Cicely Tyson Biography
The Harlem-born actress and former fashion model, Cicely Tyson, was best known for her portrayal of strong African-American women. She had also appeared in various theater productions. She was named a Kennedy Center honoree in 2015. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States in November 2016.
Cicely Tyson Education
She attended Charles Evans Hughes High School in Manhattan. Tyson later studied drama at New York University, Actors Studio along with Vinnette Carroll and Lloyd Richards.
Cicely Tyson Age at Death
Tyson was 96 years and 1 month old as of 2020, she was born on December 19, 1924, in Harlem, New York City, New York, United States. She died on 28 January 2021. Her death was announced by her longtime manager, Larry Thompson.
Cicely Tyson Cause of Death
Tyson’s cause of death has not been specified yet. Her career spanned over 6 decades. She was a dignified, elegant presence on stage and screen.
Cicely Tyson Family
Tyson was born in Harlem in 1924 to Nevis, West Indies Immigrants. Her mother was a domestic worker and her father worked as a carpenter and painter. Her father also worked at any other job he could find.
Tyson’s family were forced to rely on welfare to survive and more often than not, they ate corn-meal mush for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Her mother sought to protect her three children from the harshness of their environment by keeping them in the church as much as she could.
Her mother also forbad them from associating with the neighborhood children. At a young age, Cicely loved to wander the city and explore its many possibilities. Tyson frequently hopped onto a bus or subway train and she rode to the end of the line, just to discover what was there.
Cicely Tyson Parents
Tyson was born to Frederica Tyson, a domestic worker, and William Augustine Tyson, who worked as a carpenter, painter. Cicely’s parents were immigrants from Nevis in the West Indies.
Cicely Tyson Siblings
Cicely had two siblings, a brother Issac Tyson and a sister Sandra Tyson.
Cicely Tyson Husband
Tyson married jazz trumpeter Miles Davis on November 26, 1981, in a ceremony conducted by Atlanta mayor Andrew Young at the home of actor Bill Cosby. The couple first dated in the 1960s and Davis used a photo of Tyson for his 1967 album, Sorcerer. Tyson and Davis rekindled their relationship in 1978.
Davis and Tyson’s marriage was tumultuous due to Davis’ volatile temper and infidelity. Davis even credited Tyson with saving his life and helping him overcome his cocaine addiction. The couple resided in Malibu, California until Tyson filed for divorce in 1988.
Their divorce was finalized in 1989. Davis died on 28 September 1991 after several days on life support. His death was attributed to the combined effects of a stroke, pneumonia, and respiratory failure.
Cicely Tyson Children, Daughter
Despite being married before, Tyson has no biological children nor adopted ones. Tyson has no daughter.
Cicely Tyson Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Cicely Tyson.
Cicely Tyson Wiki
- Full Names: Cicely L. Tyson
- Gender: Female
- Profession: Actress
- Nationality: American
- Race/ Ethnicity: Black
- Religion: Not Known
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Cicely Tyson Birthday
- Age: 96 years (2020)
- Date of Birth: December 19, 1924
- Place of Birth: Harlem, New York City, New York, United States
- Birthday: December 19
- Nationality: American
Cicely Tyson Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: To be Updated
- Height: 5 feet 3 inches (1.6m)
- Weight: Moderate
- Bra Cup: To be Updated
- Body Shape: To be Updated
- Hair Colour: To be Updated
Cicely Tyson Family and Relationship
- Father’s Name: William Augustine Tyson
- Mother’s Name: Frederica Tyson
- Siblings: Issac Tyson, Sandra Tyson
- Spouse: Kenneth Franklin (m. 1942) divorce date unknown, Miles Davis (m. 1981; div. 1989)
- Children: None
Cicely Tyson Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth: $10 million (2020) dollars (approx. 2020)
- Salary: To be updated
- Source of Income: Media
Tyson’s House and Cars
- Place of living: US
- Cars: Car Brand to be Updated
Cicely Tyson Actress, Movies and TV Shows, Awards
Tyson was first identified by a photographer for Ebony magazine and eventually became a successful fashion model. She made her acting debut with a role given on the NBC series ‘Frontiers of Faith’ in 1951. In 1950, she had played her first stage role and also her debut role in the film ‘Carib Gold’ in 1956.
Cicely moved on to do more television work, such as the renowned series East Side/West Side, in which she was the first African American to be a cast member in a television drama and the soap opera ‘The Guiding Light.’
In 1961, Cicely then featured as one of the original cast of Jean Genet’s ‘The Black.’ It was the longest-produced off-Broadway non-musical of the decade, produced for 1,408 performances. On March 25, 1963, Tyson featured on the game show, ‘To Tell The Truth’ as a decoy contestant for Shirley Abicair.
She appeared beside Sammy Davis Jr. in the 1966 film ‘A Man Called Adam’ and featured in the film translation of Graham Greene’s The Comedians (1967). Tyson also had a featured role in the 1968 ‘The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter,’ and then proceeded to appear in a segment of Roots.
