Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry
Born	Emmitt Perry Jr.; September 13, 1969 (age 57); New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, filmmaker, playwright, entrepreneur
Years active	1990s–present
Known for	Creating and portraying Madea character; Tyler Perry's House of Payne; films Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea's Family Reunion

Tyler Perry (originally named Emmitt Perry Jr. at birth on September 13, 1969) is a multifaceted American talent encompassing acting, filmmaking, playwriting, and entrepreneurship. He is widely recognized for creating and embodying the character Mabel "Madea" Simmons, a formidable elderly woman, as well as portraying her relatives Joe Simmons and Brian Simmons. Perry’s body of work includes both conventional films and recorded stage productions, many of which have been adapted into feature-length movies. The character Madea first appeared in the 1999 Chicago stage production I Can Do Bad All by Myself.

Perry rose to fame through his theatrical plays during the 1990s and early 2000s, with a major breakthrough arriving in 2005 via the film adaptation of his play Diary of a Mad Black Woman. He expanded into television by creating several series, most notably Tyler Perry's House of Payne, which originally aired on TBS for eight seasons from 2006 to 2012 and was later revived in 2020. Forbes recognized him in 2011 as the highest-earning man in entertainment, reporting income of $130 million between May 2010 and May 2011. In 2012, Perry signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network, generating scripted content such as The Haves and the Have Nots. In 2019, he produced the political drama series The Oval for BET.

In addition to his own creative ventures, Perry has appeared in several prominent Hollywood films including Star Trek (2009), Alex Cross (2012), Gone Girl (2014), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016), Vice (2018), Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021), and Don't Look Up (2021). His voice acting credits include animated features like The Star (2017) and Paw Patrol: The Movie (2021).

His productions have collectively earned more than $660 million globally, contributing to an estimated net worth around $1 billion, positioning him among the wealthiest individuals in the entertainment industry. Despite notable commercial achievements, his work has faced criticism for reinforcing negative stereotypes about African Americans and receiving predominantly unfavorable reviews from critics. Nonetheless, Perry’s influence was acknowledged when he was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2020. He also received the Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy Awards in 2021, and was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.

Early life

Born Emmitt Perry Jr. in New Orleans, Louisiana, Tyler Perry is the son of Willie Maxine Perry (née Campbell) and Emmitt Perry Sr., who worked as a carpenter. He grew up alongside three siblings. Perry has described his upbringing as extremely difficult, labeling it a "living hell". While his father was abusive, his mother regularly took him to church services every week, offering some solace. At age 16, he legally changed his first name from Emmitt to Tyler to create distance from his father.

Years later, after watching the film Precious, Perry disclosed that he had been sexually abused at age 10 by a friend's mother. Prior to this incident, he had suffered abuse at the hands of three men and later discovered that his own father had molested that friend. A DNA test subsequently revealed that Emmitt Sr. was not his biological father.

Although Perry did not finish high school, he obtained a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. In his early twenties, inspired by a remark on The Oprah Winfrey Show regarding writing as a form of therapy, he began composing letters to himself which eventually evolved into the musical I Know I've Been Changed.

Stage

In the early 1990s, Perry relocated to Atlanta, where in 1992 he invested his entire life savings of $12,000 to produce and debut I Know I've Been Changed. This theatrical work incorporated Christian messages and tackled sensitive topics such as child abuse and troubled family dynamics, though it initially did not achieve financial success. Over a span of six years, Perry continuously revised and reintroduced the musical in various Atlanta venues, including the House of Blues and Fox Theatre, cultivating a devoted audience within the "urban theater circuit," particularly among African-American communities. By 2005, Forbes noted that Perry had generated over $100 million from ticket sales, $30 million from video distributions, and $20 million through merchandise, with his approximately 300 live performances annually drawing around 35,000 spectators each week.

Film

To finance his debut film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Perry amassed a budget of $5.5 million partly through proceeds from stage ticket sales. Despite unfavorable reviews from critics, the film earned $50.6 million domestically. He then directed Madea's Family Reunion, which premiered at number one with an opening weekend of $30.3 million and ultimately grossed $65 million. Perry promoted this film during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. His subsequent projects with Lionsgate included Daddy's Little Girls (grossing $31 million), Why Did I Get Married? (which debuted at number one with $21.4 million), Meet the Browns (opening at $20.1 million), and The Family That Preys (earning $37.1 million).

