Toni Vaz dead at 101: Trailblazing stuntwoman founded NAACP Image Awards
As a lifelong admirer and student of the entertainment industry, I can wholeheartedly say that Toni Vaz was nothing short of a trailblazing legend. Born in New York City, forbidden from movies by her mother, yet undeterred, she headed west to Hollywood, where she made history not just as an actress but also as a groundbreaking stuntwoman.
Toni Vaz, the actress who became a pathbreaking stuntwoman, has died at the age of 101.
On October 4th, she passed away at the Motion Picture Fund’s facility in Woodland Hills, as confirmed in a statement released last Friday.
Her cause of death was not immediately available.
Vaz was also known for founding the NAACP Image Awards, which held its first ceremony in 1967.
As reported by Deadline, Vaz, born and raised in New York City, was not allowed to attend the cinema as a child due to her Barbadian immigrant mother’s restrictions.
But that didn’t stop her from heading west for Hollywood once she was an adult.
Among Vaz’s initial acting roles was being an extra in the 1959 film Tarzan: The Ape Man. In this movie, she had a challenging part, sharing scenes with a real lion, none other than MGM’s symbol, Leo the Lion.
As per the report, Vaz additionally starred in Anna Lucasta (1958) and The Singing Nun from 1966. It was her role in The Singing Nun that propelled her into the realm of stunt work.
In the course of her career, she managed high-risk situations for renowned African American actors such as Cicely Tyson, Eartha Kitt, and Juanita Moore, among others, during their guest appearances on Mission: Impossible (TV series) and other projects.
Vaz went on to amass over 50 stunt credits after becoming an in-demand performer.
Her aim was to highlight individuals of color making their mark in Hollywood and the broader entertainment industry, simultaneously advocating for studios to employ more African-American artists. This goal ultimately motivated her to establish the NAACP Image Awards.
The inaugural event took place in 1967 at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel; it was Sammy Davis Jr., Maggie Hathaway, and Willis Edwards who presided over the proceedings.
Last year, I had the incredible privilege to be part of the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Reel Stories, Real Lives event where the legendary Angela Bassett, a woman adorned with numerous NAACP Image Awards and an Oscar nomination, opened up about her extraordinary life journey. What an unforgettable experience!
The MPT Foundation assists both active and retired actors by offering health coverage and various social aid programs for their overall health and welfare.
2021 saw actress Yvette Nicole Brown honoring Vaz with the Founders Award at the Image Awards, acknowledging her as an authentic pioneer within the Black community during her introduction.
In a period when opportunities for Black actors in Hollywood were scarce, a resilient actress spotted a chance to exhibit our abilities and alter the stereotype of African Americans within the entertainment world. This is how the NAACP Image Awards came into being… It provided us with a stage to recognize each other as we see ourselves. (Brown’s statement)
Before she passed away, plans were made by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to pay tribute to the legendary stuntwoman by dedicating a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This star is set to be revealed in 2025.
Read More
- TOMI PREDICTION. TOMI cryptocurrency
- BNB PREDICTION. BNB cryptocurrency
- XNO PREDICTION. XNO cryptocurrency
- AST PREDICTION. AST cryptocurrency
- BRWL PREDICTION. BRWL cryptocurrency
- FOXY PREDICTION. FOXY cryptocurrency
- Why Katherine Renee Kane’s FBI departure is premature
- LOGX PREDICTION. LOGX cryptocurrency
- BCH PREDICTION. BCH cryptocurrency
- ALPHA PREDICTION. ALPHA cryptocurrency
2024-10-12 02:21