Whenever anyone receives an honorary Oscar, I’m always surprised to learn that person hadn’t been given one before. But in some cases, like with legendary actress Cicely Tyson, I am down right incredulous. What’s even more astonishing is she’s only been nominated once, in 1973 for her role in Sounder. Last Sunday at the Governor’s Awards the Academy righted that wrong. But Ms. Tyson wasn’t just any recipient, she became the first African American woman to ever receive an honorary Oscar. Prior to the 93-years-young actress, Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones, Spike Lee, Charles Burnett and James Baskett have been awarded them but Cicely is the first woman. Among those present to honor her and her incredible legacy were Oprah, Tyler Perry, Quincy Jones, Ava DuVernay, Lupita Nyong’o, Lee Daniels, Tyler Perry, Chadwick Boseman, Shonda Rhimes, Spike Lee, Anita Hill, Mahershala Ali, Michael B. Jordan, Barry Jenkins and Steve McQueen.
It was an honor more than 45 years in the making, but Cicely Tyson finally took home an Oscar on Sunday night at the 10th annual Governors Awards in Hollywood, Ca.
Tyson, who has amassed more than six decades in the industry in her still active career, has won a Tony and three Emmys, but her first and only Oscar nomination was for 1972’s Sounder.
In an introduction reflecting on Tyson’s incredible career, Quincy Jones noted that “Her work, grace, dignity, class, humility and profound professionalism firmly placed her on the pedestal of Hollywood royalty, and now, at long last, I could not be more honored to say that tonight, Cicely Tyson receives her more than well-deserved Oscar.”
Director Ava DuVernay also gave a brief introduction before presenting Tyson her award, calling the acting legend “the seed for so many of us, the rose that we adore.”
Wearing a custom black and silver gown by longtime friend and couturier B. Michael, Tyson—who will celebrate her 94th birthday next month—ascended the stage.
Cicely has been nominated for virtually every award out there. She’s been honored by the Kennedy Center and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her filmography is astounding, although the one that tends to get the most attention was her portrayal in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman, for which she received two of her Emmys. Her most recent appearance was last March in How to Get Away with Murder, on which she plays Annalise’s mother. And I haven’t even touched on her stage work (she won her Tony for The Trip to Bountiful.) And she’s practically the living embodiment of grace, as she demonstrated in her acceptance speech with a touching tribute to her mother:
“Mom, I know you didn’t want me to do this, but I did and here it is. For the longest time, I wanted to hear something positive from her. When I did Jane Pittman…she said, ‘I am so proud of you.’ If I had not heard those words from her, none of this would make a difference to me.”
I’m happy the Academy acknowledged Cicely and her enormous body of talented work. And even though it is a shameful crime that an African American woman has not been award an honorary Oscar prior to 2018, I am happy that Cicely will forever hold that distinction. She’s such an icon, it just adds to that status.
I love this post Oprah put on her IG. I love all the talent in it but I also love that Oprah is fangirling over Anita Hill.
Oprah also posted this and I thought it was so cool, I’m adding it here. I don’t think Ms. Tyson would mind
Photo credit: WENN Photos, Getty Images and Instagram
I saw her in The Trip to Bountiful a few years ago. I was honored to be on the same planet as the great Cicely Tyson. Congratulations, an award well-deserved.
She looks amazing! This Oscar was long overdue
Amazing!
Long over due indeed and she is awesome. So regal, calm and poised. Bravo to her. Well done although way too long over due.
She’s 94?
Oh how I love Cicely Tyson. I remember a few years back when “The Help” was in the movie theaters. When she first appeared on the screen you could both hear and feel a reaction from everyone in the audience. It was a feeling of “oh yes, THERE she is”.
YES! I remember feeling that way. Almost like the whole theater took a collective breath.
She’s amazing. She looks amazing, too. I’m so glad she received this recognition.
Yay! A small gift from the universe to remind us that sometimes things go right. Mazal Tov to Cicely Tyson for this long overdue honor.
Hasn’t really heard of her but I recognized her face immediately from htgawm. Those who know her, when was she most famous and what were your favourite of her performances ?
This was a reply to Outoftheshadows.
Barry Jenkins directed Moonlight Oscar winner
Steve McQueen directed 12 Years A Slave Oscar winner
Lee Daniels Precious Oscar nominee
and
Tyson deserves all the accolades we can give her. She is a national treasure! The Life if Miss Jane Pittman is the first time I saw her and fell in love with her as an actress. Still can’t believe she was married to Miles Davis.
Thank you so much! I know all of their names and work but couldn’t identify their faces… I’ll look up each one so I can recognize their faces now.
There’s an excellent novel by Lore Segal called Her First American about the friendship between a Jewish woman and a black man, set in NYC after WW2, that has two peripheral but key characters that I believe are modeled after Cicely and Miles. It’s one of my favorite books. You might like it.
@BELLABELLA
I’ll have to check that novel out. Thanks!
There isn’t enough room in the comment section to describe this woman’s six decades of work, favorite movies or performances. Do yourself a favor and read her filmography on her IMDb page. She’s incredible.
Sounder, Roots. Those I remember most.
Sorry I can only name 3 directors in that photo–Ava, Spike, Tyler. Can anyone fill me in on the others?
And isn’t Shonda Rhimes looking resplendent in that photo?
She looks SO MUCH LIKE MY MAMA…(and dresses like her too) it’s STARTLING!!! I’m 51 years old…and my WHOLE LIFE has been surrounded by her seminal performances…either on screen or off…I cried through her WHOLE speech! I have REAL LOVE FOR THAT WOMAN!
Cicely is everything! Congrats to her!
Congratulation to her!
More than well deserved, I am in awe of her red carpet looks though. Fashion ICON!
She really is bad@ss, isn’t she? That silver ensemble was amazing.
Fried Green Tomatoes is my all-time most favorite movie and even though she didn’t have a huge role in that movie, when I think of her I always thinking of that movie.
Dignity and grace. I love her. She is such an inspiration.
Cicely is a national treasure, a study of excellence. She is grace personified. She reminds me of my paternal grandmother. I highly recommend seeing her in the movie Sounder, wonderful.
This makes me so happy and I’m glad it happened. What a wonderful celebration.