almost ended before it ever began. as a teenager, poitier auditioned for the american negro theater, but he was quickly thrown out because he couldn t read. he was tone deaf. and he had a thick bahamian accent. he says, you re no actor. we got next to the door, he opened it, pushed me out and slammed it. reporter: a determined poitier would spend months perfecting his acting skills and modifying his speaking voice. his hard work would pay off in a big way. i was right. i know i was right. reporter: in the 1950s, peered in more than a dozen films beginning with no way out. and including an oscar-nominated performance in the defiant ones. however, it was his portrayal of a former gi in the 1963 movie lilies of the field that broke hollywood s color barrier, earning him the coveted oscar for best actor. poitier never overcame his tone deafness. lip-synching the song amen in