Cicely Tyson's Life in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

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Cicely Tyson’s Early Years

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“I suddenly became aware of how unaware whites were of Blacks in America, and realized, ‘I got some work to do.’ "

And do it she did, portraying the realities of the Black American experience in her roles as both historical trailblazers (Coretta Scott King, Harriet Tubman) and fearless fictional ones (Binta inRootsand the title character inThe Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman).

Tyson died at the age of 96on Jan. 28, 2021. Here, a look back on her life in photos.

02of 13Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, 1961Steve Schapiro/Getty ImagesTyson withJames Earl JonesinThe BlacksOff-Broadway. “He is gentle as can be, but he roared like a lion,” she said of Jones, a friend to this day. “He still has within him the very essence of a powerful actor.”

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Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, 1961

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Tyson withJames Earl JonesinThe BlacksOff-Broadway. “He is gentle as can be, but he roared like a lion,” she said of Jones, a friend to this day. “He still has within him the very essence of a powerful actor.”

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Cicely Tyson in East Side/West Side, 1963

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04of 13Cicely Tyson and Miles Davis, 1968Ron Galella/Getty ImagesAfter they began dating in 1966, Tyson and Miles Davis “got closer and closer,” she said,breaking up, reconnecting, marrying and divorcing over the course of the next 22 years. There were bad times, including his infidelities and their stunned sorrow after MLK and RFK were killed in 1968. But until his death in 1991, “I loved him and he loved me … Of that fact, I am certain.”

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Cicely Tyson and Miles Davis, 1968

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After they began dating in 1966, Tyson and Miles Davis “got closer and closer,” she said,breaking up, reconnecting, marrying and divorcing over the course of the next 22 years. There were bad times, including his infidelities and their stunned sorrow after MLK and RFK were killed in 1968. But until his death in 1991, “I loved him and he loved me … Of that fact, I am certain.”

05of 13Cicely Tyson and Friends, 1969Ron Galella/getty imagesTyson at a party with writer James Baldwin, ballet dancer Arthur Mitchell and singerHarry Belafonte:“Those were happy times, and we were closely bound together.”

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Cicely Tyson and Friends, 1969

Ron Galella/getty images

Tyson at a party with writer James Baldwin, ballet dancer Arthur Mitchell and singerHarry Belafonte:“Those were happy times, and we were closely bound together.”

06of 13Cicely Tyson in Sounder, 1972Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty ImagesPlaying sharecropper mom Rebecca inSounderearned her an Oscar nomination. “Director Martin Ritt said, ‘This is supposed to be a children’s film. But if we’re not careful, we’re going to make a damn good movie,’ " recalled Tyson (with costar Eric Hooks).

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Cicely Tyson in Sounder, 1972

Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images

Playing sharecropper mom Rebecca inSounderearned her an Oscar nomination. “Director Martin Ritt said, ‘This is supposed to be a children’s film. But if we’re not careful, we’re going to make a damn good movie,’ " recalled Tyson (with costar Eric Hooks).

07of 13Cicely Tyson’s Double Emmy Wins, 1974Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesThe actress earned two Emmys, including one for Actress of the Year, for her performance inThe Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. At 49, she portrayed a character who aged from 19 to 110.

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Cicely Tyson’s Double Emmy Wins, 1974

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The actress earned two Emmys, including one for Actress of the Year, for her performance inThe Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. At 49, she portrayed a character who aged from 19 to 110.

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Cicely Tyson in Roots, 1977

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09of 13Cicely Tyson in Bustin' Loose, 1981courtesy Everett Collection"What on earth kind of movie would I ever do with Richard?” Tyson asked when she heard that the “foulmouthed"Richard Pryor, whom she had never met, wanted her to be his costar. Their comedy turned out to be a huge hit

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Cicely Tyson in Bustin' Loose, 1981

courtesy Everett Collection

“What on earth kind of movie would I ever do with Richard?” Tyson asked when she heard that the “foulmouthed"Richard Pryor, whom she had never met, wanted her to be his costar. Their comedy turned out to be a huge hit

10of 13Cicely Tyson in The Women of Brewster Place, 1989ABC"I don’t usually look at my work, but the other dayI watched it,” said Tyson (bottom left).” I called [costar and friend]Oprah Winfreyand said, ‘That is some movie.’ She said, ‘You didn’t see it before?’ And I said, ‘No, but I’m glad I did. It’s brilliant.’ "

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Cicely Tyson in The Women of Brewster Place, 1989

ABC

“I don’t usually look at my work, but the other dayI watched it,” said Tyson (bottom left).” I called [costar and friend]Oprah Winfreyand said, ‘That is some movie.’ She said, ‘You didn’t see it before?’ And I said, ‘No, but I’m glad I did. It’s brilliant.’ "

11of 13Cicely Tyson and Lenny Kravitz, 2013Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesTyson held hands with godsonLenny Kravitzat the New York City premiere ofThe Butler. “We speak every couple of weeks,” she said.

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Cicely Tyson and Lenny Kravitz, 2013

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Tyson held hands with godsonLenny Kravitzat the New York City premiere ofThe Butler. “We speak every couple of weeks,” she said.

12of 13Cicely Tyson Earns the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2016Alex Wong/Getty ImagesIn his speech before bestowing the honor,President Barack Obamacalled her “gorgeous.” Said Tyson: “For a young Black girl to grow up in a country where because of the color of your skin you are referred to as a ‘pickaninny’ and all those unattractive words that made you feel ugly, that was something.”

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Cicely Tyson Earns the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2016

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In his speech before bestowing the honor,President Barack Obamacalled her “gorgeous.” Said Tyson: “For a young Black girl to grow up in a country where because of the color of your skin you are referred to as a ‘pickaninny’ and all those unattractive words that made you feel ugly, that was something.”

13of 13Cicely Tyson and Viola Davis, 2020Ali Goldstein/Getty ImagesTyson’sHow to Get Away with MurdercostarViola Daviswrote the foreword to her memoir,Just As I Am. “One of the things I appreciate about her is the fact that there is a depth in her soul [when it comes to] her understanding of Black women,” said Tyson.

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Cicely Tyson and Viola Davis, 2020

Ali Goldstein/Getty Images

Tyson’sHow to Get Away with MurdercostarViola Daviswrote the foreword to her memoir,Just As I Am. “One of the things I appreciate about her is the fact that there is a depth in her soul [when it comes to] her understanding of Black women,” said Tyson.

source: people.com