Actress
Cicely Tyson
- Born: 19 December 1924, New York City, New York, USA
- Estimated net worth: $10 million
Cicely Tyson was an acclaimed American actress known for her portrayals of strong African American women. She gained recognition for her roles in films like 'Sounder' and 'The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman'. Tyson's career spanned over seven decades…
Cicely Tyson: best films and shows
About Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson was an acclaimed American actress known for her portrayals of strong African American women. She gained recognition for her roles in films like 'Sounder' and 'The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman'. Tyson's career spanned over seven decades, earning her numerous accolades and a reputation for her powerful performances and distinctive voice.
- Born
- 19 December 1924, New York City, New York, USA
- Died
- 28 January 2021
- Known for
- Acting
- Height
- 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
- Spouses
- Miles Davis (1981-1989)
- Children
- 1 (Joan Tyson)
- Parents
- Bailey Tyson, Thelma Tyson
- Estimated net worth
- $10 million
Fun facts about Cicely Tyson
- Cicely Tyson was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2018 for her lifetime achievement in film.
- Tyson was the first African American actress to win an Emmy Award for her role in 'The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman'.
Famous Cicely Tyson quotes
“Don't be afraid to be the person you were born to be.”
“I am not a woman who goes for the easy role.”
“I believe in the power of the human spirit.”
Cicely Tyson filmography
Cast (114)
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | How It Feels to Be Free Movie | Self (archival footage) | |
| 2020 | Cherish the Day TV | Miss Luma Lee Langston | 7.4 |
| 2020 | A Fall from Grace Movie | Alice | 7.0 |
| 2019 | The Tamron Hall Show TV | Self - Guest | 4.7 |
| 2019 | The Other Boys of Summer Movie | Narrator | |
| 2017 | Last Flag Flying Movie | Mrs. Hightower | 6.7 |
| 2017 | Steve TV | Self | 6.0 |
| 2016 | Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise Movie | Self | 8.0 |
| 2016 | Showing Roots Movie | Hattie | 5.6 |
| 2014 | How to Get Away with Murder TV | Ophelia Harkness | 7.8 |
Show 104 more creditsShow fewer
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Madam Secretary TV | Flo Avery | 7.0 |
| 2014 | The Trip to Bountiful Movie | Mrs. Watts | 6.2 |
| 2013 | House of Cards TV | Doris Jones | 8.0 |
| 2013 | The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia Movie | Mama Kay | 5.8 |
| 2012 | Alex Cross Movie | Nana Mama | 5.1 |
| 2011 | The Help Movie | Constantine Jefferson | 8.2 |
| 2010 | Why Did I Get Married Too? Movie | Ola | 6.6 |
| 2009 | Relative Stranger Movie | Pearl | 4.4 |
| 2006 | Idlewild Movie | Mother Hopkins | 5.7 |
| 2006 | Fat Rose and Squeaky Movie | Celine | 6.0 |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion Movie | Myrtle | 6.3 |
| 2005 | The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer TV | Unknown character | 3.8 |
| 2005 | Diary of a Mad Black Woman Movie | Myrtle | 6.5 |
| 2005 | Because of Winn-Dixie Movie | Gloria Dump | 6.5 |
| 2002 | The Rosa Parks Story Movie | Leona Edwards McCauley | 7.1 |
| 2002 | Remembering Roots Movie | Self | |
| 2001 | The Proud Family TV | Mrs. Maureen Parker (voice) | 7.7 |
| 2001 | Jewel Movie | Cathedral | 5.6 |
| 1999 | Aftershock: Earthquake in New York TV | Emily Lincoln | 7.0 |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit TV | Ondine Burdett | 8.0 |
| 1999 | A Lesson Before Dying Movie | Tante Lou | 5.0 |
| 1998 | Moments of Discovery: The Making of Fried Green Tomatoes Movie | Self | 9.0 |
| 1998 | Mama Flora's Family TV | Mama Flora | 7.6 |
| 1998 | Always Outnumbered Movie | Luvia | 6.4 |
| 1997 | Ms. Scrooge Movie | Ms. Ebenita Scrooge | 5.8 |
| 1997 | Hoodlum Movie | Stephanie St. Clair | 6.5 |
| 1997 | Blessed Assurance Movie | Vesta Lotte Battle | 7.0 |
| 1997 | Riot Movie | Maggie | 5.4 |
| 1997 | Bridge of Time Movie | Guardian | 6.5 |
| 1996 | The Road to Galveston Movie | Jordan Roosevelt | 4.5 |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits TV | Justice Gretchen Parkhurst | 7.7 |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel TV | Abigail Peabody-Jackson | 7.2 |
| 1994 | Sweet Justice TV | Unknown character | 6.0 |
| 1994 | Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All TV | Castalia | 6.8 |
| 1994 | Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All Movie | Castralia | 4.5 |
| 1993 | House of Secrets Movie | Evangeline | 3.8 |
| 1992 | When No One Would Listen Movie | Sarah | 7.5 |
| 1992 | Duplicates Movie | Dr. Randolph | 6.3 |
| 1991 | Fried Green Tomatoes Movie | Sipsey | 7.7 |
| 1990 | The Kid Who Loved Christmas Movie | Etta Mercer | 6.6 |
| 1990 | Heat Wave Movie | Ruthana Richardson | 6.8 |
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place TV | Mrs. Browne | 6.0 |
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place Movie | Unknown character | 6.9 |
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place Movie | Mrs. Browne | 6.9 |
| 1989 | B.L. Stryker TV | Unknown character | 6.1 |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark TV | Self - Guest | 5.6 |
| 1986 | Intimate Encounters Movie | Dr. Claire Dalton | 3.8 |
