New York, New York (December 19, 1924 -January 28, 2021)

Cicely Louise Tyson was an African American actress. Raised by devoutly religious parents, from the Caribbean Island of Nevis. Her mother, Theodosia, was a domestic, and her father, William Tyson was a carpenter and painter. A fashion editor at Ebony magazine discovered her. With her stunning looks, she quickly rose to the top of the modeling industry. In 1957, she began acting in Off-Broadway productions. She had small roles in feature films. Her career took a significant turn when she was cast as Portia in ‘The Heart is a Lonely Hunter’ (1968). She delivered a sensational performance in the critically acclaimed film Sounder (1972). For this role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She earned two Emmy Awards. She portrayed a 110-year-old former slave in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974). Tyson has not appeared steadily onscreen. She remained loyal to only portraying strong, positive images of Black women. She is without question among the most talented actresses. Her beauty has graced both the stage and screen.