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Cicely Tyson

Actress | Soundtrack

Cicely Tyson was raised in Harlem, New York City by devoutly religious parents from the Caribbean island of Nevis. She was discovered by a fashion editor at Ebony magazine and, with her stunning looks, she quickly rose to the top of the modeling industry. In 1957, she began acting in Off-Broadway productions... See full bio »

Born:

in New York City, New York, USA
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Nominated for Oscar. Another 28 wins & 24 nominations See more awards »

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Filmography

Hide HideActress (86 titles)
2013 The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia
Mama Kay
 
2012 Alex Cross
Nana Mama
 
2011 The Help
Constantine Jefferson
 
2010 Why Did I Get Married Too?
Ola
 
2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV series)
Ondine Burdett
– Hell (2009) … Ondine Burdett
 
2009 Relative Stranger (TV movie)
Pearl
 
2006 Idlewild
Mother Hopkins
 
2006 Fat Rose and Squeaky
Celine
 
2006 Madea's Family Reunion
Aunt Myrtle
 
2005 The Making of 'Diary' (video short)
 
2005 Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Myrtle
 
2005 Higglytown Heroes (TV series)
Great Aunt Shirley Hero
– Wayne's 100 Special Somethings (2005) … Great Aunt Shirley Hero (voice)
 
2005 Because of Winn-Dixie
Gloria
 
2002 The Proud Family (TV series)
Mrs. Maureen Parker
– Behind Family Lines (2002) … Mrs. Maureen Parker (voice)
 
2002 The Rosa Parks Story (TV movie)
Leona Edwards McCauley
 
2001 Jewel (TV movie)
Cathedral
 
2000 The Outer Limits (TV series)
Justice Gretchen Parkhurst
– Final Appeal (2000) … Justice Gretchen Parkhurst
 
2000 Touched by an Angel (TV series)
Abby
– Living the Rest of My Life (2000) … Abby
 
1999 Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (TV movie)
Emily Lincoln
 
1999 A Lesson Before Dying (TV movie)
Tante Lou
 
1998 Mama Flora's Family (TV movie)
Mama Flora
 
1998 Always Outnumbered (TV movie)
Luvia
 
1997 Ms. Scrooge (TV movie)
Ms. Ebenita Scrooge
 
1997 Hoodlum
Stephanie St. Clair
 
1997 The Price of Heaven (TV movie)
Vesta Lotte Battle
 
1997 Riot (TV movie)
Maggie (segment "Homecoming Day")
 
1997 Bridge of Time (TV movie)
Guardian
 
1996 The Road to Galveston (TV movie)
Jordan Roosevelt
 
1994-1995 Sweet Justice (TV series)
Carrie Grace Battle
– The Sensational Six (1995) … Carrie Grace Battle
– Muddy Waters (1995) … Carrie Grace Battle
– Pledges (1995) … Carrie Grace Battle
– Broken Ties (1995) … Carrie Grace Battle
– Just Say Yes (1995) … Carrie Grace Battle
See all 22 episodes »
 
1994 Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (TV movie)
Castralia, Marsden Family House Slave/Maid
 
1993 House of Secrets (TV movie)
Evangeline
 
1992 When No One Would Listen (TV movie)
Sarah
 
1992 Duplicates (TV movie)
Dr. Randolph
 
1991 Fried Green Tomatoes
Sipsey
 
1991 Clippers (TV short)
Donna
 
1990 Heat Wave (TV movie)
Ruthana Richardson
 
1990 B.L. Stryker (TV series)
Ruth Hastings
– Winner Takes All (1990) … Ruth Hastings
 
1990 The Kid Who Loved Christmas (TV movie)
Etta
 
1989 The Women of Brewster Place (TV movie)
Mrs. Browne
 
1986 Intimate Encounters (TV movie)
Dr. Claire Dalton
 
1986 Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story (TV movie)
Muriel
 
1986 Acceptable Risks (TV movie)
Janet Framm
 
1985 Playing with Fire (TV movie)
Carol Phillips
 
1982 Benny's Place (TV movie)
Odessa
 
1981 The Marva Collins Story (TV movie)
Marva Collins
 
1981 The Body Human: Becoming a Woman (TV short)
 
1981 Bustin' Loose
Vivian Perry
 
1979 The Concorde... Airport '79
Elaine
 
1978 A Woman Called Moses (TV movie)
Harriet Ross Tubman
 
1978 King (TV mini-series)
Coretta Scott King
– Episode #1.3 (1978) … Coretta Scott King
– Episode #1.2 (1978) … Coretta Scott King
– Episode #1.1 (1978) … Coretta Scott King
 
