Tyson began her career as a successful fashion model and transitioned to acting in the late 1950s. She appeared in small roles in films like “Carib Gold” (1956), “Odds Against Tomorrow” (1959), “The Last Angry Man” (1960), and “Who Was That Lady?” (1960). In 1961, she made her television debut in the NBC series “Frontiers of Faith.” Tyson gained recognition for her role in the off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s “The Blacks,” where she played the role of Stephanie Virtue Secret-Rose Diop. The show ran for 1,408 performances and became the longest running off-Broadway non-musical of the decade. In 1963, she appeared on the game show “To Tell The Truth” as an ‘imposter’ for Australian singer Shirley Abicair.

Tyson’s breakthrough role came in 1972 when she starred as Rebecca Morgan in “Sounder,” which earned her nominations for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for best actress. Her performance in “Sounder” opened doors for more substantial roles for African-American actresses in Hollywood. She continued to act in film and television projects throughout her life, including the acclaimed series “Roots” (1977), “Fried Green Tomatoes” (1991), “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” (2005), and “The Help” (2011). She also had a recurring role in the legal drama series “How to Get Away With Murder.”

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