I can't say I followed his entire career, but I remember being shown "To Sir, With Love" at a school special "end of term" assembly back when I was 11 or 12 (along with Dean Martin's "The Silencers" - what an entertaining double bill for an all-boys school!)
It had a real impact on me because of the title song, the story, and the quality of the acting . . . everyone was superb . . . particularly Sidney as the male lead. Still love the movie to this day.
"In The Heat Of The Night" (released the same year - 1967) was another great watch.
The man had a definite screen "presence" - poised, classy, brooding . . . haunting even . . . and very charismatic.
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