Sounder, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Roots, and How to Get Away With Murder. Cicely Tyson, the actor and Civil Rights icon who began performing Off-Broadway in the 1950s, enjoyed a distinguished career in TV and film, and returned in triumph to win a Tony Award at age 88 for The Trip to Bountiful, died January 28 at 96. Her death was confirmed by her manager, Larry Thompson. Ms. Tyson, who earned nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her performance in the 1972 film Sounder, also captured an Emmy Award and wide acclaim for The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, showcasing her remarkable ability to project the indomitable inner strength of beset characters. She was a co-founder of the Dance Theater of Harlem and was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1977.