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Cicely Tyson Biography

Birth Name:Cicely L. Tyson

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

Awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award in 1982 for her help to expand the role of women within the entertainment world
Received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2015
Was honored at the American Theatre Wing Gala in 2016
Accepted a lifetime achievement award from the Alliance for Women in Media in 2015
Married jazz trumpeter Miles Davis at the home of Bill Cosby in 1981
Her father taught her and her two siblings to sing, and they would frequently sing in their church
Quote: "I look at every role as a person that I'm meeting for the first time, and that allows me ․․․ to delve into the personality, to find out who they really are․"
Quote: "When I read a script, either my skin tingles or my stomach churns․ If my stomach churns, I know it's not for me․ When my skin tingles, I can't wait․"
Co-founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem along with dancer, Arthur Mitchell
Would joke with her agent that if he got her a role in "Trip to Bountiful," she would retire, and 26 years later, the playwright's daughter called her and, to her shock, offered her a role in a production of the play

Awards

1972KCFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1972NBR Award-Best Actress: winner
1972NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1973Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1973Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1973NSFC Award-Best Actress: winner
1974Primetime Emmy-Best Lead Actress in a Drama: winner
1974Primetime Emmy-Actress of the Year - Special: winner
1975BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1977Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series: nominated
1978Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series: nominated
1982Image Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Dramatic Series or Miniseries or Television Movie: winner
1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special: nominated
1988Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie: winner
1991ACE-Actress in a Movie or Miniseries: winner
1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: winner
1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
1996CableACE-Actress in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1996Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
1996Lone Star Film & Television Award-Best TV Actress: winner
1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1997CableACE-Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1997Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: winner
1998Black Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1998Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1998OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: winner
1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2000Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Supporting Actress: winner
2000Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie/Miniseries/Dramatic Special: nominated
2003Black Reel-Network/Cable - Best Supporting Actress: winner
2005BET Comedy Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Theatrical Film: nominated
2005Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2006Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
2007Anniversary Award-: winner
2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
2010Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2010Vision Award-Best Performance- Drama: nominated
2011ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
2011BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2011Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
2011NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
2011Special Achievement Award-Best Ensemble, Motion Picture: winner
2011SEFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2011WFCC Award-Women's Work/Best Ensemble: winner
2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
2012COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
2012Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: winner
2012Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2012NFCS Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries: nominated
2014Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress: nominated
2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Television Movie: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2014WIN Award-Actress MFT Movie / Mini-Series: nominated
2015Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2015Black Reel-Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series: winner
2015Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Mini-Series: winner
2015Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series: nominated
2015Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
2015Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2015Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2015Gold Panda-Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
2016Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2017Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2017OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2018Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2018Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
2018INOCA TV-Best Guest Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series: nominated
2018OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2019Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress of the Decade: nominated
2019OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series: winner
2020Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
2020OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2021Invisible Woman Award-: winner