Biography
Tyson was at the forefront of a shift away from one-dimensional, negative screen stereotypes of black women with her starring role in "Sounder" (1972), which was groundbreaking in its portrayal of the dignity, strength and courage of a Depression-era African-American family. The acclaimed film and Tyson's Oscar-nominated leading role opened the doors for a whole new era of black storytelling, and Tyson came to represent this strong and wise …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2012 | Featured in crime thriller "Alex Cross," based on the novel Cross by James Patterson and starring Tyler Perry | |
2011 | Played Constantine Jefferson in the feature adaptation of "The Help" | |
2010 | Once again worked with writer and director Perry in "Why Did I Get Married Too?" | |
2009 | Nominated for the 2009 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie | |
2009 | Appeared in the Hallmark Channel production of "Relative Stranger"; earned an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Movie | |
2006 | Re-teamed with Perry for "Madea's Family Reunion" | |
2005 | Co-starred in Tyler Perry's "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" | |
2005 | Featured in the family drama "Because of Winn-Dixie" | |
2001 | Cast as the title character's mother in CBS biopic "The Rosa Parks Story" | |
1999 | Earned seventh Emmy nomination for her role in the acclaimed HBO drama "A Lesson Before Dying" | |
1998 | Starred in "Alex Haley's Mama Flora's Family" (CBS) | |
1997 | Headlined the USA Network holiday movie "Ms. Scrooge" | |
1997 | Co-starred in the crime film "Hoodlum" | |
1997 | Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (August) | |
1994 | Returned to series TV when she played Carrie Grace Battle on the NBC courtroom drama "Sweet Justice" | |
1994 | Played the lead in the CBS movie "The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All" | |
1991 | Played pivotal role in "Fried Green Tomatoes" | |
1989 | Landed featured role in the ABC miniseries "The Women of Brewster Place" | |
1983 | Returned to the stage in a production of "The Corn Is Green" | |
1978 | Starred as Harriet Tubman in the NBC miniseries "A Woman Called Moses" | |
1978 | Portrayed Coretta Scott King in the NBC miniseries "King" | |
1977 | Played Kunta Kinte's mother in the ABC miniseries "Roots" | |
1973 | Played the lead role in CBS' "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" | |
1972 | Delivered breakthrough film role in "Sounder"; earned Best Actress Oscar nomination | |
1969 | Featured in the off-Broadway play "To Be Young Gifted and Black" | |
1966 | Appeared on the CBS daytime drama "The Guiding Light" | |
1963 | TV debut as series regular, "East Side, West Side" (CBS) | |
1961 | Gained notice for her performance in the off-Broadway production of Genet's "The Blacks" | |
1959 | Broadway debut, "Jolly's Progress" | |
1959 | Made film debut in "Odds Against Tomorrow" | |
| Began modeling after being discovered by a photographer for Ebony magazine | ||
Awards
2011 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in The Help |
2009 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Movie in Relative Stranger |
1999 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Movie in A Lesson Before Dying |
1997 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries in The Road to Galveston |
1995 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries in Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All |
1995 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in Sweet Justice |
1995 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series in Sweet Justice |
1994 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In a Miniseries or Special in Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All |
1982 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress In a Limited Series or a Special in The Marva Collins Story |
1978 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress In a Limited Series in King |
1977 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance By a Supporting Actress In a Comedy or Drama Series in Roots |
1974 | BAFTA Award for Actress in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman |
1974 | Primetime Emmy Award for Actress of the Year-Special in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman |
1974 | Primetime Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress In a Drama in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman |
1972 | Academy Award for Actress in Sounder |
1972 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress in Sounder |
1972 | National Board of Review Award for Best Actress in Sounder |
1972 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in Sounder |