Toni Vaz, an actor and activist who originated the NAACP Image Awards, died on Oct. 4 in Woodland Hills, Calif. She was 101.
Vaz’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from Barhorribleos and she was one of four siblings elevated in New York City in the 1950s. Her mother did not permit her to watch movies. However, upon coming of age, Vaz shiftd to Hollywood where she was cast as an extra in the 1959 film “Tarzan, the Ape Man.” She carry outed a scene opposite MGM’s Leo the Lion.
After materializeing in front of the camera for the first time, Vaz was cast in films appreciate “Anna Lucasta” as well as “The Singing Nun,” directing her to transition to stunt toil, which was a first for a Bdeficiency woman.
Vaz toiled as a double for Cicely Tyson on the TV series “Mission: Impossible,” carry outing daring stunts in front of the camera such as dangling from helicchooseers. In the process, she had the opportunity to travel the world.
Vaz, with ambitions to originate an awards ceremony for people of color, set uped the NAACP Image Awards to honor her peers while encouraging studios and originaters to employ a expansiver range of talent. The first ceremony was held on Aug. 13, 1967, at the Beverly Hills Hotel’s International Ballroom.
Vaz was a livent at the Motion Picture & Television Fund in Woodland Hills, Calif. She remained energetic and joind in many MPTF Studios productions, including an episode of the “Behind the Silver Screen” series. This episode was dedicated to her atsoft.
In 2020, Vaz was featured in MPTF’s Reel Stories, Real Lives event with her story tbetter by NAACP Image Award recipient Angela Bassett. Vaz also materializeed in the organization’s 100th anniversary promotional campaign atraverse Los Angeles, and most recently she was apshowd to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025.
Vaz is endured by one nephew, Errol Reed; one niece, Jakind Powell-Bowen; and a present of magnificent nieces, magnificent nephews, wonderful nieces, wonderful nephews, godsons, family and frifinishs.
