over everyone! i would have to lean towards 6'3.
dmeyer said on 1/Apr/07
might have been 6'3 at peak rob
Austrian said on 19/Feb/07
yea i noticed that too, although hes 80 hes still that tall lol
Glenn said on 16/Dec/06
Always made you feel good.
Anthony said on 15/Dec/06
6'3 looks accurate for his peak. Cool to hear he's a great guy.
Glenn said on 15/Dec/06
Sidney was 6-3,12-15 years ago.great guy.
Steve said on 13/Dec/06
With Magic Johnson clearly no more than 6"
Glenn said on 16/Sep/06
Have no clue on Cosby.saw his foot once going into his limo.thats it.15 years ago.
Stephen said on 15/Sep/06
Your welcome Glenn. Now that you mention it, he looked alot taller than Bill Cosby in "Uptown Saturday Night". I don't know how tall Bill Cosby is though. He also looked at least an inch taller than Harry Belefonte who was probably at least 6'1".
Glenn said on 14/Sep/06
Thanks for the respect and not putting up a stink like the other clowns.if you wouldve said 6-4,Id believe that too.the man was impressively tall.I have 2 photos with him lost somewhere.great guy.a true legend and great actor in my eyes.not like the jokers we have today.thanks Stephen.
Stephen said on 14/Sep/06
If you met him I can't argue. He just looks a bit shorter to me.
Glenn said on 14/Sep/06
No way.I met him plenty.6-3.
Stephen said on 13/Sep/06
I believe Sidney was about 6'1.5" in his prime tops. He was maybe 6'2.5" with shoes on. He had a good build which made him look taller.
CC-Tron said on 11/Sep/06
Sidney Poitier is 6'1 at the most. Lon Chaney Jr was an inch or two taller than him in 'The Defiant Ones'. I'm thinking he's 6'0 barefoot. Anything over 6'1 isn't accurate.
dmeyer said on 21/May/06
at canne festive he looked aleast 6'3" at 78
Glenn said on 21/May/06
In the early 90s,giving the illusion of 6-4,to my then 5-7.
Frank2 said on 19/May/06
Sidney was closer to 6'3". I saw him standing talking with James Garner and Garner who claims to be 6'3" was two inches shorter.
dmeyer said on 18/May/06
i dont think he shrunk at all he was standidg near 188 cm cassel and he looked 3 to 4 cm taller he looked just over 6'3" so i dont think he lost anythyng also the chinese director wong car wy stood pretty tall near cassel at about 190 cm sam jacson walked by them he didnt look that tall he must be" only 6'2"

Heights are barefeet estimates, derived from quotations, official websites, agency resumes, in person encounters with actors at conventions and pictures/films.

Other vital statistics like weight or shoe size measurements have been sourced from newspapers, books, resumes or social media.

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