The 2009 release of Madea Goes to Jail marked Perry’s highest opening weekend at that time, debuting at number one with $41 million. That same year, he expanded his acting portfolio by appearing in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek outside of his own productions. Additionally, Perry wrote, directed, and starred in I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which also opened at number one. He collaborated with Oprah Winfrey as co-presenter for the critically acclaimed film Precious.

The sequel Why Did I Get Married Too? released in 2010 achieved a domestic gross of $60 million with an opening weekend of $29 million. In November 2010, Perry directed the film adaptation of Ntozake Shange's choreopoem For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf. He also translated his stage production into the movie Madea's Big Happy Family (2011), which garnered $25.8 million.

In 2012, Perry wrote, directed, and starred in the romantic drama Good Deeds, which opened to $15.5 million despite receiving mixed critical feedback. By mid-2011, his cumulative box office earnings worldwide had surpassed $500 million. His seventh installment featuring Madea, titled Madea's Witness Protection, was released in June 2012.

Perry assumed the role of James Patterson's Alex Cross in the reboot film Alex Cross (2012). Although this project was critically unsuccessful and performed poorly at the box office, it led to his casting by David Fincher in the 2014 thriller Gone Girl.

His thirteenth directorial effort, Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013), featured Lance Gross and Kim Kardashian. That year he also produced Tyler Perry Presents Peeples and released another Madea film, A Madea Christmas. In 2014, Perry directed The Single Moms Club, followed by his first animated feature, Madea's Tough Love, which was distributed on DVD in 2015. In 2016, he appeared as Baxter Stockman in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

Production began on his seventeenth feature film and ninth Madea installment titled Boo! A Madea Halloween, which premiered in October 2016; its sequel was released in October 2017. Additionally, Perry provided voice work alongside Oprah Winfrey for Sony Pictures Animation’s The Star, which debuted in November 2017.

Film collaborations and distribution

Tyler Perry's movies are co-produced and distributed through Lions Gate Entertainment, while he maintains complete copyright control via Tyler Perry Films, prominently featuring his name on every project. Although his films have seen limited distribution beyond North America, Lionsgate revealed plans in May 2010 to expand releases into the United Kingdom market.

Television series

Perry is the creator and producer of the enduring sitcom Tyler Perry's House of Payne, which aired over eight seasons from 2006 through 2012. The show centers on a three-generation African-American family, delving into themes of faith and relationships. Following a successful 10-episode pilot in 2006, Perry secured a $200 million contract for 100 episodes with TBS. The series debuted on TBS in June 2007, garnered strong viewership, and eventually entered syndication. Additionally, Perry developed, wrote, directed, and produced Meet the Browns, which aired on TBS from January 2009 until November 2011.

OWN collaboration and partnership with Oprah

In 2009, Perry co-produced the film Precious alongside Oprah Winfrey and Lee Daniels. Oprah commended Perry’s work for its portrayal of empowered black women, exemplified by his character Madea.

On October 2, 2012, Perry signed an exclusive multi-year agreement with Oprah Winfrey and her Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) to create scripted television content.

Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse, inspired by his films Why Did I Get Married? and Why Did I Get Married Too?, premiered on TBS in November 2011. After its cancellation in February 2013, OWN revived the show for a third season beginning September 2013.

Perry also developed two additional series for OWN: the drama The Haves and the Have Nots and the sitcom Love Thy Neighbor. Launching in May 2013, The Haves and the Have Nots ran for eight seasons until July 2021. Oprah credited this series as a significant success for OWN, setting network viewership records at its premiere and throughout its run. It consistently delivered some of OWN’s highest ratings.

In contrast, Love Thy Neighbor faced challenges with audience numbers but still achieved the network’s second-best premiere ratings behind The Haves and the Have Nots. The latter remained OWN’s top-rated show for much of its tenure and became one of cable’s most-watched programs multiple times. A March 2014 episode during season two set an OWN record by attracting 3.6 million viewers.

