Cicely Tyson was a groundbreaking actress and model whose seven-decade career brought dignity, strength, and complexity to her roles and broke barriers in film and television.
Born in Harlem, Cicely Tyson began her career as a model and became an actor on stage, film, and television. The Television Academy records two 1974 Emmy wins for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series and Actress of the Year—Special) and a 1994 Emmy for The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All. She received an Academy Honorary Award in 2018 and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2015.
Tyson's performances in film, television, and theater included roles in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Sounder, and The Trip to Bountiful.
Tyson won the 2013 Tony Award for her leading performance in The Trip to Bountiful.
President Barack Obama presented Tyson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
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