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Rest in Peace: Toni Vaz, Founder of the NAACP Image Awards and Hollywood’s First Black Stuntwoman, Dies at 101

Toni Vaz, a trailblazing stunt performer and the founder of the NAACP Image Awards, has passed away at the age of 101. Her publicists at Katie Kornfield Communications confirmed that Vaz died on October 4 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund campus in Woodland Hills, though further details about her passing were not disclosed.

Vaz, whose career in Hollywood spanned decades, will posthumously be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of its 2025 class.

Vaz’s legacy extends beyond her work as a stuntwoman. In 1967, she established the NAACP Image Awards, a groundbreaking initiative that recognized the need for better representation and recognition of Black talent in the entertainment industry. “I called it the Image Awards because I wanted a better image for the people who worked in the industry,” Vaz once shared in an article for the NAACP Los Angeles Branch. “I wanted to put this award show together to thank the producers for giving good roles to people of color.”

Born and raised in New York City, Vaz’s love for film blossomed after she moved to Hollywood. She made her acting debut in the 1959 movie Tarzan the Ape Man and later appeared in films like Anna Lucasta and The Singing Nun. Her transition to stunt work marked her as a pioneer, becoming the first Black woman to perform stunts in Hollywood. Vaz worked on iconic films such as Tarzan, The Poseidon Adventure, and Porgy and Bess, and doubled for legendary Black actresses like Cicely Tyson, Eartha Kitt, and Juanita Moore.

Her career saw her amass over 50 screen credits, performing daring stunts like dangling from helicopters and tackling dangerous feats that pushed boundaries for women and Black stunt performers in the industry. In 2006, during a tribute to the Black Stuntmen’s Association, Vaz reflected on her early years, saying, “Before they formed this great stuntmen association, I did a lot of the work. … And we had very little pay for it. But today we’re doing much better.”

Vaz’s creation of the NAACP Image Awards was a watershed moment for Hollywood. The first ceremony, held in 1967, sought to celebrate the achievements of Black performers and foster diversity in the industry. Her efforts were recognized in 2021 when she received the Image Awards’ prestigious Founders Award. During the ceremony, Yvette Nicole Brown praised her as “a true Black innovator,” noting that Vaz’s determination helped change how African Americans were perceived in Hollywood.

At the 50th anniversary of the NAACP Image Awards, Anthony Anderson acknowledged Vaz’s contributions, saying, “We have a remarkable woman to thank for it all. She joined the NAACP’s Hollywood branch and helped to develop an idea for an awards show that would feature us in the best way possible.”

Vaz remained active in her later years, participating in several MPTF Studios productions and featuring in the organization’s centennial campaign. In 2020, she was honored during the “Reel Stories, Real Lives” event, where her life story was shared by Angela Bassett.

Vaz is survived by her nephew, Errol Reed, her niece, Janice Powell-Bowen, and a large extended family. Her remarkable legacy, both in front of and behind the camera, leaves an indelible mark on Hollywood.

 

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