Legendary Hollywood actor and first black man to win an Oscar, Sir Sidney Poitier, has died at the age of 94, a Bahamian government official has said.

In 1964, he made history by clinching the Academy of Motion Pictures statuette for his work in Lilies of the Field, and went on to appear in dozens of films and television shows.

The actor had three box offices hits with ‘In the Heat of the Night’, ‘To Sir, with Love’ and ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’.

In the film In the Heat of the Night he delivered the iconic line: “They call me Mister Tibbs”.

He also directed a number of projects.

Sir Sidney’s cause of death has not yet been announced.