Cicely Tyson: A Pioneering Actress Takes Her Last Breath Aged 96

Cicely Tyson, one of the most renowned ground-breaking actresses has died aged 96. Tyson brought grace, powerful honesty, and intelligence to plenty of her varied performances close to her eight year decade career.

Tyson was one of those few actresses who managed to effortlessly conquer each and every medium-nominated for an Oscar in one of the roles that she starred. She became the third woman to be successfully nominated for an Oscar in the category of lead actress, managing to win three Emmys, and a Tony Award.

In 1957, Tyson made her film debut with a light role in a movie titled Twelve Angry Men. In 1959, she appeared in a much larger role in Sidney Poiter’s film Odds Against Tomorrow, followed by appearances in A Man Called Adam, The Last Angry Man and The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter. However, she took a break from screen and refused to take part in Blaxploitation movies that were so popular during the late 60s.

After a long break, Tyson made a comeback to the screen in 1972 appearing in the Martin Ritt drama Sounder, a move that earned her several nominations. Sounder brought Tyson acclaimed coupled by the 1974’s The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman that brought her stardom.

In 1994, Cicely Tyson won her second Emmy award for her supporting role in Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All. Tyson’s other Emmy nominations included one for playing the supporting actress in the Roots in addition to five nods for playing the guest-starring role in Shonda Rhimes’s How to Get Away With Murder.

Tyson began her career work in the theater, managing to appear in the 1961 original Off Broadway production of The Blacks by Jean Genet’s returned to the stage in 2013, aged 88 to star in The Trip to Bountiful by Horton Foote. Almost every single night, Tyson managed to stop the show with her rousing performance of the hymn titled “Blessed Assurance.”

In 2013, Tyson got an award for her role in The Trip To Bountiful. In her acceptance speech, Tyson said she had been on stage for 30 years and didn’t think she would win an award again in her lifetime. However, she had a burning desire to do just one greater role.

In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of U.S.A’s highest civilian honor. President Obama was one of those that posted tributes following Tyson’s Thursday night demise and the following Friday.

Before her death, Tyson had an interview with The Times in a bid aimed at promoting her recently published book, Just As I Am. At some point during the interview, she was asked if she was scared of dying. Surprisingly, Tyson argued that death doesn’t scare her at all.

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