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Cicely Tyson

American actress (1924-2021) · United States · Actors · Died at 96

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Cecily Louise "Cicely" Tyson was an American actress. In a career spanning seven decades, she portrayed complex and strong-willed African American women. She received several awards including three Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award.

A life in dates

2021Died28 January 20212020Television Hall of FameAwardA Fall from GraceFilm, 2020Alice2019Academy Honorary AwardAwardThe Tamron Hall ShowSeries, 20192016NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesAwardMaya Angelou: And Still I RiseFilm, 20162015Kennedy Center HonorsAward2014How to Get Away with MurderSeries, Ophelia Harkness2013Tony Award for Best Actress in a PlayAwardThe Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of GeorgiaFilm, 2013Mama Kay2011Black Reel Award for Outstanding EnsembleAwardNational Board of Review Award for Best CastAward2010Why Did I Get Married Too?Film, Ola2009Honorary DoctorateAward2006IdlewildFilm, Mother Hopkins2002The Rosa Parks StoryFilm, Leona Edwards McCauley1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitSeries, Ondine BurdettA Lesson Before DyingFilm, 1999Tante Lou1994Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieAwardTouched by an AngelSeries, 1994Abigail Peabody-Jackson1991Fried Green TomatoesFilm, Sipsey1989The Women of Brewster PlaceFilm, Mrs. Browne1982Women in Film HonorsAward1981Bustin' LooseFilm, Vivian Perry1980Golden Plate AwardAward1977Black Filmmakers Hall of FameAwardA Hero Ain't Nothin' But a SandwichFilm, 1977Sweets1974Dinah!Series1972Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActressAwardNational Society of Film Critics Award for Best ActressAwardSounderFilm, 1972Rebecca Morgan1971Film '72Series1967The ComediansFilm, Marie Therese1965The F.B.I.Series, Julie Harmon1961The Mike Douglas ShowSeries1959Odds Against TomorrowFilm, Jazz Club Bartender (uncredited)1955GunsmokeSeries, Rachel Biggs1944Golden Globe AwardsSeries1924Born19 December 1924

Also in Deutsch

Photos 6

Tyson in 1973Tyson in 1973Tyson with her Primetime Emmy Award at the Governor's Ball in 1994Tyson with her Primetime Emmy Award at the Governor's Ball in 1994Davis and Tyson in 1982Davis and Tyson in 1982Secretary of State John Kerry with Kennedy Center Honorees Rita Moreno, Carole King, George Lucas, Cicely Tyson, and Seiji Ozawa in 2015Secretary of State John Kerry with Kennedy Center Honorees Rita Moreno, Carole King, George Lucas, Cicely Tyson, and Seiji Ozawa in 2015Tyson in 2009Tyson in 2009

Filmography 40

AGA Fall from GraceAlice2020 · ★ 7.0
LFLast Flag FlyingMrs. Hightower2017 · ★ 6.7
MRMaya Angelou: And Still I Rise2016
SRShowing RootsHattie2016
TBThe Trip to BountifulMrs. Watts2014
TGThe Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of GeorgiaMama Kay2013 · ★ 5.8
ACAlex CrossNana Mama2012 · ★ 5.1
THThe HelpConstantine Jefferson2011 · ★ 8.2
WTWhy Did I Get Married Too?Ola2010 · ★ 6.6
RSRelative StrangerPearl2009
MRMadea's Family ReunionMyrtle2006 · ★ 6.3
IDIdlewildMother Hopkins2006 · ★ 5.7
BDBecause of Winn-DixieGloria Dump2005 · ★ 6.5
DWDiary of a Mad Black WomanMyrtle2005 · ★ 6.5
TSThe Rosa Parks StoryLeona Edwards McCauley2002
JEJewelCathedral2001
ADA Lesson Before DyingTante Lou1999
AOAlways OutnumberedLuvia1998
HOHoodlumStephanie St. Clair1997 · ★ 6.5
RIRiotMaggie1997
MSMs. ScroogeMs. Ebenita Scrooge1997
FTFried Green TomatoesSipsey1991 · ★ 7.7
TCThe Kid Who Loved ChristmasEtta Mercer1990
TPThe Women of Brewster PlaceMrs. Browne1989
NSNight of 100 Stars1982
BLBustin' LooseVivian Perry1981 · ★ 6.2
TSThe Marva Collins StoryMarva Collins1981
TAThe Concorde... Airport '79Elaine1979 · ★ 4.7
ASA Hero Ain't Nothin' But a SandwichSweets1977
WIWilmaBlanche Rudolph1977
TBThe Blue BirdTylette1976
ECEverybody Rides the Carousel1976
TPThe Autobiography of Miss Jane PittmanJane Pittman1974
FMFree to Be… You and Me1974
SOSounderRebecca Morgan1972 · ★ 7.5
THThe Heart Is a Lonely HunterPortia Copeland1968 · ★ 7.5
TCThe ComediansMarie Therese1967
AAA Man Called AdamClaudia Ferguson1966
OTOdds Against TomorrowJazz Club Bartender (uncredited)1959 · ★ 6.9
TMThe Last Angry ManGirl Left on Porch (uncredited)1959

114 credits on file

Television 24

TSThe Tamron Hall Show2019
STSteve2017
MSMadam SecretaryFlo Avery2014
HMHow to Get Away with MurderOphelia Harkness2014
HCHouse of CardsDoris Jones2013
TBThe Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer2005
LULaw & Order: Special Victims UnitOndine Burdett1999
TLThe Outer LimitsJustice Gretchen Parkhurst1995
TATouched by an AngelAbigail Peabody-Jackson1994
LMLIVE with Kelly and Mark1988
SLSaturday Night Live1975
DIDinah!1974
EMEmergency!Mrs. Johnson1972
FIFilm '721971
TSThe Flip Wilson Show1970
MIMission: ImpossibleAlma Ross1966
TIThe F.B.I.Julie Harmon1965
TCThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962
TSThe Mike Douglas Show1961
NCNaked CityDarlene Knox1958
TATony Awards1956
GUGunsmokeRachel Biggs1955
TOThe Oscars1953
GAGolden Globe Awards1944

Awards

Peabody Awards2020
Television Hall of Fame2020
Academy Honorary Award2019
Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series2017
Presidential Medal of Freedom2016
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series2016
Honorary Doctor of the Howard University2016
Kennedy Center Honors2015
Honorary Doctorate from Columbia University2014
Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play2013
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture2011
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Ensemble2011
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast2011
National Board of Review Award for Best Cast2011
Satellite Award for Best Cast - Motion Picture2011
Spingarn Medal2010
Honorary Doctorate2009
Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame1997
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie1994
Candace Award1988
Honorary Degree from Spelman College1984
Crystal Award1982
Women in Film Honors1982
Golden Plate Award1980
Ladies' Home Journal Women of the Year1978
Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame1977
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie1974
26th Primetime Emmy Awards1974
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress1972
National Board of Review Award for Best Actress1972
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress1972
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play

In their orbit

Spouse: Miles Davis

About this person

Cecily Louise "Cicely" Tyson was an American actress. In a career spanning seven decades, she portrayed complex and strong-willed African American women. She received several awards including three Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award. She was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2015, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, and the Honorary Academy Award in 2018.

Country
United States
Category
Actors
Type
Actor
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1924 to 2021 · aged 96

In common with Cicely

Dante BascoAlso in Riot (1997)Taj MahalAlso in Sounder (1972)Rachel SkarstenAlso in Jewel (2001)Chad Michael MurrayAlso in The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)Steve CarellAlso in Last Flag Flying (2017)Robin GivensAlso in The Women of Brewster Place (1989)

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