Cicely Tyson was a well-known American actress who spent her whole career on stage and in movies playing strong African American women. To learn more about her, please keep reading because this blog post contains all the information you need about her, including her wiki, bio, net worth, age, educational background, family, social media profiles, and more.
Cicely Tyson Biography
Cicely Louise Tyson was a well-known American film actress famously identified by the name Cicely Tyson on numerous social media platforms and in the entertainment industry. She was born on December 19, 1924, in New York, New York, United States of America, under the astrological sign of Sagittarius, with the nationality of American and black descent.
Tyson was born to Fredericka Tyson, Mother, who was a domestic worker, and William Augustine Tyson, Father, who worked as a carpenter and painter. She has two siblings named Melrose Emanuel Tyson and Emily Henry.
Her parents immigrated from Nevis, in the West Indies. She attended New York’s New School for Social Research. Still, while attending school, Tyson played the role of an “imposter” for Australian singer Shirley Abicair. She earned two votes out of 4 four on “To Tell The Truth,” A game show on The Network Television.

Career
Tyson began her career as a professional model after a photographer discovered her for Ebony magazine but later branched out into film work in the mid-50s with a small role in the film “Carib Gold.” She then started working on television, where she appeared on “East Side/West Side” and “The Guiding Light.” She was later nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Drama for her portrayal of Rebecca Morgan in the 1972 film Sounder, for which she received widespread attention and critical acclaim.
She played the title role in the 1974 film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, which was based on the 1971 novel of the same name by Ernest J. Gaines. For her portrayal in the movie, she received a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the BAFTA Award and won two Emmy Awards. She later received another Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Binta in the acclaimed series Roots (1977). Fried Green Tomatoes in 1991, A Lesson Before Dying in 1999, Because of Winn-Dixie in 2005, Diary of a Mad Black Woman in 2005, The Help in 2011, The Trip to Bountiful (2014), and Last Flag Flying (2017) were among the many films she appeared in in the twenty-first century. In 2014, She was featured in “How to Get Away With Murder” as Ophelia Harkness in the ABC legal drama TV series since the show’s inception. She received five Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
She has also made appearances in various theater productions in addition to her acting career. In 2013, she won Best Actress at the Outer Critics Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Tony Award as Carrie Watts in the Broadway play The Trip to Bountiful.
In 2015, she was named a Kennedy Center honoree. The following year, she was honored with a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor an individual can receive in the United States. In 2020, she was also installed in the Television Hall of Fame. In 1962, she was awarded the Vernon Rice Award for her Off-Broadway performance in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl.
Death
He died at the age of 96 on January 28, 2021, and her funeral was held on February 16 at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Bill and Hillary Clinton, Tyler Perry, and many more were in attendance.

Quick Wiki/Bio
Full Name | Cicely Louise Tyson |
Nickname | Cicely Tyson |
Gender | Female |
Profession | Formal Actress |
Age (death age) | 93 years old |
Date of Death | January 28, 2021 |
Date of Birth | December 19, 1924 |
Place of Birth | New York, New York, United States of America |
Hometown | New York, New York, United States of America |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Black |
Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
Net Worth, Awards, And Nominations
- How worth was Cicely Tyson before she passed away?
- What was her income source?
- How many awards did Cicely Tyson receive before she passed away?
Cicely Tyson was a well-known American film actress worth $10 million. She generated this massive sum of money from her acting career. We need to get information regarding the money she receives per episode. Aside from her worth, Cicely Tyson was named a Kennedy Center honoree in 2015.
She also received numerous awards, including three Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Tony Award, an Honorary Academy Award, and a Peabody Award. In 2020, she was installed in the Television Hall of Fame. In 1962, she was awarded the Vernon Rice Award for her Off-Broadway performance in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl.
Aside from her awards, she has received nominations for numerous awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Drama, the Academy Award for Best Actress, and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress.
Net Worth | $10 million (USD) |
Salary | Unknown |
Income Source | Her formal acting career |
Awards | Academy Honorary Award Emmy Awards(3x) Tony Award |
Nominations | Academy Award for Best Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama BAFTA Award for Best Actress Five times Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series |
Family Background, Parents, Marital Status, And More
Find information about Cicely Tyson’s family in the table below.
Spouse(ex) | Miles Davis (m. 1981–1989), Kenneth Franklin (m. 1942–1956) |
Children | Vivica Anjanetta |
Father | William Tyson |
Mother | Theodosia Tyson |
Siblings | Melrose Emanuel Tyson Emily Henry |
Educational Background
School | – |
High School | – |
University/College | New York’s New School for Social Research |
Credentials | – |
Frequently Ask Questions
How old was Cicely Tyson before she died?
93 years old
Where was Cicely Tyson born?
New York, New York, United States of America
What is the name of Cicely Tyson’s parents?
Theodosia Tyson and William Tyson
What is the nationality of Cicely Tyson?
American
What was the net worth of Cicely Tyson before she passed away?
$10 million (USD)