In 1972, Tyson was given the role of Rebecca Morgan in the critically acclaimed film ‘Sounder’. She was eventually nominated for both the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her work in ‘Sounder,’ and also scooped the NSFC Best Actress and NBR Best Actress Awards.
She also got the title role of the 1974 television film ‘The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman’. Tyson’s depiction of a young African-American slave won her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie and also an Emmy Award for Actress of the Year – Special.
Tyson was further nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in the television film ‘The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.’
Tyson’s acclaimed TV roles include; Binta in the 1977 miniseries Roots, for which she got nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie; Coretta Scott King in the 1978 miniseries King, for which she was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie.
She starred as Marva Collins in the television film The Marva Collins Story (1981), for which she won an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.
Tyson was additionally nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie. She appeared as Muriel in the 1986 television film Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story, for which she was awarded an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.
Tyson appeared in Why Did I Get Married Too? in 2010 and narrated the Paul Robeson Award-winning documentary, ‘Up from the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream.’ In 2011, she also featured in her first music video in Willow Smith’s 21st Century Girl. In the same year, Tyson played Constantine Jefferson, a maid in Jackson, Mississippi, in the critically acclaimed period drama ‘The Help.’
Tyson got a supporting role in the horror film ‘The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia’ in 2013. Since 2014, Tyson has been guest-starring in ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ as Ophelia Harkness, the mother of the main character Annalise Keating (Viola Davis); for playing this role, Cicely was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for the category of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Cicely Tyson Salary
Through her work as an actress and model, there is no doubt Cicely Tyson earns a good salary. However, her exact salary has not yet been revealed but the information will be updated as soon as it is available.
Cicely Tyson Net Worth
Cicely Tyson has an estimated net worth of $10 million.This includes her assets, money and income. Her primary source of income is her career as an actress. Through her various sources of income, Tyson has been able to accumulate a good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Cicely Tyson Kimberly Elise
Some sources have previously reported that actress Kimberly Elise who played Tyson’s daughter in `Diary of a Mad Black Woman’ indeed her child but it is not true. The connection between Tyson and Elise is only from the movie.
Cicely Tyson Roots
Cicely Tyson featured in the Roots an American television miniseries where she played the role of Binta. For her role in the film, Tyson was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie.
Cicely Tyson The Help
The Help is a 2011 American period drama film, where Cicely Tyson featured in playing the role of Constantine Bates. The film and novel recount the story of a young white woman and aspiring journalist Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan.
Cicely Tyson Hat
On August 31, 2018, Tyson drew so much attention during her friend Aretha Franklin’s funeral due to the amazing big-black hat she wore. Tyson spoke passionately at Aretha’s funeral with her hat that turned heads and songs that stirred hearts. Tyson was largely praised.
Cicely Tyson Awards
Emmy Awards
1974
- Best Lead Actress in a Drama – The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
Actress of the Year – Special – The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman
1994
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special – Oldest Confederate Living Confederate Widow Tells All
Tony Award
- 2013 Best Actress in a Play The Trip to Bountiful
Academy Award
- 2018 Academy Honorary Award
Cicely Tyson Oscar
- Academy Award for Best Actress: Sounder 1973.
Cicely Tyson Movies
Some of Tyson’s films include:
- The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
(Drama) - Sounder (1972)
(Drama, Family) - The Help (2011)
(Drama) - Odds Against Tomorrow (1959)
(Crime, Drama, Thriller) - Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
(Drama) - The Last Angry Man (1959)
(Drama) - A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ But a Sandwich (1978)
(Drama) - The Comedians (1967)
(Drama)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cicely Tyson
Who is Cicely Tyson?
Tyson is one of America’s best-known and loved actresses and former fashion model. In a career spanning almost ten decades, she became known for her depiction of strong African-American women.
How old is Cicely Tyson?
Tyson is 95 years old as of 2019. She was born on December 19, 1924.
How tall is Cicely Tyson?
Tyson stands at a height of 5 feet 3 inches.
Is Cicely Tyson married?
Tyson was married to Miles Davis until their divorce in 1989.
How much is Cicely Tyson worth?
Cicely Tyson has an estimated net worth of $10 million.This includes her assets, money and income.
How much does Cicely Tyson make?
Tyson’s annual salary has not yet been revealed.
Where does Cicely Tyson live?
Tyson lives in California. Because of security reasons, she has not shared her precise location of residence. We will immediately update this information if we get the location and images of her house.
Is Cicely Tyson dead or alive?
Tyson is still alive and in good health, she is 95 years old as of 2019. There have been no reports of her being sick or having any health-related issues.
Where is Cicely Tyson now?
Tyson is still appearing in movies and TV shows, working on the 2015-2020 legal drama series, How to Get Away with Murder.
Is Cicely Tyson Kimberly Elise Mother?
No, she is not her mother. Tyson does not have any child.
Cicely Tyson’s Social Media Contacts
- YouTube
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