Cicely Tyson
“An actress who refused roles that demeaned, choosing dignity and remaking what was possible on screen.”
In 1972, Tyson starred as resilient sharecropper's wife Rebecca Morgan in 'Sounder,' earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She considered it her first major role, and the acclaimed performance elevated her into the ranks of America's leading dramatic actresses.
From Harlem to Modeling
Tyson grew up in a devoutly religious Harlem household, the daughter of immigrants from Nevis. Discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine, she rose to the top of the modeling world before turning to acting.
Choosing Roles With Purpose
Tyson became known for selecting parts that portrayed Black women with strength and dignity, from 'Sounder' to 'Miss Jane Pittman.' Her selectivity made each performance a statement as well as an artistic triumph.
A Lifetime of Honors
Across her career she won multiple Emmys and a Tony, and late in life received the Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and an Honorary Oscar. She worked into her nineties before her death in 2021.
Career Timeline
- 1924Born in Harlem, New York City
- 1957Begins acting in Off-Broadway productions
- 1963Stars in TV drama 'East Side/West Side'
- 1972Earns Oscar nomination for 'Sounder'
- 1974Wins two Emmys for 'Miss Jane Pittman'
- 1977Plays Binta in landmark miniseries 'Roots'
- 2013Wins Tony for 'The Trip to Bountiful'
- 2015Receives Kennedy Center Honors
- 2016Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
- 2018Given an Honorary Academy Award
- 2021Dies in New York at age 96
Biggest Hits
- In 1963 she became one of the first Black actresses to star in a recurring role on a TV drama, 'East Side/West Side.'
- Her memoir 'Just as I Am' was published just two days before her death in 2021.
The Moment You Remember
Audiences still recall her as Miss Jane Pittman, aged across a century of American history, walking with quiet defiance to a whites-only water fountain in a single unforgettable scene.
Portrait: Hans Peters for Anefo · CC0 (Public Domain Dedication) · via Wikimedia Commons