Cicely Tyson made her screen debut in the 1956 Harold Young-directed film, ‘Carib Gold’ where she made an uncredited appearance as ‘Dottie.’ She continued to make uncredited cameos in films like ‘Odds Against Tomorrow’ (1959), ‘The Last Angry Man’ (1959), and ‘Who Was That Lady?’ (1960). In 1963, she joined the cast of the American drama series ‘East Side West Side’ as ‘Jane Foster.’ The series was canceled after one season in 1964. She next appeared in television series and shows like ‘Slattery's People’ (1965), ‘I Spy’ (1965-1966), and ‘Guiding Light’ (1966). In 1966, she starred as ‘Claudia Ferguson’ in the American drama musical film ‘A Man Called Adam’ directed by Leo Penn. The film holds a 38% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes. The following year, she played the role of ‘Marie Therese’ in the Peter Glenville-directed American political drama film ‘The Comedians.’ The film received a lukewarm response from critics and earned a 27% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. She next starred as ‘Portia Copeland’ in the 1968 American film ‘The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter’ directed by Thomas C. Ryan. The film was inspired by Carson McCullers’ 1940 novel of the same name and grossed over $1.1 million at the box office.
Tyson received an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for her portrayal of ‘Rebecca Morgan’ in the 1972 American period drama film ‘Sounder’ directed by Martin Ritt. The film saw critical acclaim upon release and was a box office success, grossing over $16.9 million on a budget of $1.9 million. It was also selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2021. She next starred in films like ‘The Blue Bird’ (1976), ‘The River Niger’ (1976), ‘A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich’ (1978), ‘The Concorde ... Airport '79’ (1979), ‘Bustin' Loose’ (1981), ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ (1991), ‘Hoodlum’ (1997), ‘The Double Dutch Divas!’ (2001), and ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’ (2005). In 2005, she portrayed ‘Myrtle’ in the Darren Grant-directed American romantic comedy-drama film ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman.’ Even though the film was panned by critics, it performed well at the box office and grossed over $50.7 million on a budget of $5.5 million. She was next seen in films such as ‘Madea's Family Reunion’ (2006), ‘Idlewild’ (2006), ‘Rwanda Rising’ (2007), ‘Up from the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream’ (2009), ‘Why Did I Get Married Too?’ (2010), ‘The Help’ (2011), ‘Alex Cross’ (2012), ‘The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia’ (2013), ‘Showing Roots’ (2016), and ‘Last Flag Flying’ (2017). Tyson last appeared in the 2020 American thriller film ‘A Fall from Grace’ directed by Tyler Perry. The film has a 16% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Based on a book of the same name, The Help details the daily life and problems of African-American maids in the early 1960s, during the Civil Rights Movement, through the eyes and writing of an aspiring author, who hopes to publish a book about this topic.
It is an Oscar nominated film depicting the story of Evelyn Couch, an unhappy middle aged housewife, whose life is changed when she befriends a colorful old lady named Ninny Threadgoode. The narrative alters several times between Evelyn’s life and Ninny’s tale about her free spirited sister-in-law Idgie, making it a highly enjoyable drama film.
Sounder is a period drama film which takes us to the time of the Great Depression. The story revolves around an African-American sharecropper family in the Deep South, who are going through economic and personal hardships during the Great Depression. Things get worse after the father is imprisoned for stealing food.
A Man Called Adam is a musical drama film, which tells the story of Adam Johnson, a talented jazz musician. However, he is suffering from alcoholism and guilt, due to the fact that his family died in a car accident, for which he blames himself.
A ghetto boy, Benjie, succumbs to the allure of heroin after being encouraged by his friends. He gets addicted to the drug and is unable to control himself after several attempts. However, a final confrontation with his foster father and mother brings a ray of hope.
Because of Winn-Dixie is a comedy drama film which tells the story of ten-year-old Opal, who adopts an unkempt dog which she finds at a supermarket. She names it Winn-Dixie. Soon, with the help the dog, Opal starts to befriend several people.
This crime drama film takes us to the 1930s and revolves around two gangs who fight for control over various illegal businesses in Harlem. One is headed by Bumpy Johnson, an African American gangster, while the other one is run by Dutch Schultz, a Caucasian criminal.
Madea is a busy grandma with a number of responsibilities on her shoulders. She has to host a reunion, and has to take care of a rebellious teenager Nikki, whose responsibility has been given to her recently by the court . There is so much on her plate. Will she nail it?
A Fall from Grace is a suspense drama film which revolves around a public defender named Jasmine who is assigned by her boss to defend a woman named Grace, who has been accused of murdering her husband. Although Grace insists that she is guilty, it seems to Jasmine that things are a lot more complicated than they seem.
Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a romantic comedy drama film which tells the story of Helen, who is divorced by her husband for another woman, although they were together for eighteen years. Heartbroken, she decides to move in with her grandmother, hoping this will help her overcome the trauma.
This drama film takes us to a poor African-American neighborhood in Los Angeles, and it revolves around a poet Johnny Williams, who takes up a low paying job as a house painter, in order to survive and make ends meet. When he learns that his wife has terminal cancer, he grows more worried, regarding his family’s plight.
In this US-Soviet co-production, peasant kids, Tyltyl and Mytyl, set out to look for the Blue Bird of Happiness to make a young sick girl in the neighbourhood happy. The journey takes the two siblings to the kingdoms of past and future as well as the land of night and luxury. Accompanying them on their journey are human forms of various living and non-living things.
This mystery horror film tells the story of Andy and Lisa, who move into an old house in Georgia, along with their daughter. Soon, they learn that they are not the only inhabitants in the house. They find themselves in the presence of a mysterious force.
Detroit detective and psychologist Alex Cross is pitted against Picasso, a brutal serial killer who targets wealthy and tortures before killing them. As Cross foils some of his murderous attempts, Picasso gets back by first killing rookie Monica Ashe and then Cross’s pregnant wife, Maria. Now it’s a personal vendetta for Cross to nail Picasso and find out who is behind him.
A comedy-drama film about four couples who get together in the Bahamas for a vacation to reflect on their married lives.
David Burke is a former cop whose career had a downfall due to his refusal to work with state crime investigators. He soon hires a tough ex-con artist named Earle Slater, to help him rob a bank. Earle is promised $50,000 if the robbery is a success. Burke also recruits another man named Johnny Ingram, who works at a nightclub. Although Ingram doesn’t want the job, he is forced to accept due to his debts.
A dedicated general practitioner named Dr Sam Abelman tries to help every sick and poor person in his neighborhood. Meanwhile, his journalist nephew tries to help him by profiling his life on television.
Cicely Tyson Awards
| The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman | Best Lead Actress in a Drama | 1974 |
| The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman | Actress of the Year - Special | 1974 |
| Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special | 1994 |
