Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry was born as Emmitt Perry Jr. in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Willie Maxine Perry (née Campbell). He has three siblings. Perry's mother was married to Emmitt Perry Sr., who abused both Perry and his mother. Perry has described his childhood as a "living hell". However, his mother took him to church each week, and he sensed a certain refuge and contentment there. At age 16, he had his first name legally changed from Emmitt to Tyler in an effort to distance himself from Emmitt Sr. A DNA test taken by Perry as an adult indicated that Emmitt Sr. is not Perry's biological father. Many years later, after seeing the film Precious, Perry revealed for the first time that he had been molested by a friend's mother at age 10. He was also molested by three men as a child, and he later learned that one of his friends had been molested by Emmitt Sr. While Perry did not complete high school, he earned a General Educational Development (GED). In his early 20s, watching an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, he heard someone describe that sometimes the act of writing can have a therapeutic effect, enabling the author to work out his or her own problems. This comment inspired him to apply himself to a career in writing. He soon started writing a series of letters to himself, which became the basis for the musical ''I Know I've Been Changed''. ==Career==

Stage Around 1990, Perry moved to Atlanta, where two years later ''I Know I've Been Changed'' was first performed at a community theater, financed by the 22-year-old Perry's life savings of US$12,000 (). The play included Christian themes of forgiveness, dignity, and self-worth, while addressing issues such as child abuse and dysfunctional families. The musical initially received a "less than stellar" reception and was a financial failure. Perry persisted, and over the next six years he rewrote the musical repeatedly, though lackluster reviews continued. In 1998, at age 28, he succeeded in retooling the play and restaging it in Atlanta, first at the House of Blues, then at the Fox Theatre. Perry continued to create new stage productions, touring with them on the so-called "Chitlin' Circuit", now also known as the "urban theater circuit" which went on to gross US$50.6 million domestically, while scoring a 16% approval rating at the film review web site Rotten Tomatoes. Perry made his directorial debut on his next film, an adaptation of ''Madea's Family Reunion, and has directed all of his subsequent Madea films. On its opening weekend, February 24–26, 2006, Madea's Family Reunion opened at number one at the box office with $30.3 million. The film eventually grossed $65 million. Perry and his co-stars promoted the film on The Oprah Winfrey Show. As with Diary, almost all of the Madea''s earnings have been generated in the United States. Perry's next Lionsgate project, ''Daddy's Little Girls, starred Gabrielle Union and Idris Elba and was released in the United States on February 14, 2007. It grossed over US$31 million. Perry wrote, directed, produced and starred in his next film, Why Did I Get Married?'', released on October 12, 2007. It opened at number one, grossing US$21.4 million that weekend. It is loosely based on his play of the same name. Filming began March 5, 2007, in Whistler, British Columbia, a resort town north of Vancouver, then moved to Atlanta, where Perry had opened his own studio. Janet Jackson, Sharon Leal, Jill Scott, and Tasha Smith appeared in the film. Perry's 2008 film, Meet the Browns, released on March 21, opened at number 2 with a US$20.1 million weekend gross. The Family That Preys opened on September 12, 2008, and grossed over US$37.1 million. Madea Goes to Jail opened at number one on February 20, 2009, grossing US$41 million and becoming his largest opening to date. This was Perry's seventh film with Lionsgate Entertainment. At the request of director J. J. Abrams, also in 2009, Perry had a small role as the Starfleet Academy commandant Admiral Barnett in Star Trek, which opened on May 8. This was his first film appearance outside of his own projects. Perry next wrote, directed, and starred in I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009), named after the known stage play. This was Perry's eighth film and it also made number one at the box office. In 2009, Perry teamed with Oprah Winfrey to present Precious, a film based on the novel Push by Sapphire. Why Did I Get Married Too?, the sequel to Why Did I Get Married?, opened in theaters on April 2, 2010. It featured Janet Jackson, Tasha Smith, Jill Scott, and Malik Yoba. The film grossed US$60 million domestically, with US$29 million made the opening weekend. ceremony, 2010 Perry directed a film adaptation of Ntozake Shange's 1975 choreopoem For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, which was released in theaters November 5, 2010. He appeared in the stage show ''Madea's Big Happy Family, which toured the U.S. as a stage play and was released as adapted months later, only to be released in 2011, written, directed by and starring Perry. The film version of Madea's Big Happy Family'' raked in US$25.8 million at the box office, taking second place. Perry's next film with Lionsgate was