Perry, Tyler (1969-…), is an American playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. He is best known for his portrayal of the overbearing, gun-carrying grandmother Mable “Madea” << muh DEE uh >> Simmons on stage and in motion pictures. Perry’s work often centers around middle-class African American families.
Perry was born on Sept. 14, 1969, in New Orleans. His real name is Emmitt R. Perry, Jr. He dropped out of high school at the age of 16 but later went back to school and received a certificate for passing the General Educational Development (GED) test. Perry began writing plays at 18. He moved to Atlanta in 1992 and was homeless for a period. His first success was the musical I Know I’ve Been Changed, based on a series of letters to himself. The play premiered in Atlanta in 1998.
Perry portrayed Madea in a series of plays he wrote and directed, beginning with I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2000). He also portrayed the character in a series of film adaptations of his plays, beginning with Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005). Perry made his motion-picture acting debut in that film, which was directed by Darren Grant. Perry directed the “Madea” films that followed. In addition to Madea, Perry played other characters in many of the “Madea” plays and films.
Perry wrote, directed, and starred in the film Why Did I Get Married? (2007), based on his 2006 play of the same title. He also wrote, directed, and starred in its sequel, Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010). Perry also wrote and directed Daddy’s Little Girls (2007) and Tyler Perry’s Temptation (2013). He wrote, directed, and acted in The Family That Preys (2008), based on his play of the same title; Good Deeds (2012); and The Single Moms Club (2014). Perry also directed For Colored Girls (2010), based on the play by Ntozake Shange. Perry also starred in the thrillers Alex Cross (2012) and Gone Girl (2014).
Perry created the television series ”House of Payne” (2007-2009) and another series called “Meet the Browns,” which began in 2009 and is based on Perry’s 2004 play and 2008 film of the same title. He wrote the best-selling novel Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life (2006). In 2008, Perry formed Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. It is the first major TV and film studio established by an African American.
