David Hampton: ‘Sidney Poitier’s son’

One night outside Studio 54, bouncers stopped David Hampton until he said he was actor Sidney Poitier’s son. He began using "David Poitier" as a way to get free meals and lodging or handouts from celebrities such as Calvin Klein, Gary Sinise, or Melanie Griffith. He was arrested and convicted of fraud, and in 2003 died of AIDS-related complications. His story became the basis for the play and movie, “Six Degrees of Separation,’’ where he was played by Will Smith.