Good Deeds, in which Perry plays lead character Wesley Deeds. Good Deeds is a romantic drama film written, directed by, and starring Perry. The film was released on February 24, 2012. It is the tenth of eleven films that Perry directed and appears in. The film received a 29% rating by review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and opened with a box office US$15.5 million gross. The movie also stars Thandiwe Newton, Rebecca Romijn, Gabrielle Union, Eddie Cibrian, Jamie Kennedy, Phylicia Rashad, and others. , Perry's films had grossed over US$500 million worldwide. Perry's ''Madea's Witness Protection'', his seventh film within the Madea franchise, was released on June 29, 2012. Perry took over the role of James Patterson's Alex Cross from Morgan Freeman for a new film in the series, titled Alex Cross. The film which opened on October 19, 2012, was panned by critics and audiences, with Rotten Tomatoes scores of 11% & 47% positive respectively, and became a box office bomb. His performance gained the attention of director David Fincher, who subsequently cast Perry in his 2014 thriller Gone Girl, co-starring with Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, and Neil Patrick Harris. Perry released his thirteenth film, Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (based on his 2008 play of the same name) on March 29, 2013. The film stars Lance Gross, Jurnee Smollett, Brandy Norwood, Robbie Jones, Vanessa L. Williams, and Kim Kardashian. He produced Tyler Perry Presents Peeples, released on May 10, 2013. He returned to the big screen with A Madea Christmas, released on December 13, 2013. Perry directed the film The Single Moms Club, which opened on March 14, 2014. His first animated movie ''Madea's Tough Love was released on DVD January 20, 2015. In 2016, Perry played scientist Baxter Stockman in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows''. In mid-January 2016, Perry started filming his seventeenth film, and ninth within the Madea franchise, Boo! A Madea Halloween. The film was released on October 21, 2016. A sequel, Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, was released in October 2017. Perry, alongside Oprah Winfrey, lent his voice in his first animated film, called The Star, which is based on the Nativity of Jesus. Developed by Sony Pictures Animation, the film was released on November 17, 2017. Perry's Madea franchise film ''Joe's College Road Trip'', which instead features Madea's brother Joe as the star character, was released on Netflix on February 13, 2026. Film partnerships and distribution Perry's films are co-produced and distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment; he retains full copyright ownership under the corporate name Tyler Perry Films, and places his name in front of all titles. Perry's movies have seen very limited release outside North America, but in May 2010, Lionsgate announced plans to begin releasing his films in the United Kingdom. Television programs Perry produced the long-running sitcom ''Tyler Perry's House of Payne'', which initially ran for 6 seasons from June 21, 2006, to August 10, 2012, before being revived in 2020 and, as of September 2025, running for 12 seasons, the most any show with a predominately African American cast. The series followed an African-American household of three generations. The show demonstrated the family members' serious, true-to-life struggles with faith and love. The show ran in the spring of 2006 as a 10-show pilot. After the successful pilot run, Perry signed a US$200 million, 100-episode deal with TBS. On June 6, 2007, the first two episodes of ''Tyler Perry's House of Payne ran on TBS. After receiving high ratings, House of Payne entered broadcast syndication. Reruns were played through December 2007 before the second season began. Perry also wrote, directed and produced the sitcom Meet the Browns'', which premiered on TBS on January 7, 2009, and ended on November 18, 2011. OWN and partnership with Oprah In 2009, Perry co-produced ''Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire'' alongside Oprah Winfrey and Lee Daniels. The film was directed by Daniels and starred Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique. While promoting the film Oprah told an interviewer, "I think [Perry] grew up being raised by strong, black women. And so much of what he does is really in celebration of that. I think that's what Madea really is: a compilation of all those strong black women that I know and maybe you do too? And so the reason it works is because people see themselves." On October 2, 2012, Perry struck an exclusive multi-year partnership with Oprah Winfrey and her Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). The partnership was largely for the purposes of bringing scripted television to OWN, Perry having had previous success in this department. Perry had two other television series featured on OWN: the hour-long soap opera/drama series The Haves and the Have Nots and the sitcom Love Thy Neighbor. The Haves and the Have Nots premiered on May 28, 2013, and completed its series run after 8 seasons on July 20, 2021. The program was credited by Oprah Winfrey as bringing success to her network and opened the door for a host of other highly rated dramas to OWN. During