UPDATED WITH NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: In a stunning development at the 2013 Tony Awards, African-American actors and actresses captured many of the top acting awards. Legendary African-American actress Cicely Tyson won the Tony for Best Lead Actress in a Play for her stunning performance in A Trip to Bountiful. Courtney B. Vance, who is married to Angela Bassett, won for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as a newspaper editor in the play Lucky Man. The two top acting awards in musicals at the Tony’s were won by African-Americans.
Patina Miller won for Best Actress in a Musical in the revival of the 1970’s musical Pippin. And Billy Porter won for Best Actor in a Musical for the musical written by singer Cyndi Lauper Kinky Boots, which also won the most Tony Awards, including the top award for Best Musical. At age 88, Cicely Tyson became the oldest individual to win a Tony Award. She told the audience in Radio City Music Hall and watching the Tony Awards broadcast on CBS that “It’s been 30 years since I stood onstage, and I really didn’t think it would happen again in my lifetime. Except I had this burning desire to do just one more — one more great role. I didn’t want to be greedy. I just wanted one more.” Billy Porter is a veteran Broadway actor who first appeared on Broadway in 1991. Patina Miller is a Broadway newcomer who originated the role of Deloris Van Cartier in the Broadway production of Sister Act two years ago. Courtney B. Vance is a veteran stage, film and TV actor. TV viewers know him for his long running role on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Vance has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows as well as on Broadway. Click Below to See Cicely Tyson’s Acceptance Speech. Courtesy CBS News.
