Tyler Perry is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, writer, and songwriter, specializing in the gospel genre
Perry was born September 13, 1969, and
raised in New Orleans, to Willie Maxine (Campbell) and Emmitt Perry, Sr.
His mother was a church-goer and took Perry along with her once a week.
His father was a carpenter and they had a very strained and abusive
relationship, which led Perry to suffer from depression as a teenager.
raised in New Orleans, to Willie Maxine (Campbell) and Emmitt Perry, Sr.
His mother was a church-goer and took Perry along with her once a week.
His father was a carpenter and they had a very strained and abusive
relationship, which led Perry to suffer from depression as a teenager.
In 1991, he was working an office job,
when he saw an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986) discussing the
therapeutic nature of writing. This inspired him to begin writing and he
worked through his bad experiences by writing letters to himself. He
adapted his letters into a play, “I Know I’ve Changed”, about domestic
abuse. Unfortunately, after renting a theater in Atlanta to put on the
play, he failed to attract audiences.
when he saw an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986) discussing the
therapeutic nature of writing. This inspired him to begin writing and he
worked through his bad experiences by writing letters to himself. He
adapted his letters into a play, “I Know I’ve Changed”, about domestic
abuse. Unfortunately, after renting a theater in Atlanta to put on the
play, he failed to attract audiences.
He took on a series of odd jobs and
found himself living in his car. But, in 1998, he was given a second
chance to stage his play and, this time, he was more business-savvy with
his marketing. The play was sold-out and drew attention from investors.
found himself living in his car. But, in 1998, he was given a second
chance to stage his play and, this time, he was more business-savvy with
his marketing. The play was sold-out and drew attention from investors.
Tyler has gone on to established a successful career as a writer, director and producer for stage, television and film.
Has been writing
plays since he was 18. As of March 2005, his eight plays have grossed
over US$75 million in tickets and DVD sales.
plays since he was 18. As of March 2005, his eight plays have grossed
over US$75 million in tickets and DVD sales.
Before becoming a
successful film-maker with Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005), he was
already the owner of a successful play company that tours the country
and caters to African-Americans. His plays are also recorded and sold as
DVDs.
successful film-maker with Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005), he was
already the owner of a successful play company that tours the country
and caters to African-Americans. His plays are also recorded and sold as
DVDs.
His plays often
reference The Color Purple (1985), which starred Oprah Winfrey. He
credits The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986) with inspiring him to write.
reference The Color Purple (1985), which starred Oprah Winfrey. He
credits The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986) with inspiring him to write.
Perry wrote and produced many stage plays during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2011, Forbes named him the highest paid man in entertainment; he earned US$130 million between May 2010 and 2011. With new shows lined up, along with older successful shows, his net worth in 2017 is estimated to be $600 million.
Perry is known for both creating and
performing as the Madea character, a tough elderly black woman. Perry
also creates films, some produced as live recordings of stage plays, and
others professionally filmed using full sets and locations with full
editing. Perry is estimated to have earned around US$75 million by
2008. Many of Perry’s stage-play films have been subsequently adapted as
professional films.
performing as the Madea character, a tough elderly black woman. Perry
also creates films, some produced as live recordings of stage plays, and
others professionally filmed using full sets and locations with full
editing. Perry is estimated to have earned around US$75 million by
2008. Many of Perry’s stage-play films have been subsequently adapted as
professional films.
Perry has also created several television shows, his most successful of which is Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,
a show that ran for eight seasons on TBS from June 21, 2006, to August
10, 2012. On October 2, 2012, Perry struck an exclusive multi-year
partnership with Oprah Winfrey and her Oprah Winfrey Network. The
partnership was largely for the purposes of bringing scripted television
to the OWN network, Perry having had previous success in this
department. Perry has created multiple scripted series for the network,
the most successful being The Haves and the Have Nots. As of 2014, The Haves and the Have Nots
has given OWN its highest ratings to date. The series has also been
referred to as being “one of OWN’s biggest success stories with its
weekly dose of soapy fun, filled with the typical betrayals, affairs,
and manipulations.”
a show that ran for eight seasons on TBS from June 21, 2006, to August
10, 2012. On October 2, 2012, Perry struck an exclusive multi-year
partnership with Oprah Winfrey and her Oprah Winfrey Network. The
partnership was largely for the purposes of bringing scripted television
to the OWN network, Perry having had previous success in this
department. Perry has created multiple scripted series for the network,
the most successful being The Haves and the Have Nots. As of 2014, The Haves and the Have Nots
has given OWN its highest ratings to date. The series has also been
referred to as being “one of OWN’s biggest success stories with its
weekly dose of soapy fun, filled with the typical betrayals, affairs,
and manipulations.”
