R.I.P. Cicely Tyson, a pioneering TV icon who garnered countless awards

She was the first black actor with a lead role in a primetime television drama.

Everett Collection

In the Sixties, pop culture changed at a rapid pace, from Beatlemania to Batman. But some shows were too ahead of their times, even in that revolutionary age. We covered seven of them in a list, which included the boundary-breaking drama East Side / West Side. The New York City–set series, which aired just one season in 1963–64, was built as a star vehicle for George C. Scott, the first actor to refuse an Oscar. Covering social workers in Manhattan, the show also offered the first lead role for a black actor in a primetime drama — a role given to Cicely Tyson.

Tyson was no stranger to television. She had been working in the medium since turning up on NBC in 1951. An NYC native, Tyson was discovered by a photographer and began as a model. 

In the Sixties, Tyson proved herself to be a triple threat, balancing roles on film, television and Broadway. She acted alongside names such as Maya Angelou and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Superstardom and critical acclaim arrived in the Seventies, as roles in big-screen movies like Sounder and made-for-TV gems like The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman earned her Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy recognition. For the latter, she, at last, took home the Emmy trophy for Lead Actress. She was a regular in prestige miniseries, too, as her work in Roots and King garnered further Emmy noms.

She won another Emmy, in a supporting role, for Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All in 1994.

Tyson continued to work until the present day. A run on How to Get Away with Murder led to another Emmy nomination. In 2018, the Academy recognized her contribution to the screen with an Honorary Award. It sat on her shelf next to a Tony Award (The Trip to Bountiful, 2013) and a recent Peabody Award from 2020. Last year, she was also granted a place in the Television Hall of Fame.

On January 28, Tyson died at the age of 96, according to The Hollywood Reporter.



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12 Comments

jholton30062 38 months ago
A fine actress and good human being. God bless her.
HoneyBrown1976 38 months ago
She was a beautiful presence on t.v., in the movies, and on the stage. We'll miss her grace and class for years to come.
Pacificsun 38 months ago
For other admirers looking for more of a tribute here is a link:

https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com/2021/01/29/cicely-tyson-and-the-spy-craze/#respond
Barry22 38 months ago
RIP. I remember when she hosted SNL in the Seventies.
harlow1313 38 months ago
I love the film version of "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter."
cperrynaples harlow1313 38 months ago
I don't think Cicely was in THAT movie, but still it's a great movie! How sad that we lost 3 greats: Bruno Kirby, Cloris Leachman, and Cicely Tyson!
harlow1313 cperrynaples 38 months ago
Admittedly, her role was small, but she was a cast member. Google is your friend.
Pacificsun cperrynaples 38 months ago
Gregory Sierra Jan 25, 2021
cperrynaples Pacificsun 38 months ago
Yes, he died but his career wasn't as long as the others! And yes, Tyson was in that movie, but I only remember Alan Arkin & Sondra Locke!
KevinButler cperrynaples 38 months ago
Cicely worked with Ms.Locke,Mr.Arkin,Mr.Keach and one of my comedic heroes:Chuck McCann in the movie drama:"The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter".
jholton30062 cperrynaples 38 months ago
Bruno Kirby died a while ago (2006). Bruce died just this week.
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