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Hollywood star Cicely Tyson has died aged 96, her manager Larry Thompson confirmed. The star made waves across the entertainment industry thanks to only taking roles as strong black women. Along with being an actress, she Tyson was also a model.
How did legendary actress Cicely Tyson die?
No cause of death has been given for the acting legend but Express.co.uk will update this article when more information is available.
A statement from the family, released through Thompson, read: “With heavy heart, the family of Miss Cicely Tyson announces her peaceful transition this afternoon.
“At this time, please allow the family their privacy.”
Tributes from across Tinseltown have been pouring in from celebrities and fans alike with talkshow host Oprah Winfrey writing: “.@IAmCicelyTyson ‘s iconic beauty may have gotten her noticed at a young age, but it’s her talent that made her the living legend she is. And she’s finally telling her story. I read her memoir #JustAsIAm and now fully understand why she is such a treasure. What a life!”
Former president Barack Obama posted on Twitter: “In her extraordinary career, Cicely Tyson was one of the rare award-winning actors whose work on the screen was surpassed only by what she was able to accomplish off of it. She had a heart unlike any other—and for 96 years, she left a mark on the world that few will ever match.”
While director Ava DuVernay hailed the star and directed people to a tribute on CBS This Morning, tweeting: “If you watch anything today, please watch this magnificent profile on the icon @IAmCicelyTyson . I smiled, cried and am inspired beyond words. She’s a dream of a woman and an artist. 96 years wise. Her must-read memoir just debuted. It is luminous, like her.”
The Martin Luther King JR. Center said: “The King Center joins the world in remembering the life and legacy of #CicelyTyson. Trailblazer is not a sufficient description. What a legendary artist, sage and matriarch. We salute her. Rest in power, Lady Cicely.”
Tyson was born in Harlem, New York City on 19 December 1924.
She initially embarked on a career in fashion after catching the attention of the editor at Ebony Magazine.
The star began her acting career in 1957 on stage with Off-Broadway productions before making the transition to screen.
However, she also had some early roles in TV series Frontiers of Faith and the movie Carib Gold.
Her first big role came in the 1960s TV series East Side/West Side in which she portrayed Jane Foster.
Tyson was nominated for an Oscar for 1972 roles in the movie Sounder and although she did not win in 2018 she became the first African American woman to receive an honorary Oscary for her impressive career.
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