Tyler Perry

Born September 13, 1969 - New Orleans, Louisiana

Tyler Perry is an African-American writer, director and actor who might be best known to audiences as his alter ego Madea, a recurring character in his popular family dramedies.

Born Emmitt R. Perry, Jr. in New Orleans, the future filmmaker endured poverty and physical abuse from his father. In 1992, he began writing a journal about his experiences growing up (an impulse he credited to an episde of Oprah), and later transformed these "letters" into the hit musical I Know I've Been Changed. More plays followed, including several that he would later adapt into movies.

Perry made his film writing, directing and acting debut with 2005's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, based on his 2001 play. The movie opened #1 at the U.S. box office and kicked off his series of family dramedies, often featuring Perry as overbearing matriarch Mabel "Madea" Simmons. Perry continues to write and direct theater, and co-writes and produces Tyler Perry's House of Payne, a TV sitcom slated to end its 100-episode run in 2008.

Tyler Perry Filmography

All films written by, directed by, and starring Perry unless stated otherwise.

Meet the Browns (2008)
Why Did I Get Married? (2007)
Daddy's Little Girls (2007) (written and dir. only)
Why Did I Get Married? (2007)
Madea's Family Reunion (2006)
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

-- A. Wu