Date of Birth: December 19, 1933

Tyson grew up in New York's Harlem area after her parents moved to America from the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. Raised in poverty, Tyson used to earn extra money for her family by selling shopping bags on the street. Her first big break came when she starred in the film Sounder and was nominated for an Oscar for her efforts.

Filmography

Hoodlum (1997)
The Road to Galveston (1996)
Oldest Confederate Widow Tells All (1995)
Duplicates (1992)
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Heat Wave (1990)
The Boy Who Loved Christmas (1990)
Acceptable Risks (1986)
Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story (1986)
Bustin' Loose (1981)
The Concorde: Airport (1979)
A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich (1978)
King (1978)
A Woman Called Moses (1978)
Roots (1977)
Wilma (1977)
The River Niger (1976)
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974)
Sounder (1972)
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
A Man Called Adam (1966)