Cicely Tyson, the ground-breaking actress whose work in TV and theater earned her Emmy and Tony Awards, died Thursday afternoon. She was 96.
Her death comes only days after her memoir,Just As I Am, was published on Tuesday.
Her early notable film roles include the 1959 Sidney Poitier film Odds Against Tomorrow, as well as The Comedians,A Man Called Adam and others.
She refused to take stereotypical roles such as maids or prostitutes or appear in blaxplotation movies, but returned to the big screen in 1972'sSounder, for which she earned a nomination for best actress.
On TV, Tyson won an Emmy for 1974'sThe Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and on stage, she scored a Tony in the 2013 revival ofA Trip to Bountiful.
When she was in her 70s, she enjoyed a career resurgence thanks to Tyler Perry, who cast her in several of his films, including 2006'sMadea's Family Reunion and 2010'sWhy Did I Get Married Too? She also appeared in the hit ABC dramaHow To Get Away With Murder and was nominated for five Emmys for that role.
From 1981 to 1988, she was married to jazz legend Miles Davis.
British actress Cathy Tyson, her niece, is one of her survivors. (Variety