Cicely Tyson, Iconic ‘Sounder’ and ‘The Help’ Actress, Dies at 96
The incomparable actress vowed only to portray strong, positive and realistic images of Black women
Trey Williams | January 28, 2021 @ 4:06 PM
Last Updated: January 28, 2021 @ 5:23 PM
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Cicely Tyson, the iconic and incomparable screen and stage actress and Black American trailblazer, died on Thursday. She was 96.
Tyson, whose acting career spanned more than six decades, broke ground as a Black actress who resolved only to portray strong, positive and realistic images of Black women on screen. Her convictions resulted in astonishing performances in projects such as the films “Sounder” and “The Help,” the TV movie “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,” and the 2013 Broadway production of “The Trip to Bountiful,” for which she won the Tony.
Tyson earned an Academy Award best actress nomination for “Sounder” in 1973. The following year she won a best lead actress and a special outstanding actress of the year Emmy for “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.” She later one an Emmy for the 1994 miniseries “Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All,” and five more nominations, including one just last year for playing the mother of Viola Davis’ character in the ABC drama “How to Get Away With Murder.”
And for all of her life’s accomplishments, Tyson’s been recognized with a Kennedy Center honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an honorary Oscar and in 2018 was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame, among many other awards and accomplishments.
“In her long and extraordinary career, Cicely Tyson has not only exceeded as an actor, she has shaped the course of history,” President Barack Obama said during the 2016 ceremony for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “Cicely made a conscious decision not just to say lines, but to speak out. Cicely’s convictions and grace have helped for us to see the dignity of every beautiful member of the American family — and, she’s just gorgeous.”
Tyson’s death comes just two days after the publication of her memoir, “Just as I Am.”
Born in Harlem, New York in 1924 to hardworking religious immigrants from the West Indies, Tyson wasn’t even allowed to go to the movies growing up.
Tyson began her storied career as a model in New York City, gracing the covers of magazines such as Ebony, Jet, Harper Bazaar and Vogue. Tyson said during an appearance on Oprah’s Master Class that her mother not only didn’t approve of her career path, but told Tyson she wouldn’t be allowed to live under her house if she continued. The two didn’t speak for nearly three years, until Tyson invited her mother to her stage debut in “Dark of the Moon” at a Harlem YMCA.
When asked in 2018 whether she would ever retire, Tyson told Time Magazine: “And do what? The reason why I have been in this universe as long as I have been is because he’s not ready for me. When I’ve completed my job, he’ll take me away.”
14 Actors Over 90 Still Making a Mark in Hollywood, From Mel Brooks to Betty White (Photos)
These actors are 90+ and show no signs of slowing down.
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Betty White (born 1922)
The Emmy-winning star of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Golden Girls" had another sitcom hit in her 90s with "Hot in Cleveland." She also voiced a character in 2019's "Toy Story 4" and appeared in "A Betty White Christmas" in 2020.
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Eva Marie Saint (born 1924)
The actress, who won an Oscar for her big-screen debut in the 1954 classic "On the Waterfront," had a memorable supporting role in the 2019 indie drama "Mariette in Ecstasy."
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Dick Van Dyke (born 1925)
The Emmy-winning star of the '60s sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show" also broke out on the big screen in films like 1964's "Mary Poppins" and 1968's "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." But he's had a resurgence in this century with roles in the "Night at the Museum" series, Showtime's "Kidding" and 2018's "Mary Poppins Returns."
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Angela Lansbury (born 1925)
A three-time Oscar nominee for films like "Gaslight" and "The Manchurian Candidate," Lansbury earned fame on TV as well, particularly the long-running mystery "Murder She Wrote." A six-time Tony winner for her work on Broadway, she has continued working in projects like 2018's "Mary Poppins Returns."
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Mel Brooks (born 1926)
The EGOT winner and comedy legend has kept working into his 90s, with roles in films like 2018's "Hotel Transylvania 3" and 2019's "Toy Story 4." He's also been working on a stage musical adaptation of his 1974 comedy Western "Blazing Saddles."
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Lisa Lu (born 1927)
The Chinese-born actress first broke out in the 1950s on American TV series like "Have Gun - Will Travel," followed by memorable turns in films like 1977's "Demon Seed" and 1979's "Saint Jack." She has continued working into her 10th decade, appearing in 2018's "Crazy Rich Asians" and 2021's "The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu."
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Estelle Parsons (born 1927)
Parsons won an Oscar for 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" and she's kept working on both stage and screen well into her 90s, appearing in shows like "The Good Wife," "Grace and Frankie" and "The Conners."
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Ed Asner (born 1929)
The Emmy-winning star of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Lou Grant" has kept working, with 2020 appearances in TV shows like "Modern Family," "Blue Bloods" and "Briarpatch."
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June Squibb (born 1929)
The actress made her Broadway debut in the original 1959 production of the musical "Gypsy" -- but enjoyed a late-career surge with an Oscar-nominated turn in her 80s with the 2013 film "Nebraska." She has worked steadily in film and TV ever since, including roles in 2020's "Palm Springs" and 2021's "Palmer" with Justin Timberlake.
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Bob Newhart (born 1929)
The standup comic became a sitcom legend with three shows that bore his name. And he's made appearances in shows like "The Big Bang Theory" (finally winning his first Emmy in 2013) as well as "The Librarians" and "Young Sheldon."
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Lois Smith (1930)
The actress, who made her film debut opposite James Dean in 1955's "East of Eden," has kept up a steady pace in later years on both stage and screen. She earned widespread acclaim for the 2017 indie "Marjorie Prime" as well as more recent roles in 2020's "Tesla" and Wes Anderson's 2021 film "The French Dispatch." She also picked up a Tony nomination in 2020 for her role in "The Inheritance."
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Clint Eastwood (born 1930)
The star, who rose to prominence in '60s Westerns ("A Fistful of Dollars") and '70s action films ("Dirty Harry"), has won four Oscars as a director and producer of "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby." In addition to starring in his own 2018 film "The Mule," he's also kept up an active career as a director whose recent works include 2018's "The 15:17 to Paris," 2019's "Richard Jewell" and 2021's "Cry Macho."
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James Earl Jones (born 1931)
The actor, an Oscar nominee for 1970's "The Great White Hope" has become beloved for voicing Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" saga (and for being the longtime basso voice of CNN). He appeared in 2019's "The Lion King" and 2021's "Coming 2 America."
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Robert Duvall (born 1931)
The actor, who broke out as the misunderstood recluse Boo Radley in the 1962 classic "To Kill a Mockingbird," won an Oscar for the 1983 drama "Tender Mercies" -- and earned six more nominations over the years. He has kept up a steady pace of onscreen performances, including 2018's "Widows" and the 2021 indie drama "12 Mighty Orphans."
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Some stars show no signs of slowing down
These actors are 90+ and show no signs of slowing down.