Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson | |
|---|---|
 Tyson at The Heart Truth's Fashion Show in 2009 | |
| Born | December 19, 1933 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1957–present |
| Spouse | Miles Davis (1981-1988) |
Cicely Tyson (born December 19, 1933) is an American actress. A successful stage actress, Tyson is also known for her Oscar-nominated role in the film Sounder and the television movies The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Roots.
Personal life
Tyson was born and raised in Harlem, New York, the daughter of Theodosia, a domestic, and William Tyson, her father, who worked as a carpenter, a painter, or any other jobs he could find. Her parents were immigrants from the island of Nevis of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies;[1][2][3] Her father arrived in New York City at the age of 21 and was processed at Ellis Island on August 4, 1919.[4] Tyson married legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis on November 26, 1981. The ceremony was conducted by Atlanta mayor Andrew Young at the home of actor Bill Cosby. Tyson and Davis divorced in 1988. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. On May 17, 2009, Tyson received an honorary degree from Morehouse College, an all-male college.
In 2010, she was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP.[5]
Career
Tyson was discovered or found by a photographer for Ebony magazine and became a popular fashion model. Her first credited film role was in Carib Gold in 1956, but she went on to do television such as the celebrated series East Side/West Side and the soap opera The Guiding Light. In 1961, Tyson appeared in the original cast of French playwright Jean Genet's The Blacks, the longest running off-Broadway non-musical of the decade, running for 1,408 performances. The original cast also featured James Earl Jones, Roscoe Lee Browne, Louis Gossett, Jr., Godfrey Cambridge, Maya Angelou and Charles Gordone. She appeared with Sammy Davis, Jr. in the film A Man Called Adam (1966) and starred in the film version of Graham Greene's The Comedians (1967). Tyson had a featured role in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968) and was in a segment of the movie Roots.
In 1972, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the critically acclaimed Sounder. In 1974, she won two Emmy Awards for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Other acclaimed television roles included Roots, King, in which she portrayed Coretta Scott King, The Marva Collins Story, When No One Would Listen and Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All for which she received her third Emmy Award. On February 10, 1979 she hosted episode 11 of the fourth season of Saturday Night Live. In the opening monologue, Garret Morris came out dressed in female clothes doing an impression of Cicely, until the real Cicely joined him onstage pretending to be angry at the impression and at the way Morris was demeaning all black actors with such "base" comedy.
In 1982, she was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.[6]
In her 1994-1995 television series Sweet Justice, Tyson portrayed a feisty, unorthodox Southern attorney named Carrie Grace Battle, a character she shaped by consulting with and shadowing the legendary Washington, D.C. civil rights and criminal defense lawyer Dovey Johnson Roundtree.
In 2005, Tyson co-starred in the movies Because of Winn-Dixie and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. The same year she was honored by Oprah Winfrey at her Legends Ball.
The Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts, a magnet school in East Orange, New Jersey, was renamed in her honor. She plays an active part in supporting the school, which serves one of New Jersey's most underprivileged African-American communities. In 2010 Ms. Tyson narrated the "Paul Robeson Award"-winning documentary Up from the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream. In 2010 she appeared in the Tyler Perry movie Why Did I Get Married Too. In 2011, Tyson appeared in her first music video in Willow Smith's 21st Century Girl.
Credits
Film
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Frontiers of Faith | Tony | Episode: "The Bitter Cup" |
| 1962 | The Nurses | Betty Ann Warner | Episode: "Frieda" |
| 1963 | Naked City | Episode: "Howard Running Bear Is a Turtle" | |
| 1963–64 | East Side/West Side | (26 episodes) | |
| 1965 | Slattery's People | Sarah Brookman | Episode: "Question: Who You Taking to the Main Event, Eddie?" |
| 1965–66 | I Spy | Princess Amara Vickie Harmon |
Episode: "So Long, Patrick Henry" Episode: "Trial by Treehouse" |
| 1966 | Guiding Light | Martha Frazier | |
| 1967 | Cowboy in Africa | Julie Anderson | Episode: "Tomorrow on the Wind" |
| 1967 | Judd for the Defense | Lucille Evans | Episode: "Commitment" |
| 1968–69 | The F.B.I. | Julie Harmon Lainey Harber |
Episode: "The Enemies" Episode: "Silent Partners" |
| 1969 | Medical Center | Susan Wiley | Episode: "The Last 10 Yards" |
| 1969 | The Courtship of Eddie's Father | Betty Kelly | Episode: "Guess Who's Coming for Lunch" |
| 1970 | Gunsmoke | Rachel Biggs | Episode: "The Scavengers" |
| 1970 | Mission: Impossible | Alma Ross | Episode: "Death Squad" |
| 1970 | The Bill Cosby Show | Mildred Hermosa | Episode: "Blind Date" |
| 1970 | Here Come the Brides | Princess Lucenda | Episode: "A Bride for Obie Brown" |
| 1971 | Insight | Episode: "The Bird of the Mast" | |
| 1971 | Marriage: Year One | Emma Teasley | (unsold pilot) |
| 1971 | Neighbors | ||
| 1972 | Emergency! | Mrs. Johnson | Episode: "Crash" |
| 1972 | Wednesday Night Out | ||
| 1974 | The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman | Jane Pittman | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Emmy Award for Actress of the Year - Special Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role |
| 1974 | Free to Be… You and Me | Herself | |
| 1976 | Just an Old Sweet Song | Priscilla Simmons | |
| 1977 | Roots | Binta | Miniseries Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1977 | Wilma | Blanche Rudolph | |
