Cicely Tyson, Who Brought Grace And Gravitas To The Screen, Has Died At 96
Renowned actress Cicely Tyson has died; she was 96 years old. Her death was announced by Larry Thompson, her longtime manager, who did not specify the cause.
In a career that spanned some 65 years, Tyson was an elegant, dignified presence on stage and screen. She commanded attention in such movies as Sounder and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. She won Emmys and, at age 89, a Tony Award. She also inspired generations of African-American actors who grew up watching her.
In an interviewthat aired just last Sunday marking the publication of her, Tyson told NPR's Michel Martin that as an actress, "I learned that I could speak through other people. I was a very shy child. I was an observer. ... I never spoke ... but I was a great observer."
