Today the world mourns the passing of Cicely Tyson. Both an activist and an actress, over seven decades in Hollywood, Tyson broke many barriers as a black woman. Fortunately, she is one of the few who received flowers until the end.
From disruptive roles to groundbreaking premieres, Tyson has achieved a lot in her 96 years – 70 of which she spent on stage and on screens, large and small. Here is a look at some of his most memorable honors and awards.
01
1963-1964
Twelve years after her first role as an actress, Tyson became the first African American to star in a television drama when she joined the series East side / West side.
02
1972
Tyson was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress and a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her role in Probe.
03
1974
For its titular role in Miss Jane Pittman’s autobiography, Tyson won a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Leading Actress, an Emmy Award for Actress of the Year and was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Leading Actress.
04
1977
Among the many prizes the miniseries Roots received, Tyson was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series. That same year, she was also nominated for the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
05
1978
In the 1978 miniseries King, Tyson played Coretta Scott King and was nominated for an Emmy for Best Leading Actress in a Limited Series.
06
1981
For her lead role in The Marva Collins Story, Tyson received the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Special Dramatic and was once again nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Best Leading Actress – Miniseries or Film.
07
1994
Tyson took home another Emmy in 1994 for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special for his role as Castalia in The oldest living Confederate widow tells everything
08
2009
A magnetic school in East Orange, NJ, became known as The Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts in his honor.
09
2013
At 89, Tyson won the Tony award. For her role in the Broadway production “A Trip to Bountiful”, she was named Best Actress in a Play.
10
2015-2020
During her five years as Ophelia Harkness in How to escape murder, Tyson was nominated for the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series, the Primetime Emmy Award for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series and the NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
11
2015
Tyson was named one of the Kennedy Center honorees alongside singer and songwriter Carole King, filmmaker George Lucas, actress and singer Rita Moreno and conductor Seiji Ozawa.
12
2016
Former US President Barack Obama presented Tyson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s largest civilian tribute.
13
2018
At the 90th Oscar ceremony, Tyson became the first black woman to receive an honorary Oscar at the age of 93.
14
2020
Today, a year ago, Tyson was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame at age 95.
15
2021
“Just As I Am”, Tyson’s first and only memory, was published two days before his death.
To edit 70 years of excellence: a look at Cicely Tyson’s career achievements