Legendary Actor Cicely Tyson Passes Away At 96

Legendary African-American actor Cicely Tyson passed away on January 28, at the age of 96. Tyson was an Oscar nominated actor who was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, by the then United States President Barack Obama. She also won a Tony Award in 2013, at the age of 88. 

Former US President Obama took to Twitter to mourne Tyson's demise. Calling her "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," Barack Obama wrote in her tweet that Tyson "had a heart unlike any other".

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. pic.twitter.com/JRsL3zlKtP

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 29, 2021

The news about Tyson's demise was announced by her manager Larry Thompson. "With heavy heart, the family of Miss Cicely Tyson announces her peaceful transition this afternoon. At this time, please allow the family their privacy," read the statement from Tyson's family, that was released through Thompson. 

Tyson was nominated in the Best Actress category at both the Oscars and Golden Globe Awards, for her performance in 1972 film Sounder. She is known to have portrayed numerous iconic roles in Hollywood films, be it that of former slaves or civil rights icons. Her other notable works include The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974), Roots (1977) and The Help (2012). Tyson's memoir Just As I Am was published this week.

Image Credit: AP