Early life

Tyson was born and raised in Harlem, the daughter of Frederica, a domestic, and William Tyson, who worked as a carpenter, painter, and at any other jobs he could find. Her parents were immigrants from Nevis in the West Indies. Her father arrived in New York City at age 21 and was processed at Ellis Island on August 4, 1919.

Career

Tyson was discovered by a photographer for Ebony magazine and became a popular fashion model. Her first acting role was on the NBC series Frontiers of Faith in 1951. Her first film role was in Carib Gold in 1956, but she went on to do more television work, 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. 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 appeared in a segment of 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 The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, for which she received her third Emmy Award. 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.

In 1991 she appeared in Fried Green Tomatoes as Sipsey. In her 1994-95 television series Sweet Justice, Tyson portrayed a civil rights activist and attorney named Carrie Grace Battle, a character she shaped by reportedly consulting with noted Washington, D.C. civil rights and criminal defense lawyer Dovey Johnson Roundtree. In 2005, Tyson co-starred in Because of Winn-Dixie and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. The same year she was honored at Oprah Winfrey's 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, she narrated the "Paul Robeson Award"-winning documentary, Up from the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream. In 2010, she appeared in Why Did I Get Married Too? In 2011, Tyson appeared in her first music video in Willow Smith's 21st Century Girl. That same year she played Constantine Jefferson in The Help.

At the 67th Tony Awards on June 9, 2013, Tyson won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance as Miss Carrie Watts in The Trip to Bountiful. She also won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for the role.

Personal life

Tyson has been married once, to 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, she received an honorary degree from Morehouse College, an all-male college. In 2010, she was awarded the NAACP's Spingarn Medal for her acting, modeling, and support of civil rights.

On May 21, 2014, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Columbia University. On May 7, 2016, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Howard University alongside President Barack Obama.

Credits

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1956	Carib Gold	Dottie
1958	Odds Against Tomorrow	Jazz Club bartender
1959	Last Angry Man, TheThe Last Angry Man	Girl Left on Porch	(uncredited)
1966	Man Called Adam, AA Man Called Adam	Claudia Ferguson
1967	Comedians, TheThe Comedians	Marie Therese
1968	Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, TheThe Heart Is a Lonely Hunter	Portia
1972	Sounder	Rebecca Morgan	Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress National Board of Review Award for Best Actress National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
1976	Blue Bird, TheThe Blue Bird	Tylette, The Cat
1976	River Niger, TheThe River Niger	Mattie Williams
1978	Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich, AA Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich	Sweets
1979	Concorde ... Airport '79, TheThe Concorde ... Airport '79	Elaine
1981	Bustin' Loose	Vivian Perry
1991	Fried Green Tomatoes	Sipsey
1992	Duplicates	Dr. Randolph
1997	Hoodlum	Stephanie St. Clair	Nominated — Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Actress Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
2001	Double Dutch Divas!, TheThe Double Dutch Divas!	Herself	(short subject) (uncredited)
2005	Because of Winn-Dixie	Gloria Dump
2005	Diary of a Mad Black Woman	Myrtle	NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated — BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Theatrical Film Nominated — Black Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
2006	Madea's Family Reunion	Myrtle
2006	Fat Rose and Squeaky	Celine
2006	Idlewild	Mother Hopkins
2007	Rwanda Rising	Voice of Jeanette Nyirabagarwa	(documentary)
2009	Up from the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream	Narrator	(documentary)
2010	Why Did I Get Married Too?	Ola
2011	Help, TheThe Help	Constantine Bates	Black Film Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Hollywood Film Festival Award for Ensemble of the Year National Board of Review Award for Best Cast Satellite Award for Best Cast - Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble Women Film Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble Nominated — Central Ohio Film Critics Association for Best Ensemble Nominated — Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Nominated — San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble Nominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2012	Alex Cross	Regina "Nana Mama" Cross
2013	The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia	Mamma Kay

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1962	Nurses, TheThe 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	F.B.I., TheThe F.B.I.	Julie Harmon Lainey Harber	Episode: "The Enemies" Episode: "Silent Partners"
1969	Medical Center	Susan Wiley	Episode: "The Last 10 Yards"
1969	Courtship of Eddie's Father, TheThe 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	Bill Cosby Show, TheThe 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	Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, TheThe 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	Woman Called Moses, AA 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	Women of Brewster Place, TheThe Women of Brewster Place	Mrs. Browne
1990	Kid Who Loved Christmas, TheThe 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	Road to Galveston, TheThe 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	Lesson Before Dying, AA 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	Outer Limits, TheThe Outer Limits	Justice Gretchen Parkhurst	Episode: "Final Appeal"
2001	Jewel	Cathedral
2002	Rosa Parks Story, TheThe 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"
2014	The Trip to Bountiful	Mrs. Carrie Watts	TV Movie Black Reel Award for Best Actress: T.V. Movie/Cable NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie (executive producer) Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Film Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2015-16	How to Get Away with Murder	Ophelia Harkness	Episodes: "Mama's Here Now", "There's My Baby" & "Anna Mae" Nominated — Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Nominated - NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
2016	House of Cards	Doris Jones	3 episodes

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Theatre
1957	Dark of the Moon		Little Theatre
1959	Jolly's Progress	Jolly (understudy)	Longacre Theatre
1960	Cool World, TheThe Cool World	Girl	Eugene O'Neill Theatre
1961	Blacks: A Clown Show, TheThe Blacks: A Clown Show	Stephanie Virtue Diop	St. Mark's Playhouse
1962	Moon on a Rainbow Shawl		East 11th Street Theater
1962	Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright	Celeste Chipley Adelaide Smith (understudy)	Booth Theatre
1963	Blue Boy in Black, TheThe Blue Boy in Black	Joan	Masque Theatre
1963	Trumpets of the Lord	Rev. Marion Alexander	Astor Place Theatre
1966	Hand Is on the Gate, AA Hand Is on the Gate	Performer	Longacre Theatre
1968	Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights	Myrna Jessup	John Golden Theatre
1969	To Be Young, Gifted and Black	Various	Cherry Lane Theatre
1969	Trumpets of the Lord	Rev. Marion Alexander	Brooks Atkinson Theatre
1983	Corn Is Green, TheThe Corn Is Green	Miss Moffat	Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
2013	Trip to Bountiful, TheThe Trip to Bountiful	Miss Carrie Watts	Stephen Sondheim Theatre
2015	The Gin Game	Fonsia Dorsey	John Golden Theater

Radio

Year	Title	Role
1979	Sears Radio Theater	Host, Thursdays "Love and Hate Night"

[ Source: Wikipedia ]