SCREEN QUEEN DIES
Cicely Tyson dead at 96 – award-winning actress’ passes away two days after emotional interview with Gayle King
CICELY Tyson has sadly died at the age of 96 - just two days after the iconic Hollywood star did an emotional interview with Gayle King.
The award-winning actress' passing was mourned as her manager said "it was a blessing" to work with her.
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The icon's manager, Larry Thompson, revealed Cicely passed away on Thursday afternoon..
He said in a statement: “I have managed Miss Tyson’s career for over 40 years, and each year was a privilege and blessing.
“Cicely thought of her new memoir as a Christmas tree decorated with all the ornaments of her personal and professional life. Today she placed the last ornament, a Star, on top of the tree.”
Just two days before her death, the Hollywood star sat down for an emotional interview with CBS This Morning host Gayle King.
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The news anchor asked her what it feels like to be 96 and a "legend."
Cicely smiled and proudly responded: “I’m amazed every single day I live.”
Gayle then asked if she feels she has "more to do" in her already impressive life.
Cicely energetically quipped back: “Yes! That’s why I’m still here.
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"What my life became is not what I expected. I had no idea that I would touch anybody.”
When she is faced with the question of how she wants people to remember her legacy, Cicely paused as she looked down at her lap.
“I’ve done my best. That’s all," she stated with a large grin.
She mastered acting both on and off screen, as she had starring roles in theater, film and television.
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Hours after her death was announced, Gayle, 66, took to Twitter to pay tribute to the star, writing: “Thank you Cicely Tyson... for everything…”
Her best pal, Oprah Winfrey, honored the actress in a statement which read: “Cicely decided early on that her work as an actor would be more than a job.
“She used her career to illuminate the humanity in Black people. The roles she played reflected her values; she never compromised. Her life so fully lived is a testimony to Greatness.”
Euphoria star Zendaya spoke highly of her career idol, saying on Instagram: “This one hurts, today we honor and celebrate the life of one of the greatest to ever do it. Thank you Cicely Tyson. Rest in great power.”
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Cicely made history by nabbing the first recurring role for a black woman in a television series when she appeared as Jane Foster in the CBS drama East Side/West Side from 1963-1964.
She later won two Emmys- best lead actress in a drama and actress of the year- for her role as the titular character in 1974’s The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
Cicely was nominated a total of 16 times at the Emmys throughout her career, while she also won for supporting actress for her role in the 1994 for an adaptation of Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All.
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More recently, she was nominated five times in the guest actress in a drama category for How to Get Away With Murder.
On the film side, Cicely starred in 1972's Sounder, 1997's Hoodlum, 2005's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, 2011's The Help and 2020's A Fall from Grace.
She earned an Oscar nomination for Sounder at the 1973 awards, while she later received an Honorary Oscar in 2018.
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In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded Cicely with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom - the Nation's highest civilian honor - for her accomplishments both on screen and off screen during the Civil Rights movement.
Back in 1961, she was among the original cast of the Off-Broadway show The Blacks.
She went on to star in the 1963 Broadway production of Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright, in the Off -roadway production of The Blue Boy in Black, as well as Trumpets of the Lord, A Hand Is at the Gate, Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights and the 1969 program of Lorraine Hansberry readings To Be Young, Gifted and Black.
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The actress won best actress in a play at the 2013 Tony Awards for her role in The Trip to Bountiful.
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Cicely was married to Kenneth Franklin from 1942-1956 and Miles Davis from 1981-1989.
She never had any children and is survived by her niece, actress Cathy Tyson.
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