Cicely Tyson, Pioneering Hollywood Icon, Dies at 96
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Emmy- and Tony-winning actress Cicely Tyson, who distinguished herself in theater, film and television, died on Thursday afternoon. She was 96.
“I have managed Miss Tyson’s career for over 40 years, and each year was a privilege and blessing,” her manager, Larry Thompson, said in a statement. “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.”
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Her memoir “Just As I Am” was published on Tuesday.
She died on Thursday but details have not been disclosed.
Her manager, Larry Thompson, 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.”
Young Tyson was born in 1924, in New York City to West Indian immigrant parents. Her show-business career began inadvertently when she was asked to model at a hairstyle show and was spotted by an
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Tyson starred as Davis s mother on
How to Get Away With Murder. They both also starred in
The Help.
Even before they worked together, Davis, 55, said the late actress made an impression on her. I m devastated. My heart is just broken. I loved you so much!! You were everything to me! the actress wrote alongside a photo of the on-screen mother-daughter duo hugging on set.
RELATED: You made me feel loved and seen and valued in a world where there is still a cloak of invisibility for us dark chocolate girls, Davis said. You gave me permission to dream..because it was only in my dreams that I could see the possibilities in myself.