On Thursday, award-winning actor Cicely Tyson died at the age of 96. Her career spanned seven decades, and although Tyson started out as a model, she made her film debut in Sidney Lumet's 1957 legal drama, 12 Angry Men.
She went on to earn a Best Actress nod at the Oscars for her breakthrough performance of Rebecca Morgan in Sounder. Most recently, she guest-starred in Shondaland's How To Get Away With Murder, portraying the role of Ophelia Harkness, the mother of Viola Davis' character Annalise Keating.
The pioneering actor's death has devastated her admirers, and Viola Davis mourned her loss in a heartfelt post to Instagram.
Viola Davis Pays Tribute To Cicely Tyson
Tyson, who rose to fame for depicting strong African-American characters made an impactful performance in HTGAWM. For her role on the series, she received five Emmy nominations and critical-acclaim.
In a photograph of the two shared to Instagram, Viola Davis shared just how much Tyson had inspired her.
Davis admitted she was "devastated" at the loss, and that Tyson meant everything to her.
"You made me feel loved and seen and valued in a world where there is still a cloak of invisibility for us dark chocolate girls," she wrote.
"You gave me permission to dream....because it was only in my dreams that I could see the possibilities in myself."
The Ma Rainey's Black Bottom actor added, "I'm not ready for you to be my angel yet. But...I also understand that it's only when the last person who has a memory of you dies, that you'll truly be dead. In that case, you will be immortal."
Shonda Rhimes, who produced HTGAWM along with ABC studios also wrote a few words to Instagram.
Alongside her caption, Rhimes shared a photo of the two of them.
"She was an extraordinary person. And this is an extraordinary loss. She had so much to teach. And I still have so much to learn. I am grateful for every moment. Her power and grace will be with us forever."
Cicely Tyson's memoir Just As I Am was published by HarperCollins just days before she passed away.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErZ%2Bippeoe6S7zGitoqeclnqlrdWiqmaho2KxpsLArKuarJWZerDCxKtkn6eiorKzecetnpqvnWKwsHnSrZirZZOesKa42Garsqufo8BusMSaq6Fn