| 1978 | King | Coretta Scott King | Miniseries Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1978 | A Woman Called Moses | Harriet Ross Tubman | |
| 1981 | The Marva Collins Story | Marva Collins | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1982 | Benny's Place | Odessa | |
| 1985 | Playing with Fire | Carol Phillips | |
| 1986 | Intimate Encounters | Dr. Claire Dalton | |
| 1986 | Acceptable Risks | Janet Framm | |
| 1986 | Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story | Muriel | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place | Mrs. Browne | |
| 1990 | The Kid Who Loved Christmas | Etta | |
| 1990 | B.L. Stryker | Ruth Hastings | Episode: "Winner Takes All" |
| 1990 | Heat Wave | Ruthana Richardson | CableACE Award for Actress in a Movie or Miniseries |
| 1991 | Clippers | Donna | Unsold pilot |
| 1991 | Fried Green Tomatoes | Sipsey | |
| 1992 | Duplicates | Dr. Randolph | |
| 1992 | When No One Would Listen | Sarah | |
| 1993 | House of Secrets | Evangeline | |
| 1994 | Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All | Castralia, Marsden Family House Slave/Maid | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie |
| 1994–95 | Sweet Justice | Carrie Grace Battle | Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Drama Series Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series |
| 1996 | The Road to Galveston | Jordan Roosevelt | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Lone Star Film & Television Award for Best TV Actress Nominated — CableACE Award for Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie |
| 1997 | Bridge of Time | Guardian | |
| 1997 | Riot | Maggie | Segment: "Homecoming Day" Nominated — CableACE Award for Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries |
| 1997 | Ms. Scrooge | Ms. Ebenita Scrooge | |
| 1997 | The Price Of Heaven (Blessed Assurance) | Vesta Lotte Battle | |
| 1998 | Always Outnumbered | Luvia | |
| 1998 | Mama Flora's Family | Mama Flora | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
| 1999 | A Lesson Before Dying | Tante Lou | Black Reel Award for Network/Cable - Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
| 1999 | Aftershock: Earthquake in New York | Emily Lincoln | |
| 2000 | Touched by an Angel | Abby | Episode: "Living the Rest of My Life" |
| 2000 | The Outer Limits | Justice Gretchen Parkhurst | Episode: "Final Appeal" |
| 2001 | Jewel | Cathedral | |
| 2002 | The Rosa Parks Story | Leona Edwards McCauley | Black Reel Award for Network/Cable - Best Supporting Actress |
| 2005 | Higglytown Heroes | Great Aunt Shirley Hero | Episode: "Wayne's 100 Special Somethings" |
| 2009 | Relative Stranger | Pearl | Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 2009 | Law and Order: SVU | Ondine Burdett | Episode "Hell" |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Dark of the Moon[7] | Little Theatre | |
| 1959 | Jolly's Progress[8] | Jolly (understudy) | Longacre Theatre |
| 1960 | The Cool World[9] | Girl | Eugene O'Neill Theatre |
| 1961 | The Blacks: A Clown Show[7][10] | Stephanie Virtue Diop | St. Mark's Playhouse |
| 1962 | Moon on a Rainbow Shawl[7] | East 11th Street Theater | |
| 1962 | Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright[11] | Celeste Chipley Adelaide Smith (understudy) |
Booth Theatre |
| 1963 | The Blue Boy in Black[7][12] | Joan | Masque Theatre |
| 1963 | Trumpets of the Lord[7][13] | Rev. Marion Alexander | Astor Place Theatre |
| 1966 | A Hand Is on the Gate[14] | Performer | Longacre Theatre |
| 1968 | Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights[7][15] | Myrna Jessup | John Golden Theatre |
| 1969 | To Be Young, Gifted and Black[7][16] | Various | Cherry Lane Theatre |
| 1969 | Trumpets of the Lord[17] | Rev. Marion Alexander | Brooks Atkinson Theatre |
| 1983 | The Corn Is Green[18][19] | Miss Moffat | Lunt-Fontaine Theatre |
References
- ^ Cicely Tyson Biography (1892-)
- ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67858566.html
- ^ Klemesrud, Judy (1972-10-01). "Cicely, the Looker From 'Sounder'; Cicely, the Looker". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
- ^ The Staue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.
- ^ NAACP Spingarn Medal
- ^ http://wif.org/past-recipients
- ^ a b c d e f g Harrison, Paul Carter; Andrews, Bert (1989). In the Shadow of the Great White Way: Images from the Black Theatre (First ed.). New York, New York: Thunder's Mouth Press.
- ^ "Jolly's Progress". New York, New York: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "The Cood World". New York, New York: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "The Blacks: A Clown Show". New York, New York: Lortel Archives: The Internet off-Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright". United States: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "The Blue Boy in Black". New York, New York: Lortel Archives: The Internet off-Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "Trumpets of the Lord". New York, New York: Lortel Archives: The Internet off-Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "A Hand Is on the Gate". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "To Be Young, Gifted and Black". New York, New York: Lortel Archives: The Internet off-Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "Trumpets of the Lord". New York, New York: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "The Corn Is Green". New York, New York: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "The Corn Is Green". New York, New York: Internet Theatre Database. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
External links
- Cicely Tyson at the Internet Broadway Database
- Please use a more specific IOBDB template. See the template documentation for available templates.
- Cicely Tyson at IMDb
- Cicely Tyson at the TCM Movie Database
- Template:Ymovies name
- 1933 births
- Actors from New York City
- African-American actors
- American film actors
- American stage actors
- American television actors
- American people of Saint Kitts and Nevis descent
- Emmy Award winners
- Living people
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
- People from Harlem, New York
- Spingarn Medal winners