As fans continue to mourn the loss of Cicely Tyson, Live with Kelly and Ryan has aired one last interview with the legendary actress.
Tyson, the award-winning
Actress known for her roles in Sounder, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, and more, died on Thursday at the age of 96, just days after her memoir Just as I Am was released. On Friday's Live with Kelly and Ryan, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest aired an interview with her taped only two days ago.
Tyson discussed her upbringing during the conversation, describing how she was "very shy" growing up but that she "listened" and "learned," also recalling a woman who once predicted she would make her mother "very proud" one day. She also discussed the experience of being nominated for an Academy Award for Sounder, saying she "never thought that I would be nominated for an Oscar" but recalling how she used to watch the
Oscars regularly and once told herself, "I'm going to sit in that front row one day."
During her career, Tyson also said she "never really worked for money," but rather "because there were certain issues that I wish were addressed about myself and my race as a Black woman."
Prior to the conversation, Ripa honored Tyson at the start of the show.
"To say Cicely Tyson was an
American legend would be too great an understatement," Ripa said. "We were honored to speak with her on Wednesday when we recorded this show and devastated to learn of her passing yesterday. She was a trailblazer who broke barriers for Black actresses and
Women everywhere."