A death certificate obtained by TMZ has revealed that legendary actor, Sidney Poitier, died from cardiopulmonary failure.

Poitier, who died in his Beverly Hills home in January, had also been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and dementia.

Poitier broke the colour barrier in Hollywood by becoming the first black man and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for best actor in 1963 in his performance of ‘Lilies of the Field.’

The award made Potier the second black person to win an Academy Award after Hattie McDaniel took home the prize for best-supporting actress in 1939 for her role in ‘Gone with the Wind.’

Poitier was also a prolific performer who either acted, directed, or produced close to 60 films and documentaries, as well as numerous plays and television shows.

Later in life, Poitier worked as a diplomatic officer and he was also appointed ambassador from the Bahamas to Japan in 1997 at the age of 70.