The actor passed away in her Manhattan apartment on Wednesday (July 27), as confirmed by the New York Police Department to The Hollywood Reporter.

Alice starred in the third Matrix film, 2003’s The Matrix Revolutions, where she played The Oracle who imparts wisdom to Neo (Keanu Reeves).

She won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play in the original 1987 Broadway production of Fences. Alice is also known for playing Lettie Bostic in the NBC sitcom A Different World from 1987 to 1989.

Her other notable roles include Effie Williams in the 1976 musical drama Sparkle, 1990’s To Sleep With Anger, and the HBO miniseries Laurel Avenue. She also won an Emmy in 1993 for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in the drama series I’ll Fly Away.

Colman Domingo paid tribute to Alice on Twitter, writing: “A shoulder we all stood on." A round of applause for Mary Alice. Thank you, legend. Rest Easy. "

Wendell Pierce wrote: "Mary Alice was an intense, ferociously creative, profoundly authentic artist." “Her spirit of expression was infectious. an icon of her craft. I saw her in the original Broadway production of FENCES. A tour de force performance matched by none. Transcendental Once in a lifetime. RIP.”