Tyler Perry is an American playwright, actor and film director. His best-known character is Mabel Simmons, more commonly known as "Madea," an overbearing if well-intentioned woman who serves both as comic relief and as the loud voice of conscience to the principal protagonists of Perry`s morality plays.Perry was born in New Orleans, one of four children. His father, Emmitt, was a carpenter and construction worker, and his mother, Maxine, was a pre-school teacher and worked at the New Orleans Jewish Community Center for most of her life. His childhood in New Orleans was marked by poverty and physical abuse. He was once homeless and lived in his car for three months. Perry is a Christian.Tyler Perry has been accused of being on steroids. A film version was later created starring Kimberly Elise and Cicely Tyson, was released in theaters on October 1, 2004.
Perry, whose work is aimed at a primarily African-American audience, ultimately created a successful touring theater company. Recordings of some plays were subsequently sold on video and DVD. As of March 2005, Perry`s plays had grossed over $75 million in ticket and DVD sales. Cover of Madea`s Class Reunion.Perry stated in a January 2004 interview in Ebony magazine that his theater productions were designed to be a bridge between the traditional urban theater circuit--historically and pejoratively referred to as the "chitlin` circuit"--and a more traditional theater format. Perry`s other highly successful plays include Diary of a Mad Black Woman, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Madea`s Family Reunion and Madea`s Class Reunion.
He also wrote and created the hit plays Why Did I Get Married? featuring R&B singer Kelly Price and later the DVD version featured Cheryl Pepsii Riley and Tony Grant and Meet the Browns featuring Terrell Phillips, Terrell Carter, and David and Tamela Mann (Perry did not appear in either production). In 2005, Perry returned to the stage with another successful hit, Madea Goes to Jail. Another play, What`s Done in the Dark, which Perry wrote and directed but does not appear in, went on tour beginning in September 2006. The tour of the play ended May 13, 2007 but returned for another run in September. The video was filmed in Charlotte, NC and will be released February 12, 2008. Perry`s most recent stage production is The Marriage Counselor which premiered in January 2008, touring through May 2008. This production features Tony Grant, Taimak Guarriello and Tamar Davis.