History of Cicely Tyson in Timeline

Cicely Tyson was a highly acclaimed American actress whose career spanned over seven decades. She was renowned for portraying strong, complex African-American women and earned numerous awards for her work, including three Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and a Tony Award. She also received nominations for a BAFTA and Golden Globe Award, along with prestigious honors such as the Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and an Honorary Academy Award.

August 4, 1919: Cicely Tyson's Father Arrives in New York City

William Augustine Tyson, Cicely Tyson's father, arrived in New York City and was processed at Ellis Island on August 4, 1919.

December 19, 1924: Birth of Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson was born on December 19, 1924.

December 27, 1942: Marriage to Kenneth Franklin

On December 27, 1942, 18-year-old Cicely Tyson married Kenneth Franklin.

February 1943: Birth of Daughter

Cicely Tyson gave birth to her daughter in February 1943, two months after marrying Kenneth Franklin.

June 18, 1944: Abandonment by Kenneth Franklin

According to divorce records, Kenneth Franklin abandoned Cicely Tyson on June 18, 1944.

1956: Divorce from Kenneth Franklin

Cicely Tyson's divorce from Kenneth Franklin was finalized in 1956.

1962: First African American Woman to Wear an Afro on TV

In 1962, Cicely Tyson became the first African American woman to wear an Afro on television in the United States.

1967: Relationship with Miles Davis

Cicely Tyson began dating jazz musician Miles Davis in 1967 while he was divorcing his wife. Davis featured a photo of Tyson on his album "Sorcerer".

March 1968: Planned Marriage to Miles Davis

Miles Davis announced his intention to marry Cicely Tyson in March 1968 after his divorce was finalized. However, he married Betty Mabry later that year.

1968: The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

Cicely Tyson appeared in the film The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter in 1968.

1972: Sounder and Award Nominations

In 1972, Cicely Tyson starred in "Sounder" and received nominations for the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.

1972: Sounder

Tyson starred in the film Sounder in 1972.

1974: Emmy Award for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

Cicely Tyson won her first Primetime Emmy Award for her performance in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman in 1974.

1974: The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

In 1974, Cicely Tyson starred in the television movie The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.

1977: Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Induction

In 1977, Cicely Tyson was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.

1977: Roots

Tyson appeared in the miniseries Roots in 1977.

1978: Rekindled Relationship with Miles Davis

Cicely Tyson and Miles Davis rekindled their romantic relationship in 1978.

1978: A Woman Called Moses

In 1978, Cicely Tyson portrayed Harriet Tubman in the miniseries A Woman Called Moses.

February 1979: First Black Woman to Host Saturday Night Live

Cicely Tyson became the first black woman to host Saturday Night Live in February 1979.

1980: Golden Plate Award

Tyson received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in 1980.

November 26, 1981: Marriage to Miles Davis

Cicely Tyson and Miles Davis married on November 26, 1981, in a ceremony officiated by Andrew Young at Bill Cosby's home.

1981: Bustin' Loose

Tyson starred in the film Bustin' Loose in 1981.

1982: Women in Film Crystal Award

Cicely Tyson was honored with the Women in Film Crystal Award in 1982 for her contributions to expanding the role of women in the entertainment industry.

1988: Divorce Filing

Cicely Tyson filed for divorce from Miles Davis in 1988.

1989: Divorce Finalized

Tyson's divorce from Davis was finalized in 1989.

1991: Fried Green Tomatoes

Cicely Tyson appeared in the film Fried Green Tomatoes in 1991.

1991: Death of Miles Davis

Miles Davis passed away in 1991, two years after his divorce from Cicely Tyson was finalized.

1994: Sweet Justice and Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All

From 1994-1995, Tyson starred in the television series Sweet Justice as Carrie Grace Battle, a civil rights activist and attorney. In 1994, she also appeared in the television film Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All.

1994: Emmy Award for Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All

Tyson won her second Primetime Emmy Award for her role in Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All in 1994.

1997: Hoodlum

Cicely Tyson took on a role in the drama film Hoodlum in 1997.

1997: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

In 1997, Cicely Tyson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1999: A Lesson Before Dying

Tyson appeared in the television film A Lesson Before Dying in 1999.

