Awards and Nominations
- Awards
- 1961: National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress – A Raisin in the Sun
- 1971: Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance – Boesman and Lena
- 1971: Obie Award for Best Performance by an Actress – Boesman and Lena
- 1973: Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance – Wedding Band
- 1991: Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Mini–Series or TV Movie – Decoration Day
- 1991: Women in Film Crystal Award
- 1995: National Medal of Arts
- 2001: Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2007: Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album - With Ossie And Ruby: In This Life Together
- 2008: African–American Film Critics Best Supporting Actress – American Gangster
- 2008: Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role – American Gangster
- 2008: The Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal Award
- 2008: She was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP.
- Nominations
- 1993: Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – Evening Shade
- 2002: Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Actress – Saint Lucy's Eyes
- 2008: Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – American Gangster
- 2008: Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – American Gangster
- 2008: Satellite Award Best Supporting Actress – American Gangster
- 2008: Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture – American Gangster
- 2009: Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Female Actress in a Television Movie or Miniseries - America
- 2010: Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Event - America
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