People: Guess who wrote another book?
It all began when Sidney Poitier flew to Atlanta in late December 2005 for the birth of his first great-granddaughter.
“When I arrived at the hospital, I saw my great-granddaughter in her mother’s arms,” the actor recalls.
“Directly behind her was my daughter, the baby’s grandmother. Next to her was my former wife, who was the baby’s great-grandmother.
“I saw that I was in a room of four generations. I would soon be 80, and Ayele was one day old. I realized that the time between us would be short.
“I decided I would write a book in the form of letters so I could cover everything that I’ve felt and learned, and talk to her about things that I don’t understand.”
The result is “Life Beyond Measure, Letters to My Great-Granddaughter” (HarperOne, 304 pages, $25.95).
It follows Poitier’s 1980 autobiography, “This Life,” but is much more personal, with little reference to his movie career.
The chapter titles tell of his concerns. Among them: “Me and God,” “Battling the Demons,” “People of Courage,” “The World I Leave You.”
It was a grueling task for Poitier, who had to dig into his earliest memories, his relations with his parents, his sometimes wayward youth.
“I’m going to quit writing,” he vowed, somewhat unconvincingly. “I was working eight to 10 hours a day on the book. I’m going to relax, find something else to do.”
Still, he talks about three more books he wants to write.
He and wife Joanna live alone. Gone are the girls: Gina, Pamela, Beverly and Sheri from his marriage to Juanita Poitier, and Sydney and Anika with actress ex-wife Joanna Shimkus.
At 81, Poitier seems little changed from his movie years. His hair is a bit thinner, and he has been forced to abandon tennis and golf because of a bad back. But he still stands tall, and his face is smooth.
He still gets offers for films, but he’s not interested in working. He’s busy playing grandfather and great-grandfather in his real life (he has two great-granddaughters).
“I retired from acting a long time ago,” says Poitier, whose last film was “The Jackal” in 1997.
“I had spent all that I had to spend in terms of creativeness. … By the end of 56 movies … I found that I had spent it as honestly as I could, and I was obliged to myself to quit.”
An omnivorous reader, Poitier especially likes scientific works.
“I’m impressed by science,” he says. “I don’t very often read novels. I stay with what I see, what I’ve learned, what I try to understand.”
In his letters to Ayele, Poitier expresses his concern for the planet.
“We all are obliged to do something for the universe,” he says. “The universe is where we live; it’s our home base. I believe that our greatest obligation is not to abuse it.”
The birthday bunch
Country singer Billy “Crash” Craddock is 69. Songwriter Lamont Dozier is 67. Singer Eddie Levert (The O’Jays) is 66. Actress Joan Van Ark is 65. Singer Gino Vannelli is 56. Actress Laurie Metcalf is 53. Actor Eddie Cibrian (“Third Watch”) is 35. Actress China Shavers (“Boston Public”) is 31. “American Idol” runner-up Diana DeGarmo is 21.