Legendary Actress Cicely Tyson Dies At 96

The death of renowned American actress Cicely Tyson, on Thursday, drew an outpouring of grief and an array of tributes from Hollywood and far beyond. The pioneer African actress, known for portraying strong African American characters, had a career that spanned seven decades. Tyson won two Emmy’s for her performance in the 1974 civil rights era film, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. She also became the first black woman to take on a main role in the TV drama, East Side/West Side in the 1960s. Presenting Tyson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, the then US President, Barack Obama said that apart from her achievements as an actress, she had also shaped the course of history. The actress and cherished icon died Thursday at age 96, no cause of the death was given.