| 1986 | Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story Movie | Muriel | 8.0 |
| 1986 | Acceptable Risks Movie | Janet Framm | 4.5 |
| 1986 | An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Movie | Unknown character | |
| 1985 | Playing with Fire Movie | Carol Phillips | 6.0 |
| 1982 | Benny's Place Movie | Odessa | 10.0 |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars Movie | Self | 5.8 |
| 1981 | The Marva Collins Story Movie | Marva Collins | 7.4 |
| 1981 | Bustin' Loose Movie | Vivian Perry | 6.2 |
| 1979 | The Concorde... Airport '79 Movie | Elaine | 4.7 |
| 1978 | A Woman Called Moses TV | Harriet Ross Tubman | 7.0 |
| 1978 | King TV | Coretta Scott King | 6.6 |
| 1977 | Wilma Movie | Blanche Rudolph | 6.6 |
| 1977 | A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich Movie | Sweets | 5.9 |
| 1977 | Roots TV | Binta | 7.4 |
| 1976 | Just an Old Sweet Song Movie | Priscilla Simmons | 7.0 |
| 1976 | Everybody Rides the Carousel Movie | Self - Introducer | 6.4 |
| 1976 | The Blue Bird Movie | Tylette | 5.5 |
| 1976 | The River Niger Movie | Mattie Williams | 6.7 |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live TV | Self - Host | 6.9 |
| 1975 | People's Choice Awards TV | Self - Presenter | 8.3 |
| 1974 | Dinah! TV | Self | 7.0 |
| 1974 | The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Movie | Jane Pittman | 6.6 |
| 1974 | Free to Be… You and Me Movie | Self | 6.8 |
| 1973 | The American Film Institute Salute to ... TV | Self | 6.3 |
| 1972 | Sounder Movie | Rebecca Morgan | 7.5 |
| 1972 | Emergency! TV | Mrs. Johnson | 8.0 |
| 1971 | Neighbors Movie | Vicky Gunther | 7.0 |
| 1971 | Film '72 TV | Self | 5.1 |
| 1971 | Marriage: Year One Movie | Emma Teasley | 6.0 |
| 1970 | The Flip Wilson Show TV | Self | 5.1 |
| 1969 | The Courtship of Eddie's Father TV | Betty Kelly | 6.2 |
| 1969 | The Bill Cosby Show TV | Mildred Hermosa | 5.5 |
| 1969 | To Be Young, Gifted and Black: The World of Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words Movie | Unknown character | |
| 1968 | The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Movie | Portia Copeland | 7.5 |
| 1967 | The Comedians Movie | Marie Therese | 6.1 |
| 1967 | Cowboy in Africa TV | Julie Anderson | 6.0 |
| 1967 | Judd, for the Defense TV | Unknown character | 7.7 |
| 1966 | Mission: Impossible TV | Alma Ross | 7.6 |
| 1966 | A Man Called Adam Movie | Claudia Ferguson | 6.5 |
| 1965 | The F.B.I. TV | Julie Harmon | 5.6 |
| 1965 | The F.B.I. TV | Lainey Harber | 5.6 |
| 1963 | East Side/West Side TV | Unknown character | 7.8 |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson TV | Self | 7.6 |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show TV | Self | 5.8 |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show TV | Self - Co-Host | 5.8 |
| 1960 | A Morning For Jimmy Movie | Sister | |
| 1959 | The Last Angry Man Movie | Girl Left on Porch (uncredited) | 6.9 |
| 1959 | Odds Against Tomorrow Movie | Jazz Club Bartender (uncredited) | 6.9 |
| 1958 | Naked City TV | Darlene Knox | 5.7 |
| 1956 | Carib Gold Movie | Dottie | 5.5 |
| 1956 | Tony Awards TV | Self - Host | |
| 1956 | Tony Awards TV | Self - Co-Host | |
| 1956 | Tony Awards TV | Self - Presenter | |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke TV | Rachel Biggs | 6.7 |
| 1953 | The Oscars TV | Self | 7.1 |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fame TV | Marva Collins | 8.8 |
| 1944 | Golden Globe Awards TV | Self - Presenter | 7.0 |
Latest releases
- How It Feels to Be Free2021
- A Fall from Grace2020 / TMDB 7.0
- The Other Boys of Summer2019
- Last Flag Flying2017 / TMDB 6.7
- Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise2016 / TMDB 8.0
- Showing Roots2016 / TMDB 5.6
Questions about Cicely Tyson
What are some of Cicely Tyson's most famous films?
Cicely Tyson is known for her roles in 'Sounder', 'The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman', and 'The Help'. These films highlight her talent in portraying complex characters.
Did Cicely Tyson win any major awards?
Yes, Tyson won several prestigious awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. She was also honored with an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
When did Cicely Tyson start her acting career?
Cicely Tyson began her acting career in the 1950s, making her film debut in 'Carib Gold' in 1956. She quickly gained recognition for her powerful performances.
How many children does Cicely Tyson have?
Cicely Tyson has one daughter named Joan Tyson. She has been private about her family life throughout her career.
What is Cicely Tyson's estimated net worth?
Cicely Tyson's estimated net worth is around $10 million. Her successful acting career and various accolades contributed to her financial stature.
What was Cicely Tyson's role in 'Finding Joy'?
In 'Finding Joy', Cicely Tyson plays a significant role that showcases her enduring talent. The film highlights themes of love and family.
What impact did Cicely Tyson have on the film industry?
Cicely Tyson was a trailblazer for African American actresses, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. Her performances challenged stereotypes and promoted diversity.
Was Cicely Tyson involved in any activism?
Yes, Cicely Tyson was actively involved in civil rights activism. She used her platform to advocate for African American rights and representation in the arts.