15DIEDSidney Poitier
Barrier-breaking performBarrier-breaking performerer
There wThere were greaT acTors before sidney ere greaT acTors before sidney
Poitier, who died on Jan. 6 at 94, and there have Poitier, who died on Jan. 6 at 94, and there have
been great ones since. But the world would have been great ones since. But the world would have
been mbeen markedly diferent without himarkedly diferent without him..
Poitier arrived on the theater and filmPoitier arrived on the theater and film scene in scene in
post–Wpost–World World War II Amar II America, as the country—erica, as the country—not not
to mto mention the world—ention the world—was scramwas scrambling to reas-bling to reas-
semsemble itself. His first mble itself. His first major filmajor film role cam role came in the e in the
1950 release 1950 release No WNo Way Out.ay Out. Although his early career Although his early career
was hamwas hampered by Mpered by McCarthy-era blacklisting, the cCarthy-era blacklisting, the
breadth and quality of his roles would imbreadth and quality of his roles would improve in prove in
the 1960s, with mthe 1960s, with movies like ovies like A Raisin in the Sun; To A Raisin in the Sun; To
Sir, WSir, With Love; ith Love; and and Guess WGuess Who’s Coming to Dinner.ho’s Coming to Dinner.
In 1964, for his performIn 1964, for his performance in ance in Lilies of the Field,Lilies of the Field,
he won the Academhe won the Academy Award for Best Actor. He was y Award for Best Actor. He was
the first Black actor to do so.the first Black actor to do so.
WWhen Poitier launched his filmhen Poitier launched his film career, white career, white
audiences had extremaudiences had extremely limely limited ideas about what ited ideas about what
it mit meant to be a Black meant to be a Black man in Aman in America—erica—and Black and Black
audiences weren’t used to seeing anyone like audiences weren’t used to seeing anyone like
themthemselves onscreen. He saw his own work as a be-selves onscreen. He saw his own work as a be-
ginning. The future he was building toward isn’t ginning. The future he was building toward isn’t
yet here: bigotry and racismyet here: bigotry and racism still thrive. But Sidney still thrive. But Sidney
Poitier believed in a world without that hatred. WPoitier believed in a world without that hatred. We e
have only to look at his life’s work, and we can be-have only to look at his life’s work, and we can be-
lieve too. —lieve too. —sTephanie zachareksTephanie zacharekDIED
André Leon TalleyAndré Leon Talley
Forever in vogueForever in vogue
Larger than LifeLarger than Life is a phrase is a phrase
often used to describe André Leon often used to describe André Leon
Talley, the fashion editor, author Talley, the fashion editor, author
and mand media personality who chal-edia personality who chal-
lenged exclusionary normlenged exclusionary norms and s and
uplifted Black beauty during a six-uplifted Black beauty during a six-
decade-long career, rising to the top decade-long career, rising to the top
of mof magazine magazine mastheads in a notori-astheads in a notori-
ously white and exclusive industry. ously white and exclusive industry.
But although Talley, who died on But although Talley, who died on
Jan. 18 at 73, was known for cutting Jan. 18 at 73, was known for cutting
a bold figure—a bold figure—often draping his 6 ft. often draping his 6 ft.
6 in. fram6 in. frame in drame in dramatic caftans—atic caftans—it it
was his exuberant love of fashion, was his exuberant love of fashion,
his deep understanding of its his-his deep understanding of its his-
tory, and his unwavering faith in its tory, and his unwavering faith in its
power to transformpower to transform and transport and transport
that mthat made himade him stand out. And it stand out. And it
mmade himade him outstanding. outstanding.
Talley spent his youth in the JimTalley spent his youth in the Jim
Crow South, but found his calling Crow South, but found his calling
after assisting Diana Vreeland at after assisting Diana Vreeland at
the Mthe Metropolitan Metropolitan Museumuseum of Art’s of Art’s
CostumCostume Institute. In the years fol-e Institute. In the years fol-
lowing, he becamlowing, he became a fashion-scene e a fashion-scene
staple, chamstaple, championing young design-pioning young design-
ers while working at publications ers while working at publications
like like WWomen’s Women’s Wear Daily, Interviewear Daily, Interview
and, mand, most notably, ost notably, Vogue,Vogue, where he where he
becambecame a close friend and trusted e a close friend and trusted
colleague of Anna Wcolleague of Anna Wintour.intour.
“I m“I may have been the only Black ay have been the only Black
person sitting in the front row, but person sitting in the front row, but
Blackness was before mBlackness was before me in great e in great
counts of beauty,” he told TIMcounts of beauty,” he told TIME in E in
- “There was always Blackness 2020. “There was always Blackness
somsomewhere in the fashion world, so ewhere in the fashion world, so
I never felt alone.” —I never felt alone.” —cady Langcady Lang
DIED
> Ricardo Bofill,
Catalan architect best Catalan architect best
known for his bold post-known for his bold post-
Modernist housing Modernist housing
complexes, on Jan. 14 complexes, on Jan. 14
at 82.at 82.
> Gaspard Ulliel,
French actor, on Jan. 19 French actor, on Jan. 19
at 37.at 37.
> Robert Durst,
convicted murderer convicted murderer
and subject of HBO’s and subject of HBO’s
docuseries docuseries The Jinx,The Jinx,
on Jan. 10 at 78.on Jan. 10 at 78.
> Lusia Harris, the
“Queen of Basketball” “Queen of Basketball”
and the only woman and the only woman
ever officially drafted by ever officially drafted by
the NBA, on Jan. 18 at the NBA, on Jan. 18 at
Bob
Saget,Saget,
Full HouseFull House
actor and actor and
comedian, comedian,
on Jan. 9 at 65.on Jan. 9 at 65.
NAMED
The city of Nusantara
as Indonesia’s new as Indonesia’s new
capital,capital, replacing replacing
Jakarta, on Jan. 18.Jakarta, on Jan. 18.TRANSPLANTED
A genetically modi-
fied pig heart fied pig heart into a into a
U.S. man on Jan. 7, a U.S. man on Jan. 7, a
medical first. medical first.CONVICTED
Éric Zemmour, a far-
right pundit running in right pundit running in
France’s presidential France’s presidential
elections, on Jan. 17 elections, on Jan. 17
for inciting racial for inciting racial
hatred after labeling hatred after labeling
migrant children as migrant children as
“murderers” in 2020.“murderers” in 2020.LIFTED
Nigeria’s seven-month-
long long ban on Twitterban on Twitter on on
Jan. 13.Jan. 13.CONFIRMED
Microsoft’s intent
to buy video-game to buy video-game
company company Activision Activision
Blizzard Blizzard for $68.7 bil-for $68.7 bil-
lion, per a Jan. 18 lion, per a Jan. 18
announcement. announcement.