Tyson, Cicely (1924-2021), was an African American actress who gained acclaim for her motion-picture , television , and theater performances. She was especially noted for her sensitive portrayals of strong Black women. Tyson was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the movie Sounder (1972). In 2018, she won an honorary Oscar.
Tyson was born on Dec. 19, 1924, in the Harlem section of New York City . Her parents were immigrants form the Caribbean island of Nevis. As a young woman, Tyson worked as a model, appearing in such prominent magazines as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. She also studied at the Actors Studio in New York City. Tyson was married to the American jazz musician Miles Davis from 1981 to 1988.
Tyson’s first significant stage appearance was in 1961 in the off-Broadway drama The Blacks. In the early 1960’s, she also appeared in the TV series “East Side, West Side.” Tyson made her motion-picture debut in Carib Gold (1957). Her major movies include Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), The Comedians (1967), The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968), Sounder (1972), The River Niger (1976), Bustin’ Loose (1981), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Jefferson in Paris (1995), and Because of Winn-Dixie (2005). Her later films include The Help (2011) and A Fall from Grace (2020).
Tyson also won praise for several television roles. She played the title character in the TV movie The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974). She appeared in the miniseries Roots (1977) and The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (1994).
Tyson won high recognition during her career. For example, in 1974 and 1994, she won three Emmy Awards for roles in TV productions. In 2010, Tyson was awarded the Spingarn Medal , the highest honor given by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 2013, at the age of 88, she became the oldest person to win a Tony Award, for her role in a Broadway revival of the play The Trip to Bountiful (1953). In 2015, Tyson became a Kennedy Center Honoree. And in 2016, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom , the highest civilian honor awarded by the president of the United States. Tyson’s memoir, Just as I Am, was released in 2021. She died on Jan. 28, 2021.