1978 A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich
Sweets
 
1977 Wilma (TV movie)
Blanche Rudolph
 
1977 Roots (TV mini-series)
Binta
– Episode #1.1 (1977) … Binta
– Episode #1.2 (1977) … Binta
 
1976 Just an Old Sweet Song (TV movie)
Priscilla Simmons
 
1976 The River Niger
Mattie Williams
 
1976 The Blue Bird
Tylette
 
1974 The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (TV movie)
Jane Pittman
 
1972 Sounder
Rebecca Morgan
 
1972 Wednesday Night Out (TV movie)
 
1972 Emergency! (TV series)
Mrs. Johnson
– Crash (1972) … Mrs. Johnson
 
1972 Norman Corwin Presents (TV series)
– Two Gods on Prime Time (1972)
 
1971 Neighbors (TV movie)
 
1971 Marriage: Year One (TV movie)
Emma Teasley
 
1971 Insight (TV series)
Edna
– Bird on the Mast (1971) … Edna
 
1970 Gunsmoke (TV series)
Rachel Biggs
– The Scavengers (1970) … Rachel Biggs
 
1970 Mission: Impossible (TV series)
Alma Ross
– Death Squad (1970) … Alma Ross
 
1970 The Bill Cosby Show (TV series)
Mildred Hermosa
– Blind Date (1970) … Mildred Hermosa
 
1970 Here Come the Brides (TV series)
Princess Lucenda
– A Bride for Obie Brown (1970) … Princess Lucenda
 
1969 The Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV series)
Betty Kelly
– Guess Who's Coming for Lunch (1969) … Betty Kelly
 
1968-1969 The F.B.I. (TV series)
Julie Harmon / Lainey Harber
– Silent Partners (1969) … Lainey Harber
– The Enemies (1968) … Julie Harmon
 
1969 Medical Center (TV series)
Susan Wiley
– The Last Ten Yards (1969) … Susan Wiley
 
1968 The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
Portia
 
1967 Judd for the Defense (TV series)
Lucille Evans
– Commitment (1967) … Lucille Evans
 
1967 Cowboy in Africa (TV series)
Julie Anderson
– Tomorrow on the Wind (1967) … Julie Anderson
 
1967 The Comedians
Marie Therese
 
1965-1966 I Spy (TV series)
Princess Amara / Vickie Harmon
– Trial by Treehouse (1966) … Vickie Harmon (as Cicley Tysson)
– So Long, Patrick Henry (1965) … Princess Amara
 
1966 Guiding Light (TV series)
Martha Frazier
– Episode dated 9 August 1966 (1966) … Martha Frazier
 
1966 A Man Called Adam
Claudia Ferguson
 
1965 Slattery's People (TV series)
Sarah Brookman
– Question: Who You Taking to the Main Event, Eddie? (1965) … Sarah Brookman
 
1963-1964 East Side/West Side (TV series)
Jane Foster
– Here Today (1964) … Jane Foster
– The Givers (1964) … Jane Foster
– Nothing But the Half Truth (1964) … Jane Foster
– The Name of the Game (1964) … Jane Foster
– Take Sides with the Sun (1964) … Jane Foster
See all 26 episodes »
 
1963 Naked City (TV series)
Darlene Knox
– Howard Running Bear Is a Turtle (1963) … Darlene Knox
 
1962 The Doctors and the Nurses (TV series)
Betty Ann Warner
– Frieda (1962) … Betty Ann Warner
 
1959 The Last Angry Man
Girl Left on Porch
 
1959 Odds Against Tomorrow
Jazz Club Bartender (uncredited)
 
1957 Carib Gold
 
1951 Frontiers of Faith (TV series)
Tony
– The Bitter Cup … Tony
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (1 title)
1979 Saturday Night Live (TV series)
– Cicely Tyson/Talking Heads (1979) (performer: "I Loves You Porgy" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
2002 Remembering 'Roots' (video documentary short) (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (86 titles)
2013 CBS News Sunday Morning (TV series)
Herself - Guest
– Episode dated 14 April 2013 (2013) … Herself - Guest
 
2012 Made in Hollywood (TV series)
Herself / Herself - Guest
– Episode #8.5 (2012) … Herself
– Episode dated 15 October 2012 (2012) … Herself - Guest
 
2012 Bebe Winans' America, America (TV movie)
Herself
 
2012 43rd NAACP Image Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2012 The BET Honors (TV movie)
Herself
 
2012 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2012 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2010 41st NAACP Image Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2009 The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
 
2009 The 40th NAACP Image Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2008 Entertainment Tonight (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 22 August 2008 (2008) … Herself
 
2007 The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
2007 The 5th Annual TV Land Awards (TV special)
Herself - Winner ("30th Anniversary")
 
2007 Rwanda Rising (documentary)
Voice of Jeanette Nyirabagarwa
 
2006 The 2006 Black Movie Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
2006 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2006 Legends Ball (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2005-2006 Tavis Smiley (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 23 February 2006 (2006) … Herself
– Episode dated 25 February 2005 (2005) … Herself
 
