Icon and founder of the NAACP Image Awards and first Black stuntwoman, Toni Vaz, has died at the age of 101. Her remarkable life led to the creation of a platform that celebrates the achievements of people of color in arts and entertainment.
Vaz, who was featured on the iWoman Report, was a native New Yorker, moving to Hollywood in the 1950s to pursue a career as an actor. Her first on screen appearance was as an extra in “Tarzan, the Ape Man,” in 1959. Soon, she was cast as a stunt double for actresses like Cicely Tyson, Eartha Kitt, and Juanita Moore. Her credits include over 50 movies and TV shows. Her most famous role was as Cicely Tyson’s double in Mission: Impossible, performing daring stunts such as hanging from helicopters.
Although Vaz found success as a stuntwoman, she was frequently disappointed by the typecasting of Black men and women as servants, drug addicts, and criminals. In her interview with iWoman founder Cathleen Trigg-Jones, Vaz spoke about not just representation on screen but on everyday products as well. Specifically, Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup. She said, “It’s good syrup, but they could have used a better picture.” On top of this, actors and actresses were not getting the recognition they deserved from award shows like The Oscars and The Emmys, which frustrated Vaz.
Vaz wanted people of color to be celebrated for their achievements, and so she came up with the NAACP Image Awards. The first ceremony was held in 1967 at the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom. She not only wanted to honor her peers and their works, but also encourage studios and networks to hire them in leading and non-stereotypical roles.
Despite being the catalyst for this groundbreaking awards show, Vaz did not always get the recognition she was due. Many others were credited with its inception, including Maggie Hathaway to Sammy Davis Jr. The record was set straight in 2000, when she was awarded her own Image Award trophy to recognize her efforts. In 2021, she received the Founders Award at the Image Awards, presented by actress Yvette Nicole Brown
Vaz dedicated her life to ensuring her people were recognized, appreciated, and represented in media and entertainment. Her legacy left by the NAACP Image Awards will be a reminder each year of what she endured in an industry that ignored her and other people of color for decades.
Throughout her career, Vaz dreamed of getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was finally approved as a part of the class of 2025. While she unfortunately will not get to see it with her own eyes, everyone who visits the famed walkway will know that Toni Vaz was once there. Her legacy cemented - literally - in the history of Hollywood.
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iWoman CEO & Founder Cathleen had the honor of interviewing Toni Vaz during an episode of the iWoman Report on the heels of Vaz’s 100th birthday. You can see the full episode and interview on iWoman at watch.iwoman.tv.
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