Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry was born on September 13, 1969, in New Orleans, Louisiana, into the cultural landscape of one of America's most distinctive cities. A citizen of the United States, Perry was educated at Cohen College Prep High School before going on to study at the Juilliard School. Working primarily in the English language, he has built a career that spans an unusually broad range of creative roles, functioning simultaneously as an actor, stage actor, writer, novelist, director, theatre director, film producer, television producer, and composer.
Perry is the creator and performer of the character Mabel "Madea" Simmons, as well as the portrayer of the characters Joe Simmons and Brian Simmons. Madea made her first appearance in the stage production I Can Do Bad All by Myself, staged in Chicago in 1999. His work has been associated with gospel music as a genre, and his output across stage, film, and television has generated a range of recognition from the industry, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the NAACP Image Award — Chairman's Award. Perry also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Academy Award recognizing humanitarian distinction. Among his other notices, he received a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress.
Perry continues his career as an active figure across multiple entertainment disciplines. The Library of Congress authorizes his name under the label "Perry, Tyler," reflecting the scope of his catalogued works in writing, production, and performance. His professional presence spans the stage and screen in the United States, with his creative identity grounded in the characters and productions he has developed throughout his career.
Quotes by Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry's insights on:
If you look at everything I do - even in 'Boo!' there's a message, and it's always 'faith, family, forgiveness.' That's the greatest gift that I've been given. I can get a message to the very people I grew up with, the millions who love what I do.
I don't have a writer's room. I write all the shows myself. Ninety-one episodes a season, I'm sitting there at the computer writing and writing and writing because I want the voice to be authentic so that the audience is hearing from me and not other writers.
I love a good breakfast - grits and eggs, French toast, turkey bacon. My grandmother on my father's side used to make tea cakes, and her breakfasts were unbelievable. There was fresh ham, and she would go out to the yard to get fresh eggs. She lived in rural Louisiana, and we'd spend summers with her.
Being on the 'Alex Cross' set, and watching and learning about and paying attention to everything that was going on there, I realized, 'Here is a moment for me to learn.'
As a member of the Feeding America Entertainment Council, I recognize our mission to spread the word and rally the country in the fight to end hunger.
Seven years after my mother's passing, I still reach for the phone for a split second to call her. We spoke every day.
There's this great thing called the 'Chitlin' Circuit,' which I started my shows on and back in the day when, you know, Ray Charles and Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington, they couldn't get into white establishments, so they went on this circuit and toured. They were huge stars in their own community, you know, and that's pretty much my same story.
I haven't read a book in a very, very long time because, when I'm writing, I don't like to see other people's work. I don't want to see something great and not be able to use it, and I don't want to have any subconscious influences.
I have very simple tastes. An ex-girlfriend used to tell me I have the palate of a kid because there are only five or six foods that I love. And if you rotate them on a regular basis, that's all I need to eat - like arugula, spinach, and grilled chicken.
