Tyler Perry | Biography, Plays, Movies, TV shows, & Facts

Tyler Perry, American playwright, actor, screenwriter, producer, and director whose works—in which he often portrayed the character Mabel ... TylerPerry TableofContents Introduction FastFacts Facts&RelatedContent Media Images More MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Entertainment&PopCulture Movie,TV&StageDirectors TylerPerry Americanplaywright,actor,screenwriter,producer,anddirector Alternatetitles:EmmittPerry,Jr. Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tyler-Perry More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). 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ExternalWebsites NewGeorgiaEncyclopedia-ArtsandCulture-BiographyofTylerPerry OfficialSiteofTylerPerry By NoraSørenaCasey • LastUpdated: Jan14,2022 • EditHistory TylerPerry Seeallmedia Born: September13,1969(age52) NewOrleans Louisiana ...(Showmore) NotableWorks: “AMadeaFamilyFuneral” “Acrimony” “DiaryofaMadBlackWoman” “ForBetterorWorse” “ForColoredGirls” “HouseofPayne” “IKnowI’veBeenChanged” “MadeaGoestoJail” “MeettheBrowns” “MeettheBrowns” “MeettheBrowns” “Nobody’sFool” “Ruthless” “TheOval” “WhyDidIGetMarried?” ...(Showmore) Seeallrelatedcontent→ TylerPerry,originalnameEmmittPerry,Jr.,(bornSeptember13,1969,NewOrleans,Louisiana,U.S.),Americanplaywright,actor,screenwriter,producer,anddirectorwhoseworks—inwhichheoftenportrayedthecharacterMabel(“Madea”)Simmons,anoutspokengrandmother—combinedhumour,religiouswisdom,andpersonaltriumph.Perryhadadifficultchildhood.Hegrewupwithaphysicallyabusivefather(helaterchangedhisnametodisassociatehimselffromhisfather),attemptedsuicide,anddroppedoutofhighschool,althoughheeventuallypassedahigh-schoolequivalencyexam.AfterheheardtelevisionpersonalityOprahWinfreysuggestthatwritingdownpersonalexperiencescouldbecathartic,Perrybegantokeepajournal,whichevolvedintohisfirstplay,IKnowI’veBeenChanged.Perryworkedanumberofoddjobstoraisemoneyforitsfirststaging,whichtookplaceinAtlantain1992.Hisself-fundedproduction—inwhichhealsostarred—receivedalmostnoattentionandsenthimintoextremepoverty.In1998,however,herestagedtheplayandsoldoutperformancesforeightdaysinarowbeforemovingittoAtlanta’snationallyacclaimedFoxTheatre.Perry’sworkwasdistinctinitsblendoftraditionaltheatrewithAfricanAmericanSouthernentertainment,whichhadbeenlargelyuntappedbylargercommercialenterprises. BritannicaQuiz PopCultureQuiz AreyouaprincessofPop?ThekingofCulture?Seeifyou’reanentertainmentexpertbyansweringthesequestions. Perry’ssecondstageproduction,a1999adaptationofWoman,ThouArtLoosed!byT.D.Jakes,grossedmorethan$5millioninfivemonths.Perry’strademarkcharacter,Madea,wascreatedinhisplayICanDoBadAllbyMyself(2000;film2009).Thebrutallyhonest,rambunctiousgun-totinggrandmother,whosenamecomesfromthefrequentAfricanAmericancontractionof“MotherDear,”wasplayedbyPerryindrag.Shewasarecurringfigureinanumberofhislaterplays,suchasDiaryofaMadBlackWoman(2001;film2005),Madea’sFamilyReunion(2002;film2006),Madea’sClassReunion(2003),MadeaGoestoJail(2005;film2009),Madea’sBigHappyFamily(2010;film2011),AMadeaChristmas(2011;film2013),andMadea’sNeighborsfromHell(2014).Perrymovedtofeaturefilmsin2005bywriting,producing,andactinginascreenversionofDiaryofaMadBlackWoman.Itsfeel-goodnarrative,inwhichMadeacounselshergranddaughterthroughafailedmarriage,helpedPerrygainawideraudience.HereprisedtheroleofMadeainsubsequentfilmadaptationsofhisplays,whichhealsoproducedanddirected.A2007adaptationofhisplayWhyDidIGetMarried?