Cicely Tyson

Discover the inspiring life of Cicely Tyson (born December 19, 1924 – died January 28, 2021) — a groundbreaking American actress whose strength, dignity, and integrity reshaped representation for Black women on screen and stage.

Introduction

Cecily Louise “Cicely” Tyson (often spelled “Cicely”) was an American actress and model renowned for portraying bold, resilient African American women across stage, film, and television.

Her career spanned over seven decades, during which she earned widespread respect for her commitment to roles with substance and for refusing demeaning or stereotypical parts.

She won multiple Emmys, a Tony Award, a Kennedy Center Honor, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and eventually was awarded an Honorary Academy Award.

Early Life & Background

Cicely Tyson was born on December 19, 1924 in New York City (Harlem / East Harlem) to William Augustine Tyson and Theodosia Tyson.

Her parents were immigrants from Nevis in the Caribbean. Her upbringing was modest; her mother worked as a domestic worker and her father did carpenter/painting and odd jobs.

She was raised in a religious environment, sang in the church choir, and was drawn to the arts early on.

In her early career she also worked as a model, before transitioning into acting roles.

Career & Breakthroughs

Early Acting & Television

Tyson’s first film appearance was in Carib Gold (1956). Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) and The Last Angry Man (1959) and Who Was That Lady? (1960).

In television, she broke ground in the early 1960s: she appeared on East Side / West Side (1963–1964), becoming one of the first Black women to have a regular cast role in a TV drama.

She also appeared in soap operas and off-Broadway productions in the 1950s–1960s.

Signature Roles & Acclaim

One of her most acclaimed film performances was in Sounder (1972), playing Rebecca Morgan, the mother in a sharecropper family. This role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and a Golden Globe nomination.

Her social-issue–driven television performance in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974) stands out. Her portrayal of Jane Pittman, a woman who lives through slavery, Reconstruction, and beyond, won her an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress.

She appeared in notable TV miniseries such as Roots (1977), King (as Coretta Scott King), Women of Brewster Place, A Lesson Before Dying, and more.

In her later career, she appeared in Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005), Because of Winn Dixie, The Help (2011), Last Flag Flying (2017), and more.

On stage, Tyson also had a distinguished presence. In 2013, at age 88, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for The Trip to Bountiful, making her the oldest person to win that award.

Her final Broadway appearance was in The Gin Game (2016) opposite James Earl Jones.

Awards, Honors & Recognition

• Emmy Awards: Tyson won multiple Emmys, including for Miss Jane Pittman.

• Tony Award: In 2013, she became the oldest winner ever of a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.

• Kennedy Center Honors: In 2015, she was honored for lifetime achievement in performance.

• Presidential Medal of Freedom: Awarded by President Barack Obama in 2016.

• Honorary Academy Award: In 2018, she received an honorary Oscar, becoming the first Black woman to receive that honor.

She also was recognized by the NAACP, and received honors for her leadership in representation and dignity.

Personality & Principles

One of Tyson’s guiding principles was her refusal to accept roles she deemed demeaning or stereotypical. She said she would wait for a role “first, to be written for a woman, then, to be written for a Black woman.”

She often celebrated Black beauty and dignity, rejecting pressure to conform to white beauty standards.

She also maintained her craft and presence into late age, continuing guest roles on How to Get Away with Murder, among others.

Her memoir Just as I Am was published in January 2021, shortly before her death.

Legacy & Influence

Cicely Tyson’s legacy is profound:

• She opened doors for Black actresses in Hollywood and on stage by insisting on dignity in representation.

• She became an icon of strength, integrity, and longevity in her craft.

• Her performances remain touchstones in the portrayal of Black women’s lives and journeys of resilience.

• She continues to inspire artists and audiences to demand more complex, honorable roles for people of color.