its series run, The Haves and the Have Nots had numerous Nielsen rating highs for the OWN broadcasting station: it was reported on May 29, 2013, that The Haves and the Have Nots set a new record for OWN, scoring the highest ratings ever for a series premiere on the network. Love Thy Neighbor scored the second highest ratings ever for a series premiere on OWN, behind The Haves and the Have Nots. The Haves and the Have Nots gave OWN some of its highest ratings during its 8-year series run, the program hailed as "one of OWN's biggest success stories with its weekly dose of soapy fun, filled with the typical betrayals, affairs and manipulations." Contrastingly, Love Thy Neighbor had struggled in ratings. The Have and the Have Nots remained the network's highest rated program for most of its run. On February 4, 2014, The Haves and the Have Nots came in as the most watched program in all of cable television for the night. On March 11, 2014, a Haves and the Have Nots season 2 episode set an OWN record when it scored the highest ratings in the network's history. The record-breaking episode brought in 3.6 million viewers, surpassing the 3.5 million that tuned in for the ''Oprah's Next Chapter'' interview with Bobbi Kristina which was the network's previous highest rated viewing. The studios were used to film the HBO Films/OWN film version of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and later for the television series The Walking Dead. of the site are dedicated to standing permanent sets, including a replica of a luxury-hotel lobby, a White House replica, a mansion, a mock cheap hotel, a trailer-park set, and a real 1950s-style diner that was relocated from a town away. It also hosts 12 sound stages named after highly accomplished African Americans in the entertainment industry. Tyler Perry Studios is one of the largest film studios in the United States, and it established Perry as the second African American to own a major film studio outright, after Tim and Daphne Reid. ViacomCBS On June 14, 2017, Perry signed a long-term deal with Viacom (now ViacomCBS) for 90 episodes/year of original drama and comedy series. Viacom will also have distribution rights to short video content and a first look at film concepts (the first film from this deal was Nobody’s Fool). The TV deal began fall 2019 with The Oval, Sistas and BET+ (a brand new streaming service) premiering with strong ratings for BET. Amazon Prime On November 5, 2025, Perry's comedy series ''Tyler Perry's Finding Joy'' debuted on Amazon Prime. Books Perry's first book, ''Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life, appeared on April 11, 2006. The book sold 30,000 copies. The hardcover reached number one on the New York Times'' Best Seller list and remained on the list for 12 weeks. It was voted Book of the Year, Best Humor Book at the 2006 Quill Awards. His second book, Higher Is Waiting, was published on November 14, 2017. It debuted at number 5 on the New York Times Best Seller list. ==Legal actions==

The Writers Guild of America West The Writers Guild of America West filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that Perry's production company, Tyler Perry Studios, unlawfully fired four writers in October 2008 in retaliation for them trying to get a union contract. The dispute was settled a month later, when TPS agreed to be a WGA signatory. Mo' Money Taxes In early 2009, Perry threatened legal action against Mo' Money Taxes, a tax preparation company based in Memphis, Tennessee, for running a TV spot that he felt offensively parodied his work, in particular Madea Goes to Jail. The ad features a large white male (John Cowan) in drag, named "Ma'Madea". The offending ad was dropped from circulation. Sexual assault lawsuits On June 13, 2025, Derek Dixon, an actor in some of Perry's productions including The Oval, filed a lawsuit against Perry that accused Perry of committing numerous acts of sexual assault and sexual battery against him since 2021. According to the lawsuit which was filed against Perry in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Dixon alleged that Perry had "been using his power and influence to molest, abuse, and sexually assault impressionable and vulnerable employees and actors who look to him for guidance and mentorship while pursuing their dreams". Dixon has requested Perry to pay $260 million in damages, and to have a trial by jury. It was also revealed that Dixon had previously filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sexual harassment complaint against Perry in 2024, and then departed from The Oval after the complaint failed to result in the show's producers taking any action. On December 25, 2025, Mario Rodriguez, an actor who appeared in Boo! A Madea Halloween, filed a sexual battery lawsuit against both Perry and Lionsgate for $77 million in California state court. == Reception ==

