Robin Quivers Recalls the Time Sidney Poitier Kissed Her Hand and Praised Her Acting

Sidney Poitier, the first African American to win Best Actor at the Oscars, passed away late last week at the age of 94. The Stern Show celebrated the beloved movie star’s transformative legacy on Monday morning with a career retrospective and several personal anecdotes from co-host Robin Quivers, who admitted she’d idolized the Bahamian-American thespian so much she spent years emulating him.

“The reason Robin is the way she is is because of Sidney Poitier. I fashioned my own personality based on who he played in the movies,” she explained, adding, “[He’s called] the ‘regal’ Sidney Poitier and … that’s why my name is ‘Queen Quivers’ because I took on that royal kind of attitude.”

Robin went on to describe a run-in with the accomplished actor at a benefit concert in the late ‘90s. “The greatest thing about meeting Sidney Poitier is that he rushed over to me—I would never have approached him—he rushed over and said, ‘My dear lady … I love your work and we should work together. It’s such an honor to meet you,’” Robin recollected, saying Sidney even kissed her hand like she was royalty. “I was like, ‘What? That just happened?’” she said.

Howard also played a clip from his 2017 interview with actor Jamie Foxx, who credited Poitier (along with Oprah Winfrey) for helping him realize the importance of winning an Oscar for his 2004 portrayal of Ray Charles. “I want to give you responsibility,” Jamie recalled Poitier telling him. “When I saw your performance, it made me grow two inches.” Check out more from their conversation (below).