2005: Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball

Cicely Tyson was honored at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball in 2005.

2005: Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Because of Winn-Dixie

In 2005, Cicely Tyson appeared in two films: the drama Diary of a Mad Black Woman and the family film Because of Winn-Dixie.

2005: Because of Winn-Dixie and Diary of a Mad Black Woman

In 2005, Tyson appeared in the films Because of Winn-Dixie and Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

2006: Idlewild

Cicely Tyson appeared in the film Idlewild in 2006.

2009: Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts

The Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts in East Orange, New Jersey was named in her honor in 2009.

2010: Why Did I Get Married Too? and Up from the Bottoms

In 2010, Tyson acted in the film Why Did I Get Married Too? and narrated the documentary Up from the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream.

2010: NAACP Spingarn Medal

Tyson was awarded the NAACP's Spingarn Medal in 2010 for her contributions to entertainment, modeling, and civil rights.

2011: 21st Century Girl and The Help

Cicely Tyson appeared in Willow Smith's music video for "21st Century Girl" and played Constantine Jefferson in the film The Help in 2011.

2011: The Help

Tyson played Constantine Jefferson in the film The Help in 2011.

June 9, 2013: Tony Award for The Trip to Bountiful

On June 9, 2013, Cicely Tyson, at age 88, won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in The Trip to Bountiful, becoming the oldest person to win this award.

2013: Tony Award for "The Trip to Bountiful"

In 2013, at age 88, Cicely Tyson became the oldest person to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in "The Trip to Bountiful."

2013: The Haunting in Connecticut 2

Tyson appeared in the horror film The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia in 2013.

2014: How to Get Away with Murder

Beginning in 2014, Tyson took on the recurring role of Ophelia Harkness in the TV series How to Get Away with Murder.

2014: The Trip to Bountiful

Cicely Tyson reprised her stage role in a televised version of The Trip to Bountiful in 2014.

2014: Tony Award for The Trip to Bountiful

Cicely Tyson won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in The Trip to Bountiful in 2014.

2015: Emmy Nomination

Cicely Tyson received her first Emmy nomination for her role in How to Get Away with Murder in 2015.

2015: Kennedy Center Honors

Cicely Tyson received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2015.

2015: How to Get Away with Murder

Tyson began her recurring role as Ophelia Harkness in the TV series How to Get Away with Murder in 2015.

November 2016: Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Barack Obama awarded Cicely Tyson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2016.

2016: House of Cards

Cicely Tyson appeared in the TV series House of Cards in 2016.

2016: Presidential Medal of Freedom

Cicely Tyson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

2017: Last Flag Flying

Tyson acted in the film Last Flag Flying in 2017.

2017: Emmy Nomination

Tyson received another Emmy nomination for How to Get Away with Murder in 2017.

September 2018: Honorary Academy Award Announcement

In September 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Cicely Tyson would receive an Honorary Academy Award.

November 18, 2018: First African-American Woman to Receive Honorary Oscar

On November 18, 2018, Cicely Tyson became the first African-American woman to receive an honorary Oscar.

2018: Honorary Academy Award

Cicely Tyson received an Honorary Academy Award in 2018.

2018: Emmy Nomination

Cicely Tyson was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in How to Get Away with Murder in 2018.

2019: Emmy Nomination

Tyson received another Emmy nomination for How to Get Away with Murder in 2019.

2020: A Fall From Grace

Cicely Tyson appeared in the film A Fall From Grace in 2020.

2020: Peabody Award and Television Hall of Fame Induction

Cicely Tyson received a Career Achievement Peabody Award and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2020.

2020: Emmy Nomination and A Fall From Grace

In 2020, Cicely Tyson starred in the Netflix film A Fall From Grace and received her fifth Emmy nomination for How to Get Away with Murder.

2020: Television Hall of Fame Induction

Tyson was inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame in 2020.

January 26, 2021: Publication of Memoir "Just as I Am"

Cicely Tyson published her memoir, "Just as I Am," on January 26, 2021.

January 28, 2021: Death of Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson passed away on January 28, 2021.

2022: Posthumous Induction into Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame

Cicely Tyson was posthumously inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.

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