ILOSM family, today a true Queen has taken her final bow. The ever-so-graceful, iconic actress, Cicely Tyson, passed away today (January 28, 2021). Her manager, Larry Thompson, confirmed this heartbreaking news.
Although not much was revealed regarding Ms. Tyson’s death, here’s what her manager shared via CNN:
She was 96. A family statement did not reveal the cause of death.
“I have managed Miss Tyson’s career for over 40 years, and each year was a privilege and blessing,” Thompson said in a written statement.
Cicely Tyson’s New Memoir: “Cicely Tyson: Just As I Am”
Ms. Tyson was so full of life, and still working up through her last days. She even recently released her memoir about her amazing career and life, “Cicely Tyson: Just As I Am,” on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. Her manager spoke about that as well:
“Cicely thought of her new memoir as a Christmas tree decorated with all the ornaments of her personal and professional life,” Thompson said. “Today she placed the last ornament, a Star, on top of the tree.”
“The Most Important Thing That Could Happen To Me”
As we all know, Cicely Tyson was the true definition of poise, grace, dignity, talent, bravery, and class. Her depth of acting ability showed no boundaries. We’ve watched her transform from a ‘school teacher’ in the comedy, “Bustin’ Loose,” alongside Richard Pryor; to a ‘former slave’ in the heart-wrenching drama, “The Autobiography of Jane Pittman,” to nearly every other type of role in between. However, Ms. Tyson once revealed that her most prized accomplishment was not on the big screen, but it was in fact a BIG accolade…as a result of her hard work on the big screen and beyond.
It was the day former President Barack Obama awarded her the Medal Of Freedom, which Tyson referred to as “the most important thing that could happen to me.”
“In her long and extraordinary career, Cicely Tyson has not only exceeded as an actor, she has shaped the course of history,” Obama stated as he was presenting the Medal to the acting icon.
Ms. Tyson was still in awe of that moment well after Obama draped the Medal Of Freedom around her neck:
“I am one of three children, grew up in the area that is now known as El Barrio and that was the East Side (of New York),” she confessed to Steve Harvey. “To come from there to the White House with the first black President … to put that medal around my neck: Where can you go from there?”
Thank You Ms. Tyson
Cicely Tyson’s resume’ runs lengthy, with her career starting out as a fashion model in the 1950’s, before becoming an actress by the 1960s. And as we’re all aware, fashion never left her personal make-up as a fashionista, she was always dressed fresh from head to toe well into her 90’s.
Thank you Ms. Tyson for the decades of grace you’ve displayed as a history setting African American woman, a profound talent, and genuinely good human at heart. Rest well, rest in peace, and rest in power, after a job well done here on earth.
