Cicely Tyson, the Iconic and Legendary Black Woman of Hollywood By Saybin Roberson Contributing Writer Published February 4, 2021 Honoree Cicely Tyson arrives at the Essence Third Annual “Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon” in Beverly Hills, Calif. on March 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File) The world was taken for a surprise Thursday, January 28 when the news broke that legendary actress Cicely Tyson had passed away at the age of 96. The pioneering Hollywood actress left a legacy of grace, beauty, and immeasurable talent after starring in television shows and films for over 60 years. Cicely Tyson arrives at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 20, 2009, in Los Angeles. Tyson, the pioneering Black actress who gained an Oscar nomination for her role as the sharecropper’s wife in “Sounder,” a Tony Award in 2013 at age 88. (AP Photo)