Building on their collaboration, OWN commissioned a fourth scripted series from Perry based on his film The Single Moms Club, titled If Loving You Is Wrong. This hour-long drama premiered on September 9, 2014.

Tyler Perry Studios

In 2015, Perry purchased the former Fort McPherson military base in Atlanta, spanning 330 acres, transforming it into Tyler Perry Studios. The complex has hosted productions including HBO Films/OWN's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks as well as the television series The Walking Dead. The studio features approximately 50,000 square feet of permanent sets such as a luxury hotel lobby replica, a White House facade, a sprawling 16,000-square-foot mansion, a trailer park setting, and a relocated diner from the 1950s. Furthermore, it houses twelve sound stages named to honor influential African Americans in entertainment. The Marvel hit Black Panther was the first major film filmed on these new stages—a milestone announced by Perry in 2018.

Ranked among the largest film studios in the United States, Tyler Perry Studios established Perry as only the second African American to fully own a major studio following Tim and Daphne Reid.

ViacomCBS

On June 14, 2017, Perry entered into a long-term agreement with Viacom (currently ViacomCBS) to produce 90 original drama and comedy episodes annually. This contract also granted distribution rights for short-form videos and first-look privileges on film projects, with Nobody’s Fool as the first film under the deal. The television partnership began in the fall of 2019, featuring shows such as The Oval and Sistas, alongside the launch of the BET+ streaming platform, which achieved robust viewership on BET.

Books

Perry's debut book, Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life, was published on April 11, 2006, and sold 30,000 copies. The hardcover edition reached the top spot on the New York Times Best Seller list, remaining there for 12 weeks. It earned accolades including Book of the Year and Best Humor Book at the 2006 Quill Awards.

His follow-up book, Higher Is Waiting, was released on November 14, 2017, and entered the New York Times Best Seller list at number five.

The Writers Guild of America West

The Writers Guild of America West lodged unfair labor practice complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), accusing Tyler Perry Studios of unlawfully terminating four writers in October 2008 after they sought union representation. The conflict was resolved within a month when TPS agreed to sign with the WGA.

Mo' Money Taxes

In early 2009, Perry threatened legal proceedings against Memphis-based tax service Mo' Money Taxes for broadcasting a commercial parodying his work, particularly Madea Goes to Jail. The advertisement featured a white man dressed in drag as "Ma'Madea". Following Perry’s objection, the company pulled the ad.

Sexual assault lawsuit

On June 13, 2025, actor Derek Dixon—who appeared in several Perry productions including The Oval—filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging multiple instances of sexual assault and sexual battery by Perry dating back to 2021. Dixon claimed that Perry abused his authority to exploit vulnerable staff and actors seeking guidance. The suit seeks $260 million in damages and requests a jury trial. Earlier, in 2024, Dixon had submitted a sexual harassment complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) but departed from The Oval after producers took no action.

Reception

Tyler Perry's projects have enjoyed significant commercial success but have been subject to criticism regarding their depiction of African-American characters and reliance on stereotypes. Scholar Donald Bogle drew comparisons between Perry’s Madea persona and traditional "mammy" figures, suggesting such portrayals might be perceived differently if produced by a white filmmaker. Journalist Jamilah Lemieux recognized Perry’s role in creating Black employment opportunities within entertainment but criticized series like Meet the Browns and House of Payne for reinforcing caricatures of foolish black men and sassy black women.

Filmmaker Spike Lee referred to some depictions in Perry’s work as "coonery buffoonery," expressing concern over representations in Black media. Perry responded by stating his characters are designed to be relatable while delivering messages centered on faith and family values, targeting audiences often neglected by mainstream outlets.

Perry’s productions have been satirized in popular culture. The animated series The Boondocks featured an episode titled "Pause," which parodied Perry’s Madea character; reports suggested Perry was displeased, resulting in the episode’s removal. Similarly, the FX show Atlanta aired an episode interpreted as critiquing Perry’s production style and creative control.

In 2020, Perry disclosed that he writes all scripts solo without utilizing a writers' room, a method criticized for restricting chances for emerging Black writers. He defended this practice by citing previous difficulties working with union and non-union writers alike and emphasizing his desire to preserve a consistent creative vision.

