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More Tyler Perry Bios & Profiles

 

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Biography #2 (for Madea's Family Reunion)

Tyler Perry-writer, producer, director, and actor extraordinaire-emerged from the poverty-stricken streets of New Orleans to his multi-million dollar mansion in Atlanta. But the story to be told is his journey from homelessness to bliss.

This rags-to-riches tale is astonishing and inspirational to all. Tyler's younger days were troubled, and he suffered from endless abuse from his father. Later in life, the dejection and rejection caused him to do some soul-searching. In 1992, inspired to write by Oprah Winfrey, he penned a series of letters to himself in an effort to find catharses for his childhood pain. Those same letters would eventually evolve to become Tyler's first hit musical, I Know I've Been Changed. His humble spirit and relationship with God kept him faithful and obedient. He believed God was calling him to share his story with as many as possible, to help and heal others like him. In his words, Tyler learned real forgiveness deep within-a type of forgiveness that leads to success in one's soul. Perry chose the stage life as the vehicle. It was definitely a learning process of hard work. But now Perry has raised the bar tremendously on the way people perceive and attend urban theatre selling out to millions across the country.

Looking back through his illustrious career thus far, Perry ingeniously created the sixty- eight-year-old character Mabel Madea Simmons. In 1997, his first production, I Know I've Been Changed, gave theater its facelift. It was followed by Woman, Thou Art Loosed and Behind Closed Doors, both collaborations with Bishop T.D. Jakes. In 2000, he wrote I Can Do Bad All By Myself and introduced Madea, successfully making her a household name to thousands across the country. Soon after, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Family Reunion and Class Reunion all starred Tyler Perry as Madea. Two of his projects, Why Did I Get Married with Grammy Award-winner Kelly Price and Meet the Browns, have toured successfully without him while Tyler focused on new ventures. He has changed the urban genre of theatre, thus touching and inspiring the lives of many. His legacy encounters mega-sellout performances throughout the country.

In December 2004, Tyler wrote and produced Madea's Christmas Play for Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). The program netted the highest ratings for the local broadcast and 3rd highest in TBN history!

His new ventures included his first major motion picture. The screen adaptation of his stageplay, DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN, was the #1 movie at the box office. The film starred Kimberly Elise, Shemar Moore, Steve Harris, Cicely Tyson and, of course, Tyler Perry who played three roles. The success of the movie surprised Hollywood movie moguls and theater critics who knew little or nothing of Tyler Perry. (Tyler also filmed a stage production of Diary of a Mad Black Woman, released in February 2005.) The current tour, Madea Goes to Jail, is the best stage production yet. To date, it has sold out every theater since January 2005.

Tyler has made several major television appearances, the highlights of which were his two guest appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he talked about the power of forgiveness and his new movie. He was also a guest on ABC's Good Morning America and 20/20. He was nominated for the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Excellence in Theatre and for MTV's Breakthrough Man of the Year Award.

Tyler has been featured in such publications as Black Enterprise; Ebony; Essence; JET, Sister to Sister; and was a recipient of 2004 Black Business Professionals Entrepreneur of the Year as well as many others.

'People look at the money or the resources I have achieved but it is far better than that. The laughter, values, wisdom, and spirituality that I am bringing to the productions are worth far more than what I am earning.'

Remember that life is short and my motto is 'Laugh your way through it!'

Bio courtesy Lionsgate Films for "Madea's Family Reunion" (08-Apr-2006)