RIP Toni Vaz

October 17, 2024 1:27 PM

Toni Vaz, stuntwoman who started the NAACP Image Awards, dies at 101

"Beginning with uncredited roles in movies like “Tarzan, the Ape Man” (1959), in which she appeared opposite a roaring lion, she worked on more than 50 films and television shows, always as an extra or stuntwoman. Dangling from a helicopter, falling out a window or flying down the road in a runaway car, she doubled for stars including Cicely Tyson on TV’s 'Mission: Impossible' and appeared in disaster movies including 'The Poseidon Adventure' (1972) and 'The Towering Inferno' (1974), as well as dramas such as 'Anna Lucasta' (1958) and 'Lady Sings the Blues' (1972)."
Then she started the NAACP Image Awards: “I called it the Image Awards because I wanted a better image for the people who worked in the industry. I wanted to put this award show together to thank the producers for giving good roles to people of color.”

posted by Ideefixe (16 comments total)

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Quite a life!
posted by tavella at 1:46 PM on October 17 [2 favorites]

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posted by Navelgazer at 2:05 PM on October 17

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posted by lord_wolf at 2:23 PM on October 17

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posted by humbug at 2:25 PM on October 17

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posted by robbyrobs at 3:05 PM on October 17

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posted by ishmael at 4:24 PM on October 17

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posted by jim in austin at 5:08 PM on October 17

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How often can you describe someone as dauntless?
posted by BlueHorse at 5:10 PM on October 17 [1 favorite]

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posted by riverlife at 5:50 PM on October 17

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posted by They sucked his brains out! at 7:11 PM on October 17

Thanks for posting this! I’m glad I read about Ms. Vaz’ life. What amazing accomplishments, especially when you know what an uphill battle she faced against racism.

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posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 7:39 PM on October 17

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posted by mxjudyliza at 9:28 PM on October 17

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posted by drossdragon at 12:28 PM on October 18

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posted by mcbeth at 5:54 PM on October 18

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posted by jzb at 6:44 PM on October 18

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posted by filtergik at 7:56 AM on October 19