Despite such criticism, figures like Goldie Taylor have voiced support for Perry, noting that while his work may not appeal universally, it profoundly resonates with many African Americans. Sociologist Shayne Lee described him as one of the most innovative filmmakers of his era, highlighting his distinctive fusion of spiritual themes with popular entertainment.

Family and relationships

Tyler Perry's mother, Willie Maxine Perry, passed away on December 8, 2009, at the age of 64 following an illness. Perry resides and conducts his business in Southwest Atlanta, where he manages Tyler Perry Studios. In August 2010, he acquired the 58-acre Dean Gardens property located in Johns Creek, Georgia. After demolishing the existing 32,000-square-foot mansion, he intended to construct an eco-friendly residence on the site; however, this plan was never realized.

On November 30, 2014, Perry and his then-partner Gelila Bekele welcomed their son, Aman. By December 2020, Perry publicly announced his single status after their separation.

In March 2021, it was disclosed by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that Perry had offered them initial accommodation and security for three months when they relocated from Canada to California following the loss of their royal protection. Additionally, Perry serves as godfather to their daughter, Princess Lilibet of Sussex. He shares close personal relationships with notable figures such as Janet Jackson, Will Smith, and Oprah Winfrey.

Following the passing of Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Perry revealed on Instagram his own history of battling depression and multiple suicide attempts prior to achieving success in his career.

Multiple properties

In 2007, Perry purchased a 17-acre estate in the Paces area of Buckhead, Atlanta. He later sold this property in May 2016 for $17.5 million, which stood as the highest-priced private home sale in Atlanta at that time. In 2013, his enterprise ETPC LLC acquired roughly 1,100 acres in New Manchester, Douglas County, Georgia.

Perry expanded his real estate holdings by buying a residence in Mulholland Estates, Los Angeles for $14.5 million in September 2017; he sold this home nine months later for $15.6 million.

His portfolio also includes vacation homes located in Wyoming and the Bahamas.

The Douglasville estate owned by Perry covers 2,100 acres and features a château-style mansion measuring 40,000 square feet along with a private airstrip.

Beliefs and interests

Perry identifies as a Christian, with many of his creative works incorporating themes drawn from theology and social customs typical of predominantly black church communities. These include church environments and gospel music influences.

On July 20, 2009, he sponsored a group of 65 children from a Philadelphia day camp to visit Walt Disney World after they were barred from participation by a suburban swim club in Pennsylvania. He remarked that "for every act of evil... there are millions more who will do something kind."

To conquer his aviophobia, Perry obtained a private pilot license and personally flies a Cirrus SR22T aircraft.

Film work

Year	Film	Credited as
Year	Film	Director	Writer	Producer	Actor	Role
2005	Diary of a Mad Black Woman	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea, Joe, Brian
2006	Madea's Family Reunion	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea, Joe, Brian
2007	Daddy's Little Girls	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2007	Why Did I Get Married?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Terry Bob
2008	Meet the Browns	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea, Joe
2008	The Family That Preys	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Ben
2009	Madea Goes to Jail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea, Joe, Brian
	Star Trek	No	No	No	Yes	Admiral Barnett
	I Can Do Bad All by Myself	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea, Joe
	Precious	No	No	Yes	No
2010	Why Did I Get Married Too?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Terry Bob
2010	For Colored Girls	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2011	style="text-align:left;" \| Madea's Big Happy Family	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"\|Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea, Joe
rowspan=3 \| 2012	Good Deeds	yes	yes	yes	yes	Wesley Deeds
Madea's Witness Protection	yes	yes	yes	yes	Madea, Joe, Brian
Alex Cross	no	no	no	yes	Alex Cross
rowspan=3 \| 2013	Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor	yes	yes	yes	no
Peeples	no	no	yes	no
A Madea Christmas	yes	yes	yes	yes	Madea
rowspan=2 \| 2014	The Single Moms Club	yes	yes	yes	yes	TK
Gone Girl	no	no	no	yes	Tanner Bolt
2015	Madea's Tough Love	no	no	yes	yes	Madea, Joe, Brian (voices)
rowspan=3 \| 2016	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows	no	no	no	yes	Dr. Baxter Stockman
Brain on Fire	no	no	no	yes	Richard
Boo! A Madea Halloween	yes	yes	yes	yes	Madea, Joe, Brian
rowspan=2 \| 2017	The Star	no	no	no	yes	Cyrus the Camel (voice)
Boo 2! A Madea Halloween	yes	yes	yes	yes	Madea, Joe, Brian
rowspan=3 \| 2018	Acrimony	yes	yes	yes	no
Nobody's Fool	yes	yes	partial(Executive)	no
Vice	no	no	no	yes	Colin Powell
2019	A Madea Family Funeral	yes	yes	yes	yes	Madea, Joe, Brian, Heathrow
2020	A Fall from Grace	yes	yes	partial(Executive)	yes	Rory Garraux
	2021		Those Who Wish Me Dead		no	no	no	yes	Officer Arthur Phillip \|-	Paw Patrol: The Movie	no	no	no	yes	Truck Driver (voice) \|-	Don't Look Up	no	no	no	yes	Jack Bremmer \|-style="text-align:center;"	2022	A Madea Homecoming	yes	yes	partial(Executive)	yes	Madea, Joe \|-	A Jazzman's Blues	yes	yes	yes	no
		2024		Mea Culpa		Yes	Yes	Yes	No													2022
			Divorce in the Black		Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	The Six Triple Eight			Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	rowspan=3 \| 2025		Tyler Perry's Duplicity		Yes		Yes		Yes	No
	Straw		Yes		Yes		Yes		No
	Madea's Destination Wedding		Yes		Yes		Yes		Yes	-style=text-align:center;	TBA		Joy Ridge		Yes	Yes	Yes		No