(2004),anexplorationofmodernrelationships,allowedPerrytomovebeyondtheMadeacharacteron-screen.Headditionallybeganwritinganddirectingfilmsthatwerenotbasedonpreviouswork,suchasDaddy’sLittleGirls(2007)andTheFamilyThatPreys(2008).In2010PerrywroteanddirectedWhyDidIGetMarriedToo?,inwhichhealsostarred,andForColoredGirls,anadaptationofNtozakeShange’sgroundbreakingensembletheatrepieceForColoredGirlsWhoHaveConsideredSuicide/WhentheRainbowIsEnuf(1975).HelaterwroteanddirectedhimselfinGoodDeeds(2012),adramaaboutaCEOseekingpersonalfulfillment;Madea’sWitnessProtection(2012);Boo!AMadeaHalloween(2016)anditssequel(2017);andAMadeaFamilyFuneral(2019).TylerPerry’sTemptation(2013),whichPerryadaptedfromhisplayTheMarriageCounselor(2008),offeredanothertaleofromantictumult.HethenwroteanddirectedtheupliftingTheSingleMomsClub(2014).Hismoviesfrom2018includedthethrillerAcrimony,inwhichTarajiP.Hensonplayedawifeseekingrevengeagainstherdeceptivehusband,andthecomedyNobody’sFool,whichstarredTiffanyHaddishasarecentlyparoledex-convictwhohelpsherstraitlacedsisterwithherlovelife.AFallfromGrace(2020),aboutanabusedwomanaccusedofkillingherhusband,airedonNetflix.BeginningwithStarTrek(2009),Perryoccasionallyacceptedactingrolesinothers’films.Forinstance,inAlexCross(2012),anadaptationofaJamesPattersonnovel,heportrayedthetitulardetective,aroleoriginatedon-screenbyMorganFreeman.HelaterappearedasadefenseattorneyinDavidFincher’sthrillerGoneGirl(2014)andplayedvillainousscientistBaxterStockmaninTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles:OutoftheShadows(2016).PerrywasthencastasSecretaryofStateColinPowellinVice(2018),abiopicofDickCheney,vicepresidentintheadministrationofGeorgeW.Bush.Hiscreditsfrom2021includedtheactiondramaThoseWhoWishMeDeadandDon’tLookUp,asatireaboutanimpendingcometstrikethatwilldestroyEarth.TylerPerryTylerPerry,2012.AllstarPictureLibrary/AlamyPerry’sfirstbook,Don’tMakeaBlackWomanTakeOffHerEarrings:Madea’sUninhibitedCommentariesonLoveandLife(2006),wasabestseller.Perry’sworkalsotranslatedsuccessfullytotelevisionwithhissitcomsHouseofPayne(2006–12;2020–);MeettheBrowns(2009–11),whichevolvedfromaplay(2004)andafilm(2008);andForBetterorWorse(2011–17),whichcentredoncharactersfromWhyDidIGetMarried?anditssequel.ThelatterserieswaspickedupbyOprahWinfrey’sOWNchannelinitsthirdseasonfollowingitscancellationbyTBS.PerrycreatedseveraladditionaltelevisionshowsforOWN:thesoapoperasTheHavesandtheHaveNots(2013–21)andIfLovingYouIsWrong(2014–16)aswellassuchcomediesasLoveThyNeighbor(2013–17).In2017PerrysignedadealwithViacom,andhissubsequentshowsincludedTheOval(2019–),aboutaU.S.presidentandhisfamily,anditsspinoff,Ruthless(2020–).In2006hecreatedTylerPerryStudios,andsince2015ithasbeenlocatedonaformerarmybaseinAtlanta.In2021PerryreceivedtheJeanHersholtHumanitarianAwardfromtheAcademyofMotionPictureArtsandSciences.Hewascitedfor“caringforpeoplewhoaremostoftenignored.”NoraSørenaCaseyTheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica