Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Actress Cicely Tyson and Former US President Barack - Contributed
Former US President Barack and Former First Lady Michelle Obama have joined a number of celebrities paying tribute to pioneering actress Cicely Tyson.
Tyson, who was known for portraying strong African-American characters, died at 96 years old on Thursday.
Her manager made the announcement on behalf of the family, but did not reveal the cause of the death.
Mr. Obama posted a message on social media platform Twitter saying, "In her extraordinary career, Cicely Tyson was one of the rare award-winning actors whose work on the screen was surpassed only by what she was able to accomplish off of it. She had a heart unlike any other—and for 96 years, she left a mark on the world that few will ever match."
Mrs. Obama said what struckher when she I spent time with Tyson was "not necessarily her star power—though that was evident enough—it was her humanity. Just by walking into a room, she had this way of elevating everyone around her."
Actress Viola Davis said she is devastated and heart broken by the news, while Shonda Rhimes described her death as an extraordinary loss.
American civil rights activist and talk show host, Reverend Al Sharpton called Tyson the ultimate actress, artist, trailblazer and role model with Gabrielle Union adding that she was a visionary, a leader, a lover, and an icon.
Tyson had a career that spanned seven decades.
She won two Emmys for her performance in the 1974 civil rights-era film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and also became the first black woman to take on a main role in the drama East Side/West Side in the 1960s.
Tyson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
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