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A day before her death, Cicely Tyson did a virtual interview on “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” where she talked about her childhood, how she snagged her leading role and her vegetarian lifestyle.
The actress and cherished icon, who was first Oscar-nominated for 1972’s “Sounder” and 45 years later was honored with an honorary golden statuette for her body of work, died Thursday at age 96, her manager Larry Thompson confirmed to USA TODAY.
Her memoir, “Just As I Am” was released just two days before her she died.
In the interview, which aired Friday, Tyson described how she was initially turned away from the role as Rebecca in “Sounder” and how she landed it.Â
“They said, ‘You’re too young, you’re too pretty, you’re too sexy, you’re too this, you’re too that’ and I said but I’m an actress,” Tyson said.Â
The role of Rebecca was originally offered to actress Gloria Foster, but Foster declined in the negotiation stage.Â
Tyson recalled when her manager broke the news to her that Foster turned it down, Tyson replied “because it doesn’t belong to her.” Â
Tyson went on to make incredible impact in the entertainment industry.
Through her, Black women were represented roundly and robustly over seven decades on screens big and small. She trailblazed roles portraying the lives of women ranging from fictional slave-turned-activist Jane Pittman and educator Marva Collins to activist Coretta Scott King and abolitionist Harriet Tubman.
When describing her motivation behind pursuing certain roles, Tyson told Ripa and Seacrest that she never took jobs for the pay.Â
“I never really worked for money,†she said. “I’ve worked because there were certain issues that I wish were addressed about myself and my race as a Black woman.”
And she did. It’s difficult to convey just how deeply the actress permeated American culture through the decades. Tyson helped bring “Roots” to life in 1977 as Binta, Kunta Kinte’s mother; she stole the show in 1991’s “Fried Green Tomatoes,” gave weight to 2011’s “The Help” and grounded modern TV series such as “House of Cards” and “How to Get Away With Murder.”
Kelly and Ryan also celebrated Tyson for reaching her 96th birthday and asked about her nutritional regimen.
Tyson said she never drank or smoked and never did any drugs. However, there was one moment in history that turned her on the path to vegetarianism.Â
“When Martin Luther King was assassinated, I was so stunned by that, that I became a vegetarian and I’ve been that most of my life.” Tyson said.Â
Contributing: Andrea Mandell, Bill Keveney
Cicely Tyson dies at 96:Tyler Perry, Oprah, Viola Davis and more mourn ‘greatest to ever do it’
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