Phyllis Marie Cicero (July 1, 1959 - February 12, 2021) was an American actress who was best known for her role as Stella the Storyteller on the television show Barney & Friends. Cicero portrayed the role of Stella from season three to season six of the show with a surprise comeback in The Best of Barney (2008). She also played all twelve of Stella's cousins in It's Time for Counting (1998).
Contents
Early Life
Cicero was born in Tyler, Smith County, Texas to her mother Dorothy Jean Cicero and her father Samuel T. Cicero. Cicero was one of five children.[1]
Education
Cicero graduated from John Tyler High School in 1977.[2] She then attended The University of Texas at Austin from 1977-1979, attaining her degree in theatrical arts. She also attended Columbia University in the City of New York from 1981-1983 attaining her degree in theatre.[3][4]
Career
Acting
Cicero began her career in the theater appearing in stage productions of "Cabin in the Sky," "Porgy and Bess," and "A Raisin in the Sun". Relocating to Los Angeles, California, in the early 1990s, she began a secondary career as a character actress in film appearing in over 30 features; often typecast as mothers, wives, best friends, kindly neighbors, doctors, nurses, secretaries, educators, and businesswoman. Cicero was also a theatrical instructor for the Tyler Civic Theater.
Other
During her career, she was state president of the Future Homemakers of Americas, a secretary for the National Honor Society, served as the team-board vice-president for JCPenney, and was an honorary chairwoman with the Texas State Democratic Committee.
Death
Cicero passed away on February 12th 2021 due to complications from liver cancer.[4]
Achivements
During the reception at the Tyler Public Library, Gloria Washington, executive director of the Texas African American Museum in Tyler, read a proclamation from Tyler Mayor Martin Heines declaring Sept. 16 as Phyllis Cicero Day to honor her legacy and accomplishments.[2]
Personal Life
Cicero was a regular parishioner of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.[4]
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–2000 | Barney & Friends | Stella the Storyteller | 23 episodes, 4 home videos (1995-2000, 2008) |
| 1996-2000 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Nina Woods / Kimberly Johnson / Karen Haskell | |
| 1999 | King of the World | Mrs. Geraldine Liston | TV movie |
| 2011 | Chase | Judge | Appeared in the episode "Narco: Part 1" |
| 2018 | Queen of the South | Devon's Mother | Appeared in the episode "El Juicio" |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Steele's Law | Rose Holly | |
| 1993 | Hexed' | Officer Novak | |
| 1999 | King of the World | Mrs. Geraldine Liston | TV movie |
| 1994 | Stealin' Home | Ala | |
| 1997 | Night Vision | Pathologist | |
| 1997 | Finding North | Janice | |
| 2004 | The Beautiful Country | Receptionist | |
| 2020 | Miss Juneteenth | Mrs. Washington |
Shorts
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Weekend of Our Discontent | Dr. Grace Shafita | |
| 1998 | Yello Dino's Tricky People | Edna Brown | |
| 2015 | Melville | Mom | |
| 2019 | I Can Do All Things | Camille | |
| 2020 | Destiny Deferred | Counselor | |
| Post-Production | Garden of Lies | Mother Sadie |
Videos
Interviews
Tributes
Trivia
- Phyllis Cicero appeared in the short video Yello Dino's Tricky People alongside fellow Barney actor Lucien Douglas. It was also directed and written by Fred Holmes who directed and wrote for Barney & Friends.
- Her son, Dorian, died two years prior before her death, in January 2019.