Tyler Perry's work has garnered both commercial success and critical discussion. While his films and television shows have achieved significant popularity, some critics have expressed concerns regarding the portrayal of African-American characters and reliance on certain stereotypes. Author Donald Bogle, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, noted similarities between Perry's Madea character and traditional "mammy" archetypes, suggesting that such representations might be viewed differently if presented by a white director. Journalist Jamilah Lemieux, in an open letter published by NPR, acknowledged Perry's contributions to Black employment in the entertainment industry but also criticized shows like Meet the Browns and House of Payne for featuring what she described as "old stereotypes of buffoonish, emasculated black men and crass, sassy black women." Filmmaker Spike Lee has also commented on Perry's work. In 2009, Lee referred to certain portrayals in Perry's productions as "coonery buffoonery," expressing concern over the imaging in contemporary Black media. Perry responded by emphasizing that his characters are designed to be relatable and to convey messages about faith and family, aiming to serve audiences he feels are often overlooked by mainstream media. Perry's productions have been parodied in popular media. For instance, the animated series The Boondocks featured an episode titled "Pause," which satirized aspects of Perry's work, particularly his cross-dressing Madea character. Reports indicated that Perry was displeased with the portrayal, leading to the episode's removal from circulation. Similarly, the FX series Atlanta aired an episode titled "Work Ethic!" that many interpreted as a commentary on Perry's production practices and creative control. In 2020, Perry revealed that he writes all of his scripts independently without a writers' room. This approach drew criticism from some industry professionals who argued that it limits opportunities for emerging Black writers. Perry defended his method, citing past challenges with both union and non-union writers and emphasizing his desire to maintain a consistent creative voice. Despite these critiques, Perry has received support from various commentators. Goldie Taylor, writing for TheGrio and speaking on NPR, noted that while Perry's work may not resonate with everyone, it connects deeply with many African Americans. Sociologist Shayne Lee, in an editorial for The Huffington Post, described Perry as one of the most innovative filmmakers of his time, highlighting his unique ability to blend spiritual themes with popular entertainment. ==Personal life==

Family and relationships On December 8, 2009, Perry's mother, Willie Maxine Perry, died at age 64, following an illness. On November 30, 2014, Perry's then-partner, Gelila Bekele, gave birth to their son, Aman. In December 2020, Perry announced that he was a bachelor. On March 7, 2021, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex publicly revealed in the television interview Oprah with Meghan and Harry that Perry provided initial security and housing for three months that allowed the couple to relocate safely from Canada to California in March 2020, following the withdrawal of their British royal protection. Perry is also godfather to their daughter, Princess Lilibet of Sussex. Perry is good friends with Janet Jackson, Will Smith, and Oprah Winfrey. Residences Perry lives and works in Southwest Atlanta, where he operates the Tyler Perry film and TV studios. In 2007, Perry bought a estate in the Paces neighborhood of Buckhead, Atlanta. In May 2016, he sold the house for $17.5 million, also closing the biggest deal ever for a private home in the Georgia capital. In August 2010, it was reported that Perry had purchased Dean Gardens, a estate in the Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek. He tore down the existing mansion and planned, but never built, a new, environmentally-friendly home on the property. In 2013, Perry's company, ETPC LLC, purchased around in the New Manchester, Georgia area of Douglas County, Georgia. In September 2017, Perry purchased a house in Mulholland Estates, a gated community in Los Angeles. Nine months after buying the estate, Perry sold the property for $15.6 million. Perry owns vacation properties in both Wyoming and The Bahamas. Perry owns a estate in Douglasville, Georgia, including a châteauesque house, and an airstrip. Mental health Following the death of Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Perry uploaded a video to his Instagram account where he spoke about his own struggles with depression, and revealed he had attempted suicide several times before his career took off. Beliefs and interests Perry is a Christian. Many of the themes in his work reflect theology and social behavior indicative of the predominantly black church culture, such as the many scenes in both his stage and screen work that feature church settings and worship styles commonly found in predominantly African American churches, including showcases of gospel music and artists. On July 20, 2009, Perry sponsored 65 children from a Philadelphia day camp to visit Walt Disney World, after reading that a suburban swim club, the Valley Swim Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, had shunned them. He wrote on his website, "I want them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them." To overcome his fear of flying, Perry took flight training lessons and obtained a private pilot certificate. He flies a Cirrus SR22T aircraft. He flies large-scale radio-controlled aircraft as a hobby. ==Filmography==

Film work Television work ==Stage work==