Television work

Year	Series	Credits
Year	Series	Director	Writer	Producer	Performer	Role
2007–2012, 2020–present	House of Payne	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
2009–2011	Meet the Browns	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2011–2017	For Better or Worse	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2013–2017	Love Thy Neighbor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
2013–2021	The Haves and the Have Nots	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2014–2020	If Loving You Is Wrong	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2016	The Passion: New Orleans	No	No	No	Yes	Host/Narrator
2016–2017	Too Close to Home	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2018	The Paynes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2019–present	The Oval	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2019–present	Sistas	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2020–2025	Young Dylan	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2020–present	Ruthless	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	Bruh	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	Assisted Living	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2021–present	All the Queen's Men	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2022–present	Zatima	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2024	Perimeter	No	No	Yes	No
2024–present	Beauty in Black	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2025
	'She the People'	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	'Divorced Sistas'	Yes	Yes	Yes	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"\|No
	style =" text- align: left; "\|'Route 187'	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"\|Yes	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"\|Yes	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"\|Yes	style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no"\|No

Stage work

rowspan=2 |2012 rowspan=2 |2013

Year	Production	Credits
Year	Production	Director	Writer	Producer	Performer	Character
1998	I Know I've Been Changed	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Joe
1999	Woman, Thou Art Loosed!	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	The Rent Man
1999	I Can Do Bad All by Myself	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
2000	Behind Closed Doors	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2001	Diary of a Mad Black Woman	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Daddy Charles / Madea
2002	Madea's Family Reunion	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
2003	Madea's Class Reunion	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Dr. Willie Leroy Jones / Madea
2003	Why Did I Get Married?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2004	Meet the Browns	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Madea (voice only)
2004	Madea's Christmas	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
2005	Madea Goes to Jail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
2006	What's Done in the Dark	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2008	The Marriage Counselor	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2009	Laugh to Keep from Crying	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2010	Madea's Big Happy Family	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
2011	A Madea Christmas	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
		Aunt Bam's Place	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
		I Don't Want to Do Wrong	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	The Haves and the Have Nots	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	Madea Gets a Job	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
	Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	style=text-align:left;Madea's Neighbors from Hell	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
2017	style=text-align:left;Madea on the Run	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"\|Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea
2019	style=text-align:left;Madea's Farewell Play	style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes"\|Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Madea

Further Information

Tyler Perry, featured on Encyclopædia Britannica
Tyler Perry, available at Goodreads
Tyler Perry, listed on MusicBrainz, MetaBrainz Foundation
Tyler Perry, profile on TV.com, Red Ventures (archived as of January 1, 2012)