Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson (born December 19, 1933) is an award-winning African-American actress, who tried to shave 9 years off her age, claiming 1942 as her year of birth in the pre-Internet age. Her devoutly Christian parents came from the island of Nevis in the West Indies, but Cicely was born and raised in Harlem, New York. She was discovered by a photographer for Ebony magazine, and became a popular fashion model. Her first film was an uncredited role in Carib Gold in 1957, but she went on to do television - the celebrated series East Side/West Side and the long-running soap opera The Guiding Light.

Related Topics:
December 19 - 1933 - African-American - Christian - Nevis - Harlem, New York - ''Ebony'' magazine - Carib Gold - East Side/West Side - The Guiding Light

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In 1967, she appeared in The Comedians, and the following year, had a featured role in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. In 1972, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the critically acclaimed Sounder.

Related Topics:
The Comedians - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - 1972 - Academy Award for Best Actress - Sounder

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In 1974 she won two Emmy Awards for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Other acclaimed television roles included Roots, King, in which she played Coretta Scott King, The Marva Collins Story, When No One Would Listen and Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (for which she won another Emmy). Currently, Tyson is is co-starring in the movies Because of Winn-Dixie and Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

Related Topics:
Emmy Award - The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman - Roots - King - Coretta Scott King - The Marva Collins Story - When No One Would Listen - Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All - Because of Winn-Dixie - Diary of a Mad Black Woman

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Tyson co-founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

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Tyson was married to legendary trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1988. She has mentioned a daughter but there is no evidence of her ever having had any children.

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