Biography for
Cicely Tyson More at IMDbPro »

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Cicely Tyson was raised in Harlem, New York 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. She had small roles in feature films before she was cast as Portia in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968) in 1968. Four years later, Cicely was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her sensational performance in the critically acclaimed film Sounder (1972). In 1974, she went on to portray a 110-year-old former slave in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974) (TV), which earned her two Emmys. While Cicely has not appeared steadily onscreen because of her loyality to only portray strong, positive images of Black women, she is without a doubt one of the most talented, beautiful actresses to have ever graced the stage and screen.

Spouse

Trivia

Worked as a secretary and model while establishing herself as an actress

Will only portray strong images of women

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

She was married to Miles Davis by Andrew Young in the home of Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby was the best man, and gave away the bride.

Now residing in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

She was the Thursday night host for CBS Radio's "Sears Mystery Theater" (1979). She was still Thursday's host when it became "The Mutual Radio Theater" on Mutual Radio (1980).

Aunt of Cathy Tyson.

Honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Is the first African American Actress to win an Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Movie for her performance in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman".

In 1972 she and singer-actress Diana Ross were both nominated for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" Oscars for their performances in Lady Sings the Blues (1972) and Sounder (1972) respectively. This was only the second time in the history of the Academy Awards that African American actresses were nominated in the "Best Actress" Oscar category. The first was Dorothy Dandridge's nomination for Carmen Jones (1954).

The Cicely Tyson High School of Performing and Fine arts was named in her honor is located in East Orange, New Jersey.

Tyson won a judgment entitling her to full payment ($750,000) for her appearance in the short-lived 1983 Broadway play "A Corn Is Green," An Appeals Court upheld an earlier ruling handed down in 1996 in favor of Tyson. Tyson was under contract to producer 'Elizabeth Taylor' (I) 's to act in stage and screen versions of the classic play. After critics panned the play, Tyson was fired for taking a night off to attend a tribute to her then-husband, the late jazz musician Miles Davis. The play closed after less than two weeks. Tyson maintained she should be paid as negotiated in her contract, even though the show closed early and a planned TV video of the production was never made.

Is one of only 7 African-American actresses to receive the Best Actress Oscar nomination. The others in chronological order are: Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross, Diahann Carroll, Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett and Halle Berry.

Personal Quotes

"Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They're what make the instrument stretch-what make you go beyond the norm." "The choices of roles I made had to do with educating and entertaining. And as a result I found myself working only every two or three years." - on her commitment to choose only positive images

"One lady told me that before she saw 'Sounder', she didn't believe black people could love each other, have deep relationships in the same way as white people."

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