Tyler Perry Profile
Tyler Perry
Born September 13, 1969 (age 38) Harvey, Louisiana
Official website
Tyler Perry (born September 13, 1969) 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.
Contents
1 Personal life 2 Career
2.1 Theatre 2.2 Films 2.3 Television 2.4 Books
3 Trademarks 4 Filmography 5 Awards/Nominations 6 References 7 External links
Personal life Tyler was born Emmitt R Perry, Jr. in New Orleans, Tyler dropped out of school when he was 16, but later went back to school to obtain his GED. Perry is a Christian.
Career
Theatre
Main article: Tyler Perry Plays
One day while he was watching The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1992, Perry took the advice that it can be cathartic to put feelings down on paper, which inspired him to write letters of his painful childhood. These letters eventually became his plays. Perry's first foray into writing was in 1992, when he began writing a journal, in part to cope with the repercussions of abuse. He developed different characters to voice different ideas in the journal. This work eventually became the musical I Know I've Been Changed, about adult survivors of child abuse. He also started writing plays at 18. Perry moved to Atlanta in 1992 and worked in a restaurant and as a used car salesman. He managed to save up $12,000 to stage his first play. It was not a success and over the next six years, he struggled living in Atlanta but persevered until the play finally had a successful run in 1998, first at the House of Blues and later at the Fox Theatre. His following play, a staging of Bishop T. D. Jakes' book Woman Thou Art Loosed, was an immediate hit, grossing over $5 million in five months. 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 Jill Scott 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 was released February 12, 2008. Perry's most recent stage production is The Marriage Counselor which premiered in January 2008, touring through May 2009. This production features Tony Grant, Taimak Guarriello and Tamar Davis.
Films
Main article: Tyler Perry Films
His first movie, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, produced on a budget of $5.5 million, became an unexpected hit, prompting widespread discussion among industry watchers about whether middle-class African Americans were simply not being addressed by mainstream Hollywood movies. Its final gross box office receipts were $50.6 million, although it was a critical flop, scoring only 16% overall on Rotten Tomatoes. His next project for Lions Gate Entertainment, Daddy's Little Girls, starring Gabrielle Union, was released in the U.S. on February 14, 2007. It grossed over $31 million. Perry wrote, directed, produced, and starred in his next movie, Why Did I Get Married, which was released on October 12, 2007. It opened as the #1 grossing $21.4 million dollars at the box office that weekend. It is loosely based on the play. Filming began March 5, 2007, in Whistler, British Columbia; Vancouver, then Atlanta, where Perry opened his own studio. Janet Jackson, Sharon Leal, Jill Scott and Tasha Smith appear in the film. His upcoming films include an adaptation of his play Meet the Browns, scheduled to be released March 21, 2008, and featuring Angela Bassett. Tyler will reprise himself as Madea and Uncle Joe, Madea's naughty trash talking brother. Madea Goes to Jail is Tyler's next release, which is scheduled to open September 12, 2008. Tyler will also have a role in the movie. A Family That Preys together It stars Sanaa Lathan, Alfre Woodard, Jennifer Hudson, and Kathy Bates,is scheduled for a spring 2009 release followed by A Jazz Man's Blues, and will be Perry's eighth film with Lionsgate. Perry will star as the jazz singer in the movie. Also, in his first film outside of his own projects, Perry will play the superintendent of Starfleet Academy in JJ Abrams' new Star Trek film.
Television Perry produces a television show titled Tyler Perry's House of Payne, which follows a working-class, African-American household with three generations of family within it. The show seeks to illustrate struggles with faith and love, as well as showing how to coexist with the generation gap. The show ran briefly in Spring 2006 as a 10 show pilot. After a successful pilot run, Perry signed a $200 million dollar 100 episode deal with TBS. On June 6, 2007, Tyler Perry's first two episodes of House of Payne ran on TBS. Due to high ratings, House of Payne is now in syndication. Re-runs will play through December 2007 before the 2nd season begins. The 3rd season began March 5, 2008. House of Payne will air on FOX network beginning September 2008. Meet The Browns is Perry's next sitcom starring David Mann and Tamela Mann. Tyler Perry also has his own show called the The Tyler Perry Show. You can see a sneak peek of it on . In February 2008 it was announced that Tyler Perry would soon be creating an animated TV show featuring Madea in a more "kid friendly" type of show.
