ATLANTA — Atlanta movie mogul Tyler Perry wrote a touching tribute to pioneering actress Cicely Tyson after her death at age 96.
Tyson made several appearances in Perry’s films starting in 2005 including “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” as well as “Why Did I Get Married?”, “Madea’s Family Reunion” and “Why Did I Get Married Too?”
Tyson’s final film was one produced, written and directed by Perry, “A Fall From Grace.” The Netflix production filmed in Atlanta at Tyler Perry Studios.
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On Instagram, Perry shared a series of sweet photos with the late actress, writing that he got to be part of Tyson’s life for 16 years.
“This one brought me to my knees!” Perry wrote. “She was the grandmother I never had and the wisdom tree that I could always sit under to fill my cup. My heart breaks in one beat, while celebrating her life in the next.”
Perry said Oprah called him to give him the sad news. At the time, he happened to be watching one of Tyson’s breakout films, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman .”
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“I was sitting at the table working when I got this overwhelming feeling to watch Miss Jane Pittman,” Perry wrote. “I hadn’t seen the movie in years. I didn’t even understand the feeling to turn it on, but I did anyway. Not 12 minutes into the movie my phone rang.”
Perry called Tyson “regal,” “classy” and a “queen.”
“Every time we would talk I would ask, ‘How are you?’ and you would say, ‘I’m still here. He must have something he wants me to do.’” Perry wrote. “Well, I think it’s safe to say you have done all you were put here to do, and we are all better for it.”
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