The Legacy of Cicely Tyson
For five unforgettable seasons on the hit show How to Get Away With Murder, Cicely Tyson gave life to the character of Ophelia Harkness, a woman grappling with dementia. With grace and authenticity, Cicely portrayed the complexities of a person dealing with this condition. "Do people who suffer dementia know?" she once asked Closer Weekly, shortly before her passing at the age of 96 on January 28, 2021. "I don’t think they know... So that’s the way I treated her," she explained, offering a glimpse into her thoughtful approach to bringing Ophelia to life.
Unveiling Her Truth
Cicely Tyson wasn’t just an actress; she was a storyteller who lived every word of her memoir, Just As I Am. This book, published late in her life, was a powerful reflection of her journey through six decades in the acting world and her tumultuous marriage to jazz legend Miles Davis. "I’m only beginning to fully understand my identity," Cicely admitted, speaking candidly about her self-discovery. Writing the memoir was a transformative experience for her. "It is me, plain and unvarnished, with the glitter and garland set aside," she revealed, emphasizing her commitment to authenticity and truth.
Her Philosophy on Acting
Cicely Tyson wasn’t just an actress; she was a trailblazer. From her iconic role as Rebecca, the resilient sharecropper in Sounder, to her heartwarming portrayal of a surrogate mother in The Help, she brought depth and dignity to every character she played. Her method of choosing roles was as unique as her performances. "When I read a script, one of two things happen to me," she explained. "Either my skin tingles or my stomach churns. When my stomach churns, I know I can’t do this thing, and I can pass it very easily. I don’t care how much they offer me, I can’t do it. Now, when my skin tingles and I can’t be still, that’s mine." This was her way of ensuring that every role she accepted aligned with her values and resonated deeply with her spirit.
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Love and Lessons with Miles Davis
Cicely’s personal life was as rich and complex as her career. Her relationship with Miles Davis, the legendary jazz trumpeter, was central to her memoir. They first met in the late 1960s, and though they split for a decade, they rekindled their romance in 1978 and eventually tied the knot in 1981. Despite their divorce eight years later, Cicely always remembered the tender side of Miles. "I got to know the soul of a man who is as gentle as a lamb," she said. "He covered it up with this ruthless attitude because he was so shy. In trying to be the kind of tough person that people thought he was, he ruined his life... That’s the Miles Davis I knew." Before his passing in 1991, Miles reached out to Cicely, apologizing for the pain he had caused her.
Gratitude and Grace
Cicely Tyson’s life was marked by gratitude, even in the face of challenges. "I take it a day at a time and am grateful for every day that God gives me," she often said, reflecting on her journey. She wasn’t afraid of the unknown. "How could I be afraid of something I don’t know anything about?" she asked, dismissing fears of death. "People say it is this and it is that. But they don’t know. They’ve not been there. I’ve not been there. [But] I’m not in a hurry to go, either!" Her words were a testament to her resilience and grace.
Reporting by Louise A. Barile
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