Books Perry's first novel, Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life, hit bookstores April 11, 2006. The book is written from Madea's point of view, and offers commentary about love, relationships, and family. In its first five days in stores, the book sold more than 25,000 copies. The hardcover hit Number One on the New York Times Best Seller list and stayed on the list for twelve weeks. It was voted the Book of the Year and Best Humor Book at the 2006 Quill Awards.
Trademarks Perry always places a possessive reference to himself in all of his work's titles (e.g., Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?) Several recurring narrative themes surface in Perry's work. They feature a predominantly African American cast. His films often tackle issues of physical and sexual abuse, and are often based in Atlanta. The recurring character of Mabel "Madea" Simmons surfaces in many of Perry's work. Perry portrays Madea in his plays and films. Perry based Madea on an aunt who lives in Georgia, as well as his mother, according to Perry himself. In Madea's appearances, she dispenses wisdom in a "no-nonsense manner", and is usually involved in physical comedy and/or a sight gag. The nickname "Madea" comes from a Southern African American contraction of the words "mother dear", which is commonly used as a term of affection. It is also used as a reference to a great-grandmother. Tyler often references Alice Walker's The Color Purple, which he notes as one of his favorite movies. Perry plays also make references to 1970s R&B and soul music, and the differences between that and the current state of rap/hip-hop music, and other music popular amongst the black community. Other references include singer Patti Labelle, Ike and Tina Turner, the movie Forrest Gump, the television sitcom Good Times, rapper Missy Elliot, singer Tweet, and people of different ethnicities.
Filmography
A Jazz Man's Blues (2009) Star Trek (2009) A Family That Prays Together (2009) Madea Goes to Jail (2008) Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns (2008) Why Did I Get Married (2007) Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2007) Daddy's Little Girls (2007) Madea's Family Reunion (2006) Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
Awards/Nominations
BET Comedy Awards
2005: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Film (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Winner 2005: Outstanding Writing for a Film (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Winner
Black Movie Awards
2006: Outstanding Achievement in Writing (Madea's Family Reunion), Nominated 2006: Outstanding Motion Picture (Madea's Family Reunion), Nominated 2005: Outstanding Motion Picture (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Nominated 2005: Outstanding Achievement in Writing (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Winner
Black Reel Awards
2007: Outstanding Screenplay Adapted or Original (Madea's Family Reunion), Nominated 2006: Outstanding Screenplay Adapted or Original (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Nominated 2006: Best Breakthrough Performance (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Nominated
Image Awards
2008: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Why Did I Get Married?), Nominated 2007: Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Madea's Family Reunion), Nominated 2007: Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Madea's Family Reunion), Nominated
MTV Movie Awards
2006: Best Comedic Performance (Madea's Family Reunion), Nominated 2005: Best Comedic Performance (Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Nominated
References
^ Tyler Perry Biography - Inspired by Oprah, Perseverance Paid Off, Concentrated on Madea Character
External links
Tyler Perry at the Internet Movie Database Official website Interview with Tyler Perry on beliefnet.com
v • d • e
Tyler Perry
Plays I Know I've Been Changed · I Can Do Bad All By Myself · Diary of a Mad Black Woman · Madea's Family Reunion · Madea's Class Reunion · Why Did I Get Married? · Meet the Browns · Madea Goes to Jail · What's Done in the Dark · The Marriage Counsler
Films Diary of a Mad Black Woman · Madea's Family Reunion · Daddy's Little Girls · Why Did I Get Married? · Meet the Browns · Madea Goes to Jail
Mable "Madea" Simmons · Characters in Tyler Perry Plays · Tyler Perry's House of Payne · Lions Gate Entertainment
Top 5 Search Results
Tyler Perry Official site of Tyler Perry, the Black Gospel playwright, actor, and filmmaker. Site includes details about his latest movies and other projects, photos, and merchandise.
Tyler Perry - Wikipedia User-created biography of playwright and actor Tyler Perry, known for his plays and films Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea's Family Reunion.
Tyler Perry - IMDb Biography, photos, and list of film and television appearances by actor and playwright Tyler Perry, known for such plays and films as Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea's Class Reunion, I Can Do Bad All by Myself, and Madea's Family Reunion.
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Tyler Perry Studios