2005 The Black Movie Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2004 A Capitol Fourth (TV special)
Herself
 
2002 2002 Trumpet Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
2002 Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television (TV documentary)
Herself
 
2002 Remembering 'Roots' (video documentary short)
Herself - 'Binta Kinte'
 
2001 Today (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 25 December 2001 (2001) … Herself
 
2001 The Double Dutch Divas! (documentary short)
Herself (uncredited)
 
2000 Intimate Portrait (TV series documentary)
Narrator
– Harriet Tubman (2000) … Narrator
 
1999 The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1998 'Fried Green Tomatoes': The Moments of Discovery (video documentary)
Herself
 
1998 CBS: The First 50 Years (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1997 The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 7 April 1997 (1997) … Herself
 
1997 3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV special)
 
1996 Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony Magazine (TV special)
Herself
 
1996 The 18th Annual CableACE Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter
 
1995 The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series
 
1995 Flight to Freedom (documentary)
Host
 
1994 The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Winner: Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special
 
1994 A Century of Women (TV mini-series documentary) (voice)
 
1990-1994 The Arsenio Hall Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 29 April 1994 (1994) … Herself
– Episode dated 9 August 1990 (1990) … Herself
 
1993 The 1th Annual Minority Motion Picture Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Winner
 
1992 The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Lead Actress/Best Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
 
1991 The 12th Annual CableACE Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries
 
1989 Without Borders (TV documentary)
Herself - Host
 
1989 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Gregory Peck (TV special)
Herself (uncredited)
 
1988 The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (TV special)
Herself
 
1988 20th NAACP Image Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter
 
1987 We the People 200: The Constitutional Gala (TV movie)
Herself - Performer
 
1987 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter
 
1986 Liberty Weekend (TV special documentary)
Herself
 
1986 Ebony/Jet Showcase (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 7 February 1986 (1986) … Herself
 
1986 An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1985 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Gene Kelly (TV special documentary)
Herself (uncredited)
 
1985 Star Search (TV series)
Herself - Judge
– Episode #2.25 (1985) … Herself - Judge
 
1985 The 42nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Presenter
 
1985 The Annual Waldorf Gala Salute to Myrna Loy (TV movie)
Herself
 
1985 The 11th Annual People's Choice Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Presenter: Favourite Television Dramatic Program
 
1984 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Lillian Gish (TV special documentary)
Herself
 
1983 The 4th Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1982 The 34th Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special & Presenter: Best Limited Series
 
1982 The 8th Annual People's Choice Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Presenter: Favourite TV Drama
 
1982 Night of 100 Stars (TV special)
Herself
 
1980 The 34th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter
 
1979 The Television Annual: 1978/1979 (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1979 The 21st Annual TV Week Logie Awards (TV movie)
Herself
 
1979 Saturday Night Live (TV series)
Herself - Host / Various
– Cicely Tyson/Talking Heads (1979) … Herself - Host/Various
 
1979 The 36th Annual Golden Globes Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
 
1978 The 1st Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1978 The 30th Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series & Presenter: Best Writing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy - Adaptation
 
1978 The Stars Salute Israel at 30 (TV movie)
Herself
 
1978 The 50th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter: Best Director
 
1978 CBS: On the Air (TV mini-series documentary)
Co-host - part IV
 
1977 Donahue (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 8 December 1977 (1977) … Herself
 
1977 The 49th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter: Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
 
1977 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Bette Davis (TV special documentary)
Herself
 
1974 The 28th Annual Tony Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Co-Host
 
1974 The 46th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Presenter: Best Cinematography
 
1974 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to James Cagney (TV special documentary)
Herself
 
1974 Free to Be... You & Me (TV movie)
Herself
 
1974 The 26th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Winner: Best Lead Actress in a Drama/Actress of the Year in a Special
 
1973 The Helen Reddy Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.2 (1973) … Herself
 
1973 The 45th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role
 
1973 Flip (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #3.20 (1973) … Herself
 
1973 Black Omnibus (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.2 (1973) … Herself
 
1972 Soul! (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 13 December 1972 (1972) … Herself
 
1972 Soul Train (TV series documentary)
Guest
– The Temptations/King Floyd (1972) … Guest
 
1972 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 26 October 1972 (1972) … Herself
 
1967 Girl Talk (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 4 May 1967 (1967) … Herself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (1 title)
2004 TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (video documentary)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1969) Radio: Was the Thursday night host for CBS Radio's "Sears Mystery Theater". She was still Thursday's host when it became "The Mutual Radio Theater" on Mutual Radio in 1980. See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Article  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Cicley Tysson

Height:

5' 3½" (1.61 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[of 'trances' she seems to occupy to prepare for roles] I'm looking inside myself. Inside of me is where this character is coming from, and I was feeling a sense of who this woman can be...I am the character [ on set] until I go home. See more »

Trivia:

Co-founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem with Arthur Mitchell. See more »

Star Sign:

Sagittarius