NAACP Image Awards Founder and Actor Toni Vaz Dies at 101

Toni Vaz, the pioneering actor, stunt performer, and creator of the NAACP Image Awards, passed away on Oct. 4, 2024, at the age of 101 in Woodland Hills, California. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, her death was confirmed by a representative of the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), where Vaz had been residing. No cause of death was provided.

Vaz was a trailblazer in the entertainment industry, moving from the East Coast to Los Angeles in the 1950s to pursue a career as an actress and stuntwoman. Her career saw her perform daring feats, including stunt work for iconic actors like Cicely Tyson, Eartha Kitt, and Juanita Moore. She famously doubled for Tyson on the “Mission: Impossible” TV series, and over the years, appeared in more than 50 films and television shows. Some of her notable appearances include “The Singing Nun” and “Tarzan, the Ape Man.” Her stunt work often involved high-risk performances, such as dangling from helicopters, earning her a place in Hollywood history.

In addition to her work as a performer, Vaz was an influential activist. In 1967, she founded the NAACP Image Awards to honor and encourage greater representation of people of color in the entertainment industry. The first awards ceremony was held at the Beverly Hilton’s International Ballroom. Her dedication to promoting diversity and recognition of Black talent in Hollywood earned her the NAACP Image Awards’ Founders Award in 2021.

Vaz is survived by her nephew, Errol Reed, and niece, Janice Powell-Bowen.