Help Us Give Toni Vaz a Fitting Farewell

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Toni Vaz, the iconic and trailblazing Black actress, model, activist, Hollywood stuntwoman, and beloved aunt. We are asking for donations to help cover the costs of her memorial service, as our family is currently unable to afford it. All of your contributions will go towards honoring her remarkable life and ensuring she receives a fitting farewell. Let me tell you about my aunt's legacy.

Toni Vaz's illustrious career began in 1951, where she often appeared in TV shows and movies as an extra or performing stunts for renowned actresses such as Cicely Tyson, Eartha Kitt, and Juanita Moore. With over 50 TV shows and movies to her credit and more than 20,000 hours of performances, Aunt Toni was a true pioneer.

In Hollywood's early days, people of color were seldom recognized for their positive contributions, often being cast in stereotypical roles, which deeply troubled my Aunt. A visionary, she sought better roles and recognition for herself and her fellow actors of color, striving to move beyond the restrictive and stereotypical portrayals of maids, thieves, and demeaning roles.

After joining the NAACP’s new Hollywood branch in Beverly Hills, she envisioned an award ceremony as grand and elegant as the Academy Awards, dedicated to celebrating the diversity of roles portrayed by Black talent in entertainment. In 1967, she founded and created the prestigious NAACP Image Awards. This award show was designed to honor and elevate Black actors and actresses who depicted characters such as doctors, nurses, lawyers, and professors. The inaugural NAACP Image Awards was held on August 13, 1967, at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel. Fifty-seven years later, the Image Awards continue to be celebrated.

In her later years, Aunt Toni retired to Las Vegas before moving to the Woodland Hills Campus of the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), where she spent her remaining years. She peacefully passed away on Friday, October 4, 2024, at the age of 101.

The family has authorized this fundraiser as the sole means to support the memorial service for Toni Vaz.

Thank you for your support.