Honorary Oscar the Governor’s Award to Cicely Tyson

Legends in film united over the weekend to pay tribute to Cicely Tyson, as she became the first Black woman to receive an honorary Oscar for more than 60 years of work in the industry, reports multiple news sources. The Academy’s 10th annual Governors Awards took place Sunday (Nov. 18) with Ava Duvernay introducing the 93-year-old while celebrating her legendary career. She also received touching tributes from Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones, the Hollywood Reported reported. “Her work, grace, dignity, class, humility and profound professionalism firmly placed her on the pedestal of Hollywood royalty, and now, at long last, I could not be more honored to say that tonight, Cicely Tyson receives her more than well-deserved Oscar,” Jones said while DuVernay cited Tyson for being “the seed for so many of us, the rose that we adore.” Tyson’s lengthy career includes the films “The Autobiography Of Miss Jane Pittman,” “A Woman Called Moses,” “Wilma”, “Roots” and many others. The Tony and Emmy winner was given her first and last Oscar nomination for her role as Rebecca in the 1972 film adaption of “Sounder,” according to Vibe. Many of her younger fans know Tyson for her work with Tyler Perry in the Madea franchise and Viola Davis on “How To Get Away With Murder.” Other guests included Lupita Nyong’o, Lee Daniels, Tyler Perry, Barry Jenkins, Steve McQueen, Chadwick Boseman, Shonda Rhimes, Spike Lee, Anita Hill, Mahershala Ali, Michael B. Jordan and Dania Guria.