Senate Resolution No. 347

BY: Senator BENJAMIN

MOURNING the death of Cicely Tyson, legendary
actress, civil rights champion and powerful symbol
of the Black is Beautiful Movement

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
just tribute to the memory of those prominent individuals whose creative
talents have contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of
the citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Cicely Tyson, a beloved actor of stage, screen and
television, died on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at the age of 96; and

WHEREAS, In an extraordinary career spanning seven decades, Cicely
Tyson was known for her portrayals of strong African-American women; she
was the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards, four Black Reel
Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award, one Tony Award, an honorary
Academy Award, and a Peabody Award; and

WHEREAS, Cicely Tyson was born to Fredericka (Huggins) and William
Augustine Tyson on December 19, 1924, in Harlem, New York; and

WHEREAS, As a young model, Cicely Tyson took her first acting part
on the television series "Frontiers of Faith" in 1951, and her first
film role in "Carib Gold" in 1956; she broke barriers when she became
the first African American to star in a television drama, "East
Side/West Side" from 1963-1964; and

WHEREAS, Cicely Tyson's first starring role on stage was Stephanie
Virtue Secret-Rose Diop in The Blacks, which was the longest running
off-Broadway non-musical of the decade, running for 1,408 performances;
and

WHEREAS, Throughout the 1960s, Cicely Tyson built her acting resume
appearing in numerous movies, television shows, and plays; and

WHEREAS, In 1972, Cicely Tyson took on the role of Rebecca Morgan in
the critically acclaimed film "Sounder", which she was nominated for
both the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, and won
the NSFC Best Actress and NBR Best Actress Awards; and

WHEREAS, Cicely Tyson continued her award-winning streak when she
played the lead in the television film "The Autobiography of Miss Jane
Pittman"; for her portrayal of the centenarian, she was the recipient of
the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a
Movie and an Emmy Award for Actress of the Year - Special, and was
nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role; and

WHEREAS, In the later 1970s, Cicely Tyson was nominated or won
awards for well-known television roles which included Binta in the
miniseries "Roots," Coretta Scott King in the miniseries "King", Marva
Collins in the television film "The Marva Collins Story," and Muriel in
the television film "Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story"; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the next few decades, Cicely Tyson continued her
prolific career appearing in numerous television programs such as "The
Women Of Brewster Place," "Sweet Justice," and "Oldest Living
Confederate Widow Tells All," for which she received her third Emmy
Award, and "A Lesson Before Dying"; and

WHEREAS, Cicely Tyson also appeared in notable feature films such as
"Fried Green Tomatoes," "Hoodlum," "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," and
"The Help," which won the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for
Best Acting Ensemble and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding
Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture; and

WHEREAS, Cicely Tyson's theater career also continued to flourish;
on June 9, 2013, Tyson won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for
her performance as Miss Carrie Watts in The Trip to Bountiful, making
her the oldest recipient of this prestigious award; she was also the
recipient of the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play and
the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play; and

WHEREAS, At the age of 90, Cicely Tyson took on the role of Ophelia
Harkness in "How to Get Away with Murder," and was nominated for a
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in
2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020; most recently, she appeared in the
Netflix movie, "A Fall From Grace"; and

WHEREAS, With style and dignity, Cicely Tyson truly served as a
superlative illustration of the resolute spirit and bravery of the Black
men and women who paved the way for future generations; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
the lives of those extraordinary actors of world renown who enriched the
lives of others through their artistic endeavors; such an actress was
Cicely Tyson, whose extraordinary and innovative career will forever
live in the hearts of many and continue to inspire generations to come;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Cicely Tyson, legendary actress, civil rights
supporter and symbol of the Black is Beautiful Movement; and to offer
sincerest condolences to her fans, friends, and family members; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Cicely Tyson.